After a full breakfast in the hotel, we will depart by coach for a short 1 .5 hour drive to Chester. 

The ancient city is a truly breathtaking experience. Each chapter of Chester's history is etched into the very fabric of the city. Well, you are walking where Roman Legionaires marched to war, Viking raiders wreaked havoc and Norman invaders conquered Anglo Saxons.

Chester has the most complete city walls, the oldest racecourse and the largest Roman Amphitheatre in Britain, plus a 1000 year old Cathedral with Europe's finest example of medieval carvings - and of course the one and only 700 year old Rows galleries where shopping is a double delight.

You'll find stores galore offering the hottest fashion in Chester all set against a background of unique treasures of antiquity and a vibrant cafe culture where outdoor dining and people watching go hand in hand.

Make time too for Chester Zoo, the most visited UK attraction outside London and home to 21,000 animals from 500 different species in acres of glorious gardens or slow the pace down and explore the city aboard an open top bus tour.

This beautiful city has been a favourite with all of our past tours.

Marilyn will lead us on an easy walking tour this morning, noting many places of interest such as the Chester Cathedral, and the Roman Amphitheatre.

You can choose after the tour to go visit one of the local sites, or spend your afternoon leisurely browsing THE ROWS https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/chester-rows,  or exploring the walls.

Neville will be happy to point out his favourite little bakery and places to enjoy lunch.

You will have the afternoon at leisure to enjoy this beautiful city. We will leave Chester at approximately 5 PM to head back to Manchester to enjoy our first group dinner together in our hotel. 

 ( B, D )    

We are off again after breakfast this morning for another short jaunt on our luxury coach to LIVERPOOL. For BEATLES fans, this will be an amazing day filled with the history of this industrial city and of course its most illustrious natives...THE BEATLES.

Upon arrival in the city, our experienced and knowledgeable local guide will board our coach and guide us for the next few hours through all the sights of Liverpool. Along with the history of Liverpool and the majestic Liverpool Cathedral ( the 5th largest cathedral in the world with the heaviest bells ) , we will see the childhood homes of the ``Fab Four ``, Penny Lane and  Strawberry Field and the statue of Eleanor Rigby in Chevasse Park, dedicated to All the Lonely People....

See the ``Ferry Cross the Mersey`, and The Cavern Club on Mathew Street. 

https://www.visitliverpool.com/

Our coach tour will conclude at The Albert Dock where we will visit the Beatles Story museum. Your admission to this famous museum also includes entrance to the Pier Head museum, a short walk along the pier, where you can also take in the Hidden Gallery. A display of 38 candid black and white photographs of the Beatles just before Beatlemania hit, and taken by photographer Paul Berriff during 1963-64. They were  forgotten in his attic for almost 50 years, and are now on display at the Pier Head Museum. 

If you are not a huge BEATLES fan, the International Slavery Museum is well worth a visit, and just a short walk from The Beatles Story. 

Take time after wondering through the Beatles Story to enjoy lunch at the wonderful Albert Dock complex in one of many little cafes and restaurants....do a little souvenir shopping, or perhaps take a stroll over to Mathew Street and the Cavern Club, where up and coming live bands play pretty well all day. Surely someone you know will appreciate a T shirt from The Cavern Club !    

Our coach will depart around 5:30-6 PM to head back to Manchester.

You may want to have an early dinner in Liverpool, or you may opt to soak up some more of the exciting pop culture, and take a later train back to Manchester. The last trains back to Manchester from Liverpool Lime Street Station, leave at approximately 10 PM, and the 35 minute journey costs approximately $27 CAD.

Whatever your choice, we are sure you will have had a memorable day !

(B)

This morning our coach will leave a wee bit later, so you can have a more leisurely breakfast in the hotel, before we set off at 9:15 AM.

We will just be going 15 minutes across town to Daisy Nook - a beautiful garden shop owned by our Corrie expert Mark Llewellyn. Mark at one time was the Manager for Roy Barraclough who used to play Alec Gilroy ( a previous landlord of The Rovers Return) Mark has been dubbed by some as `` Mr. Corrie`` as he  knows more about the stars of the show than most.  Mark will give us a wonderful talk on the origins of the show, from the original Granada and Tony Warren through to classic characters and actors. Be prepared for lots of Corrie tidbits past and present!

We will have some time to browse through this delightful centre with unique giftware and treasures to take home, before our very own talented floral designer and judge Neville MacKay treats us to an amazing floral demonstration. Not to worry guys...you will enjoy it immensely too ! 

Our coach will leave Daisy Nook about 12:30PM back to our hotel. The afternoon will be free for you to explore Manchester at leisure, maybe do some shopping at the Arndale Centre, take a tour of Manchester United football club and Old Trafford Museum, or just relax and enjoy some biscuits and clotted cream in a nearby cafe.

You might want to check out the Legoland Discovery Centre. There is a tribute to Roy and Hailey Cropper based on their iconic scenes in Blackpool before Hailey died. They re-created the Blackpool Tower with 20,000 lego bricks !  

