Travel isn’t exactly high on the list of priorities for anybody at the minute.

With the festive season coming up, not to mention rising costs driving us to watch our wallets with a hawk-eye, those who are considering a trip away might be leaning more towards adventures closer to home.

But in the UK there are many fantastic locations that won’t break the bank.  The capital city is an obvious destination, but if you fancy a less traditional trip around the British Isles, these are three UK cities that make for a fabulous getaway.

1. Liverpool

Home of The Beatles, the Albert Dock and Anfield stadium, Liverpool is arguably the UK’s most underrated city.

It boasts friendly locals, a bustling nightlife, and plenty of daytime attractions to fill your trip away.  Visit The Beatles Story Museum, enjoy a drink and a show at The Cavern Club where John, Paul, George and Ringo played, or take a Magical Mystery Tour to all the hotspots of the city.

The Albert Dock alone has plenty to explore, including the Tate Modern, bars and eateries, and a boarding point for the Yellow Duckmarines which will take you on a ride across the waterfront.

2. Manchester

For those with literary inclinations, Manchester is a destination with much to offer, including the largest UK Waterstones outside of London over on Deansgate.

Meanwhile, just across the road, book lovers will fall head over heels in love with the John Rylands Library, a glorious work of gothic architecture that offers a spectacular view inside and out.

Manchester Central Library is also an  ideal spot to relax with a book or study an online degree, such as those provided by ARU, in a quiet, distraction free environment.

And on top of its literary locations, Manchester attractions also include the Museum of Science and Industry, the National Football Museum, its very own art gallery, and the Manchester Crystal Maze Experience.

3. Edinburgh

For those who like things that go bump in the night, from ghouls and ghosts to true crime, Edinburgh is the perfect city.  Picturesque though it may be with its mesmeric castle and quaint cobbled streets of the Old Town, there are horrors aplenty lurking in this historic city.

For those who like spooks of a supernatural variety, Mercat Tours run some of the best ghost walks in the UK.

Meanwhile, for those who enjoy true crime, discover more about the murders of Burke and Hare, two of Scotland’s most infamous serial killers who sold the bodies of their victims to medical professionals for experimentation, at the History of Surgery Museum.  Visitors can learn more about the dark legacy of these two criminals, and view the death mask of William Hare, as well as a notebook supposedly made from the skin of William Burke.

Of course, it isn’t all quite so bleak – visitors to the city can also experience a number of locations which inspired the tale of a certain boy wizard, including Cockburn Street, on which Diagon Alley was supposedly based.

Looking for your next weekend away in the UK? These three cities might just be your perfect location.