4 Best Sights in Manchester, Liverpool, and the Peak District, England

This impressive 18th-century building was designed by John Carr as a stable with room for 110 horses. In 1859, the circular area for exercising horses was covered with a massive 156-foot-wide slate-color dome—bigger than that of St. Paul's Cathedral in London—and incorporated into a hospital. The University of Derby has taken over the building, and visitors can access it for free when school is in session.

The 322-foot-tall Royal Liver (pronounced lie-ver) Building with its twin towers is topped by two 18-foot-high copper birds representing the mythical Liver Birds, the town symbol; local legend has it that if they fly away, Liverpool will cease to exist. For decades Liverpudlians looked to the Royal Liver Society for assistance—it was originally a burial club to which families paid contributions to ensure a decent send-off. The building, now offices, can best be seen from one of the Mersey ferries.

Built between 1839 and 1847, St. George's Hall is among the world's finest examples of Greek Revivalist architecture. When Queen Victoria visited Liverpool in 1851, she declared it "worthy of ancient Athens." There are History Whisperer immersive tours by costumed guides and regular tours telling the story of the building, which today hosts music festivals, concerts, and fairs.