Manchester has been getting a lot of headlines since Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s creation of ‘No10 North’ in the city.The northern branch of the Prime Minister’s office is currently on Albert Square, an 18-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly station.The general feeling is the Mancunian economy will enjoy a boost – helped by tourists to the Science and Industry Museum, clubs and bars in the bustling Northern Quarter, Manchester Opera House and the set of Coronation Street.Other cities in the North may be looking on with envy – so here we ‘big up’ some of Manchester’s northern ‘rivals’ and highlight some of the top reasons to visit.LIVELY IN LIVERPOOL Head to Liverpool for the docks, pubs and a taste of BeatlemaniaLiverpool has historically been Manchester’s greatest rival, especially during industrialisation (and on the football pitch). The Beatles Story Museum (beatlesstory.com) and the Cavern Club (cavernclub.com) – where the Beatles regularly played – are big draws. From the latter you can take a Magical Mystery Tour to see sights connected to the band (£21.95).Then there’s the Walker Art Gallery (liverpoolmuseums.org.uk), full of masterpieces by the likes of Rembrandt, Turner, Rubens and Monet, as well as Tate Liverpool (tate.org.uk). A visit to the shops and restaurants on Royal Albert Dock is a must and there are two cathedrals to see (Roman Catholic and Anglican). For a tipple, drop by the Philharmonic Dining Rooms, (nicholsonspubs.co.uk).NEWCASTLE TOON TREATS Newcastle Castle is the fortress after which the northern city is namedNewcastle remains famous for its nightlife, especially around Bigg Market, Cloth Market, Collingwood Street and down on the Quayside by the River Tyne. Main attractions include the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art (baltic.art), the Norman fortress of Newcastle Castle (newcastlecastle.co.uk) and Great North Museum: Hancock, packed with artefacts relating to ancient civilisations and natural history (northeastmuseums.org.uk).Tours of the eerie 2.4-mile Victoria Tunnel, built to transport coal from the docks, are possible (75-minute tours, £16, ouseburntrust.org.uk), as they are at the Brinkburn Street Brewery, where craft beers are brewed and tastings are included (two hours, £42, brinkburnbrewery.co.uk). And it’s a 15-minute bus to Segedunum Roman Fort in Wallsend, where parts of Hadrian’s Wall can be seen.SHEFFIELD SURPRISES If you’re a snooker fan, no city should be higher on your list than SheffieldThe Crucible Theatre is famous as the venue of the annual World Snooker Championship held each spring; the next event is April 17 to May 3 (tickets from £50, cruciblesnooker.com). But it’s a regular theatre at other times with major productions including an upcoming King Lear starring Ian McDiarmid (sheffieldtheatres.co.uk).Other attractions include the elegant Sheffield Botanical Gardens, as well as the Millennium Gallery with its art and design displays including a ‘Metalwork Collection’ considered the world’s finest with more than 800 examples of cutlery and tableware; Sheffield is known as ‘Steel City’, after all. The Kelham Island Museum tells the local history of industrialisation (sheffieldmuseums.org.uk).BEER AND CULTURE IN LEEDS Kirkstall Abbey in Leeds is the ruins of a former monasteryIf you like beer, you’re in the right place. Leeds has a famous 17-stop pub crawl known as the ‘Otley Run’ covering 2.5 miles and taking in the likes of Woodies Craft Ale House and Headingley Taps (bar-trek.com).Be sure to visit Kirkstall Abbey, a 12th-century ruined Cistercian monastery down by the River Aire (museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk). There’s also the Royal Armouries Museum, with armour belonging to Henry VIII, samurai swords and the huge armour made for an Indian elephant, right, (royalarmouries.org).In the south-east of the city is Temple Newsam, a fine Tudor/Jacobean country house with grounds by Capability Brown.BAROQUE IN BRADFORD Bradford, and its Science and Media Museum, is a thoroughly under-appreciated cityHome to some of the country’s best curry houses, Bradford also enjoys a glut of eye-catching gothic and baroque buildings – there’s an