Bill Bryson once wrote of the tiny medieval City of Durham, "If you haven't been to Durham, go. Go at once. Take my car." Bryson has since been named Chancellor of the University of Durham (entirely coincidentally, I'm sure), and the chance of spotting him is only one of many reasons to hop off the train mid-way between London and Edinburgh and visit this small cathedral town.

Halifax, Haligonia, Halifornia, or just Hali - by any name, it still smells like my favourite place on Earth. It's a small city that punches well above its weight when it comes to dining, nightlife and live music - and with five post-secondary institutions in town, there are plenty of options to experience it all on a budget.