The best cities to visit in England!

Although small, the UK has a numerous cities, each one with a unique character offering something different. Did you know there are 69 cities in the UK, 51 in England, 7 in Scotland, 6 in Wales and 5 in Northern Ireland. These figures surprised me as I wasn't aware that there were so many in England. I've been to many of the bigger cities in the UK but there are so many in the Midlands and Northern England that I have yet to visit. I've spent most of my life in the South-East but think I need to make a  few more trips north. But along with London, Brighton and Cambridge, I loved visiting Newcastle & Liverpool. The full list of UK cities is on the wikipedia page if you're interested. Thinking about the best cities to visit in England, I asked other bloggers to recommend their favourite city. Here's the full list.

Brighton and Hove
Well, I had to write about where I live! But the more I live in Brighton, the more I grow to like it. It is incredibly child-friendly with so much to do including the i360, Brighton Pier, Brighton Dome, and of course, the beach! There are wonderful independent restaurants in the city and something for everyone. No wonder it's such a popular day-trip from London. I've lived here for over 5 years now and I am still discovering new things and places to visit!

Cambridge
I spent three years living in Cambridge and it's the prettiest place I've ever lived in. The beautiful colleges and university buildings are stunning and drenched in history. The city offers gorgeous parks full of greenery and the canals that run through the centre. Actually, just writing this makes me want to plan a visit!

London 
London is a fab city to visit. We have so many amazing (and free!) attractions, museums and galleries, fantastic architecture and there is always something going on! I love getting off the tourist trail and spending time in quirky areas such as Brixton and Bermondsey - they have strong cultural identities, great food, markets and in Bermondsey we even have the beer mile which is great for those into their craft beers. The numerous London parks and our 'beach' at the Southbank are great for kids and there are kid's activities all year round in the city. Alex, Better Together Home

Bristol
Bristol has been voted the best city to live in for years and there's a reason for it. It's incredibly family-friendly but also offers a vibrant party scene, great universities and schools as well as everything else you'd want in a city. The street artscene allows you to discover cool pieces every single day and there's always something going on. It seems there's some sort of festival or event every single weekend, be it for foodies, sports fans or those into arts and music. Carolin, Mummy Alarm

Birmingham
We really enjoy a day out in Birmingham. With attractions such as the museum, art gallery, Sealife centre, Symphony Hall and Thinktank to name a few, there's plenty to enjoy for all the family. You're spoilt for choice with restaurants, live music and shopping too. The library is super, with good views of the city! Accommodation is easy to find if you're staying. We've been regularly since our eldest (now 7) was 6 months old. Jo, Cup of Toast

Bath 
Bath is lovely for a family break. Easy to get around, historical sites that cater for children like the audio tours at the Roman Baths and trails at No. 1 Royal Crescent, and some nice parks including mini golf at Royal Victoria Park. Plus there's 2 tour bus routes to see more of the city while resting your legs. Emma, Bubbablue and Me

Manchester
Manchester has so much to offer, as a rather industrial northern city it can easily be overlooked but it has a deep and interesting history that can be explored today through it museums and historical buildings. It has lots of open spaces to explore close to the city centre too. You can visit Castlefield to find the ruins of the Roman fort, explore the industrial history of the city including the world first passenger railway at MSI Manchester and enjoy a drink overlooking the canal. Jennifer, My Mummy's Pennies

Chester Chester is lovely. Pretty architecture, the cathedral and castle are must sees. The town centre is good for shopping or you can wander down to the riverside for ice cream or even take a pedalo out. Picnics in Grosvenor Park are lovely, there’s a playground for the children and you can take a ride on the miniature railway. The new Storyhouse theatre is pretty impressive too and has loads going on. Hayley, Miss Manypennies

Durham
We absolutely loved our long weekend in Durham in the NE. So much to do for families, particularly if you enjoy cultural attractions. We visited the Beamish open air Museum which is genuinely fabulous, the Bowes Museum, Durham Castle and Cathedral.
Lisa, Travel Loving Family

York 
York is a fabulous city to visit. It's small enough to wander around and there are so many historic buildings from the York Minster to Clifford's Tower and the Bar Walls. We have 365 pubs in the city - one for every day of the year! There is lots to do for kids from the award winning York Maze to The National Railway Museum. We have festivals all year round, Harry Potter shops in the Shambles and it is stunning at Christmas! Nikki, Yorkshire Wonders. Read her post on things to do in York

Newcastle

Newcastle is a city known for it's fantastic nightlife but there is so much more to enjoy than what you may see on Geordie Shore. We're home to lots of fantastic museums and galleries including a world-leading science centre/children's museum (Life) and also the national centre for children's books (Seven Stories). Our foodie scene is fantastic with independent retailers such as the Little Fishy popping up on our own Quayside Seaside or The French Quarter serving amazing French food underneath railway arches. There's lots of green open space and Exhibition Park in the city even provides free monthly train rides for kids. Finally, you are just a 10 minute metro trip from the beautiful North East coast if you fancy a paddle. Samantha, North East Family Fun www.northeastfamilyfun.co.uk

Liverpool
Forget any ideas you may have had about Liverpool. The reality is as far from fake tans, scouse brows, big hair in rollers and silly stereotypes. Liverpool is much more than that! Over the last few years Liverpool has changed so much. The city is a great vibrant place to live, work and visit. There are countless of hidden gems in this city. You’re going to need more than one day to discover them all. Kelly-Anne, Mimi Rose and Me

This is a collaborative post. Thanks to all the bloggers who contributed to this post! Which cities on would you like to visit?