(26 Mar 2014, 6:45 pm)AdamY wrote To be honest, I'm leaning towards Southport. Mainly because I like the seaside (regardless of weather) and it's easy and relatively cheap to travel into both Liverpool and Manchester. Going into Manchester is something which I really want to do as there's a Collectors Fair happening at the Museum of Transport. I would consider staying in Manchester but I was only there at the back-end of January and it seems like a waste to stay there again.
However, Sheffield does have Park Hill which is something I'd love to see as I'm a fan of Brutalist architecture. I'm also aware that it's relatively easy to travel into Manchester (I haven't checked prices yet so I don't know how cheap it is), but there is something unappealing about bus-trips around Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster - this is what is putting me off.
Barnsley isn't too bad, Doncaster I've not really touched on but the small bits I have done weren't too bad either. Can't deny Rotherham is a shithole but there's some interesting stuff with TM and Powells around there.
There's also the Peak District within easy reach (Derbyshire Wayfarer is getting more and more expensive now mind!) which has some superb trips available like the 442 from Buxton to Ashbourne! Amazing amount of variety of operators too, in a delightful area with stunning scenery.
TPE, EMT and Northern all run from Sheffield to Manchester so you'll always be able to find decent deals.