While first-time visitors to the United Kingdom rarely venture farther beyond London and perhaps some famous nearby southern destinations such as Oxford or Stonehenge, many other parts of the country are seeing significant spikes in traveler numbers — both from Brits traveling closer to home and returning international visitors looking to experience more of the country.
National rail passenger numbers show that train travel to the north of the country was up by nearly 10% since the start of 2026. Travel to major northern cities has been up by double-digits with train trips to Manchester up by 19% and trips into Liverpool by 19%.
As the northernmost major city in England, Newcastle saw the biggest increase of all at 27%.
As a result of this spike in traveler interest, major hotel chains have also been setting their sights on different parts of England as part of their expansion plans.
Fairmont Cheshire to open in northwestern England in July
Upscale Japanese-American restaurant and hotel chain Nobu is currently developing a new Nobu Woolcox property on 185 acres of land in the East Midlands ceremonial county of Rutland.
After several years of redeveloping the 17th-century Mere Old Hall into a luxury hotel, Canadian luxury chain Fairmont will open the Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere to its first visitors on July 10.
Related: Why luxury hotels are betting big on Scotland travel
Cheshire is a northwestern country south of Manchester and Liverpool and sharing a border with Wales that is known for rolling hills, Roman walls and historic market towns. It is also the birthplace of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” fantasy children’s novel author Lewis C. Carroll.
The Regency-era home built by the Brooke family of baronets in 1652, Mere Old Hall remained on the site as a historic estate and private golf club until it was purchased by Dubai-based Select Group for a £125 reconversion of the property into a 116-room hotel under the Fairmont brand.
Fairmont
“A quintessentially British setting”: The Fairmont Cheshire
The property sits on 157 acres of land overlooking the local Mere Lake after which it is named; as a result, it is being designed in the “life well played” theme of a British countryside retreat with an 18-hole golf course, a spa and The Orangery garden serving afternoon tea and champagne.
Other dining envisioned for the hotel includes a main Gordon Ramsay at The Mere restaurant and an Indian restaurant at The Club Lounge.
More Travel News:
- Airline to launch unusual new flight to Cayman Islands from the U.S.
- What you can expect at Disneyland’s new ‘World of Frozen’
- Unexpected country is most luxurious travel destination for 2026
- U.S. government issues strange warning on Ireland travel
The Fairmont Cheshire will be the hotel chain’s fourth property in the United Kingdom alongside the Fairmont Windsor Park, the Fairmont St Andrews and The Savoy in London.
Reservations for the property for July and beyond have been made available for booking on the Fairmont site.
“Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere offers a countryside sanctuary designed for pause and restoration within beautifully appointed surrounds,” Fairmont Chief Brand Officer Claudia Kozma Kaplan said of the newest hotel opening. Guests can indulge in pure serenity at the calming spa which draws inspiration from the lake, savor celebratory moments in the refined Club Lounge after a round of golf, and experience world-class, British and international cuisine at Gordon Ramsay at The Mere, all within a quintessentially British rural setting.”
Related: What exactly is a very British spa? London is about to get one
#unexpected #corner #northern #England #luxury #hotel