architectural style known as ‘Bradford Baroque’ – as well as Undercliffe Cemetery, with gothic Victorian gravestones, obelisks and statues of angels.A top curry spot is Mumtaz, which opened in 1979 – (mumtaz.org.uk). You can see works by the late David Hockney at the Salts Mill and 1853 Gallery, while there’s the Bradford Industrial Museum, set in a former spinning mill, and the modern National Science and Media Museum, where you can also find a striking statue of the great, Yorkshire-born writer/observer J. B. Priestley.DREAMY IN DONCASTER If you’re visiting Doncaster, head to Potteric Carr wetland nature reserveDoncaster is most famous for its racecourse and the annual St Leger Stakes, the oldest ‘classic’ in the horseracing calendar, established in 1776. The next event is on September 12 (the 250th anniversary), though races are held year round (doncaster-racecourse.co.uk). Among the city’s attractions is the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, housing ex-military helicopters and a vast array of planes from De Havilland Chipmunks to Douglas DC3s (southyorkshireaircraftmuseum.org.uk). There’s also the Potteric Carr wetland nature reserve, home to bitterns and marsh harriers (ywt.org.uk). Doncaster Market is open Tuesday to Saturday (doncaster.gov.uk).NEVER DULL… HULL In Hull, enjoy the unique aquarium building, The DeepOn arrival at Hull Station you are met by a statue of the popular 20th-century poet Philip Larkin, with his raincoat flowing behind him as he rushes for a train. Larkin lived in Hull from 1955 to 1985 and worked at the university’s library for some time. You can now follow a trail to visit sights connected to his life and poems (thelarkintrail.co.uk).Other reasons to visit include The Deep, a marvellous aquarium in an angular building by the River Humber (thedeep.co.uk). Interesting museums include Wilberforce House, telling the story of the life of abolitionist William Wilberforce, the Streetlife Museum (about the history of transport) and the Hull Maritime Museum (hullmuseums.co.uk).SPLENDOURS OF DURHAM Durham, with its picturesque river, castle and cathedral, is a perfect weekend getawayThe big attraction is obviously Durham Cathedral, built from the 11th to the 13th century. It’s massive and sits on top of the hill, dominating the landscape. There’s no charge for entry though you’re encouraged to donate £5 (durhamcathedral.co.uk).Just south of the centre is a ten-hectare Botanic Garden, while to the north of the centre is the pretty, National Trust-run Crook Hall Gardens, with its maze and secret walled garden (nationaltrust.org.uk).There’s an intriguing Museum of Archaeology, covering local findings from prehistoric to the modern day (dur.ac.uk). Make sure you take time to wander across the splendid Elvet Bridge across the River Wear, dating from medieval times.YORK’S A CORKER York has lured in visitors thanks to its impressive York Minster and the quiant streetsYorkshire’s capital is a tourist honeypot… for good reason. Aside from the magnificent Gothic York Minster, you can walk along the old city walls (for great views) and explore The Shambles, a superb medieval lane with half-timbered, jettied buildings overhanging the thoroughfare.To learn about bygone times, there’s York Castle Museum (yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk) as well as York Dungeon (thedungeons.com/york). The National Railway Museum, close to York station, has a collection of historic trains including The Mallard and The Flying Scotsman (railwaymuseum.org.uk)…. AND DON’T FORGET MANCHESTER’S ‘TWIN CITY’ Salford, Manchester’s twin city, is home to the Lowry, an entertainment complexManchester and Salford, just across the River Irwell, are traditionally known as the ‘Twin Cities’. Salford is home to the Lowry theatre and gallery complex, named after the early 20th-century artist L. S. Lowry, with a section displaying some of his paintings of industrial scenes (thelowry.com). More of his art can be seen at the Salford Museum and Art Gallery (salfordmuseum.com).You can visit the famous Salford Lads Club on the ‘real’ Coronation Street, stop by Ordsall Hall, a fine Tudor mansion (ordsallhall.com), or go shopping at the Quayside Salford shopping centre.