UK city breaks

The provinces are catching up fast with all that London has to offer. Whether you're looking for a romantic stay in a boutique hotel, a weekends pampering or a mega shopping spree here are three of the best reasons to travel north

No trouble at mill: 42 The Calls

The luxury pamper
Leeds
Leeds is closer than you think – dashing for the 6pm train will have you tucking into seabass at the Brasserie Forty 4 (44 The Calls; 0113 234 3232) by 9.30pm. Situated down by the canal, the converted warehouse and cobbled streets create a beautiful enclave in which to base yourself. Stay overnight at the slick 42 The Calls (0113 24400). Now a waterfront hotel, this mill conversion has been sympathetic – keeping quirky features, such as twisty corridors and asymmetric angles and complementing them with luxurious touches.

The ladies-only Waterfall Spa (0800 731 1995/www.waterfallspa.co.uk) is the perfect treat for sloughing off London stress. Rather than abstinence, the emphasis is on indulgence. There is unlimited access to a chocolate fountain in the restaurant. Some exercise may be in order after that, so make time on the Sunday for a wander around Yorkshire Sculpture Park (01924 832631/www.ysp.co.uk ). Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore and other artistic giants vie for attention, but James Turrell’s Deer Park is the most captivating. It’s a roofless stone chamber built on a hillside that lets you watch the changing sky. A weekend well spent.

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Get sky high: Manchester Hilton's Cloud 23 bar

The big shop
Manchester
While London ladies are debating whether to plump for the Topshop or H&M handbag, our friends in the north are saving hard for the Chloé Paddington bag. But that’s not to say they’re all wannabe WAGs. Far from it, Manchester is no longer Leeds’s poor relation in the shopping stakes – instead, you’ll find a clutch of cool, independent boutiques and vintage havens (as well as its own Selfridges, Harvey Nicks and Heal’s). The Northern Quarter is the best place to look for original fashion statements, whether new or secondhand. In these streets, there are eight vintage shops alone. On Oldham Street in the Smithfield Buildings, Pop (Nos 34-36; 0161 236 5797/www.pop-boutique.com) is a select gem, with a vegetarian café in the basement and, along with the vintage fare, also boasts its own ’70s-inspired range. Retro Rehab (No 91; 0161 839 2050) is a tad more sophisticated, for the more mature vintage rummager. Eighties-style cocktail dresses and multi-hued costume jewellery are the draws here. Meanwhile, on nearby Church Street, Afflecks Palace (52 Church St; 0161 834 2039/www.afflecks-palace.co.uk) is a famous vintage hangout – and a favoured haunt of the local teen goth population. On Tib Street is Rags to Bitches (No 60; 0161 835 9265/www.rags-to-bitches.co.uk), run by Time Out Manchester’s Flic Everett. There are many unique treasures to be snaffled here for both men and women.

But today’s sleek, chic Manchester is not just about vintage. The smart Triangle shopping centre on Exchange Square, site of the former Corn Exchange, has all the mid-range chains. When you need to refuel, Sam’s Chop House (Back Pool Fold, Chapel Walks; 0161 834 3210/www.samschophouse.co.uk) is a classic: in-the-know Mancs are fond of its traditional menu of roast beef and steak and kidney pud. Not chic enough? Try Cloud 23 at the Hilton (303 Deansgate; 0870 770 0805/ www.hilton.co.uk) for a revitalising cocktail. Up on the twenty-third floor, the view over the city is fantastic.

Down by the Irwell, the river that separates Salford from Manchester, the Lowry Hotel (50 Dearman’s Place; 0161 827 4000/ www.thelowryhotel.com) is one of the city’s finest. There are tactile fabrics and coloured mood lighting in abundance, and The River bar is perfect for an elegant tipple after a hard day’s shopping.