Manchester

Manchester's creative quarter — independent shops, vintage stores, dog-friendly pubs, and the famous Affleck's emporium on Tib Street. Leashed dogs welcome in nearly every independent venue; the weekend Stevenson Square market accepts dogs.

Manchester's flagship park (240 hectares), one of the largest municipal parks in Europe, with the Grade-I-listed Heaton Hall (1772). Off-leash on the open lawns; direct Metrolink tram from the centre in 25 minutes.

Historic canal basin where the Industrial Revolution shipped its first cotton, now a leafy quarter of canal-side bars, the Castlefield Bowl, and Roman fort remnants. The Bridgewater Canal towpath leads all the way to Sale (9 km) on leash.

36-hectare estate in leafy Didsbury, with woodland, water gardens, meadows, and the Mersey riverside path. Off-leash tolerated on the back meadows; café-tearoom on site.

109-hectare park to the south with marked off-leash zone, dog-friendly trails, and a Wythenshawe Hall café-terrace that admits dogs outside. Bus 41 from Piccadilly Gardens.

National Trust pine-and-dune coast 90 minutes by train from Manchester (via Liverpool). Off-leash year-round on the 4 km beach and the dune trails; leash required on the red-squirrel reserve paths.