This evening we will be having a special dinner in the hotel, and you never know what surprises we will have up our sleeves. Just know it will be a treat !

( B,D)      

Make sure you enjoy a great breakfast this morning as you will no doubt be too excited to eat much lunch ! 

Have your phones and cameras charged and ready, as our coach will depart the hotel at approximately 11:15 this morning for the Coronation Street studios at ITV in Salford Quays.  It`s only about a 15 minute drive, but we want to make sure we are there in plenty of time for our 12 noon visit !

This day has brought many past tour members to tears as they got to rub shoulders with personalities who have been part of their lives for many years. 

We never know what actors we will meet, or how many......but ITV never disappoints us , and always has a special treat in store for us !

Some years we have had as many as 20 different cast members milling around, chatting, taking photos with our guests, and enjoying being among some of their Canadian fans.  Some actors have even come in on their day off when they know we will be visiting. We have often been invited to watch the actual filming of a scene, and one year became part of a special documentary celebrating ( Our Rita) Barbara Knox`s 50 year anniversary on the show. For die hard Coronation Street fans it truly is a dream come true....and even if you are not a hard core Corrie fan, you will be swept up in all the excitement and thoroughly enjoy the experience !

We have lots of time to wonder in and out of all the sets...the Kabin, Dev`s, The Bistro, Audrey`s, Roys Rolls , Streetcars, Preston`s Petals and the inside set of Tyrone and Fiz`s, Sally and Tim`s, Ken Barlow`s, The Platt`s, The Factory.... and this year we will also get to see the Weatherfield Police Station,and Speed Daal !  

It is a full afternoon and folks just about float onto the coach when it is time to leave.

This really is the epitome for Coronation Street fans, and we are so pleased to be able to share it with you ! 

After we leave the studios and head back to the hotel, the rest of your day is free for you to enjoy as you wish. You might enjoy heading to Annie`s....the restaurant owned by Fiz ( Jennie McAlpine)  and her husband Chris Farr, for a lovely and reasonably priced dinner. Sometimes Jennie is there in the restaurant if she is not working as Fiz.

It is located within easy walking distance.

If you are up for an evening walk to Canal Street, ( The famous Gay Village in Manchester), our Neville MacKay gives a great tour. It is a very colourful and vibrant area.            

Just don`t stay out too late...we have an early morning trip to Blackpool tomorrow !

  (B)

Today will bring out your inner child as you enjoy a full day in this famous British seaside resort. 

We will be leaving just a bit earlier today, so make sure you have breakfast and are ready to board the coach by 8:30. Blackpool is just a little over an hour away, but there is so much to experience, we want you to have lots of time to have fun.

Blackpool is often mentioned during Coronation Street episodes, and many scenes have been filmed in the famous resort....

Going way back in time Jack and Vera Duckworth had a long standing relationship with Blackpool...Vera often took grandson Tommy there and before Vera died , Jack and Vera were going to move to Blackpool. Jack and Vera have been immortalized at Madame Tussolds wax museum in Blackpool, along with Michelle Connor, Deirdre and Ken Barlow, Bet Lynch, and Hilda Ogden. Your included Blackpool BIG Ticket gives you entrance to Madame Tussolds where you can enjoy a pint in the Rovers and also see many music and sport legends in wax.. Your Big ticket also gives you admission to the Blackpool Eye, the Blackpool Dungeon, The Blackpool Circus, The Tower Ballroom ( Take a whirl on the dance floor of the iconic and stylish Blackpool Tower Ballroom – the most spectacular Ballroom in the world.) plus SEA LIFE Blackpool , and Jungle Jim's.

Not too many years ago Hailey asked Roy to take her to dance in The Blackpool Tower Ballroom before she died, and Jenny was almost run over by a tram in a scene in Blackpool as she jumped in front of the tram to save little Jack Webster. 

If you enjoy amusement parks, you won't want to miss Pleasure Beach and all its attractions like the giant roller coaster ! 

Take a stroll on famous Blackpool Beach and along the promenade full of souvenir shops, and  when the sun sets, be dazzled by one of the most spectacular free light shows on earth.  At 10 kilometers long and using over one million bulbs, the Blackpool Illuminations are an awesome spectacle. 

The lights are switched on at approximately 6PM, so we will remain in Blackpool until 8PM to give you lots of time to enjoy them before heading back to Manchester.

(B)

Wow ...a week goes by quickly when you are having so much fun !

Breakfast will be available in the hotel this morning for those who may be staying on in Manchester or taking a flight or train later in the day.

For those with early morning flights, one coach transfer to the Manchester Airport will be provided at approximately 5AM, and a boxed breakfast will be available for you at check out. Please just let Marilyn know at least 24 hours in advance so she can advise the hotel.

We know you will have made some new friends, realized some dreams and are now part of our Coronation Travel family ! 

Thank you for choosing to travel with Coronation Travel. We wish you safe travels as we bid you farewell, and hope we will see you again !