A village in Lancashire has been named one of the best places to visit in the UK this spring – and it’s not hard to see why.
The picturesque little village of Downham has been owned by the same family for centuries, and has no road signs, no aerials, no overhead phone lines. It really is totally unspoiled.
The Assheton family, who reside at Downham Hall, has ensure the village and surrounding farms remain as a preserved, unspoilt community.
And that’s caught plenty of attention over the years, with the village used as a setting for TV and films over the years thanks to its historic charm.
After you’re done wandering, you can grab a scoop of local ice cream, or a pint in the 18th century Assheton Arms gastropub nearby.
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The village has just been named one of the top places to visit in the UK this spring in a new guide released by LNER.
They said Downham feels like ‘a step away from the everyday’.
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The listing says: “If you’re looking for somewhere that feels a step away from the everyday, Downham is a good place to start.
“Family-owned for generations, the village has kept things simple, no road signs, no aerials, just open views and a quiet sense of history.
“Set within the Forest of Bowland, it’s easy to see why it’s been used as a backdrop for films and TV over the years, including Whistle Down the Wind and The Secret of Crickley Hall.
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“Grab a scoop of local Lancashire ice cream from the village shop and head to the banks of Downham Brook, a perfect spot to sit and listen to the water as the village wakes up for spring.
“Finish your trip at the award-winning Assheton Arms; this 18th-century gastropub sits at the highest point of the village, serving up seasonal plates alongside tranquil countryside vistas that make the modern world feel miles away.”
David Flesher, Commercial Director atLNER, said: “At this time of year, many people are looking for a chance to make the most of longer days and see more of the country as it’s changing with the season.
“Across the UK, some of the best scenery sits beyond the larger towns and cities, in villages that offer a different pace and new experiences. Travelling by rail is one of the best ways to reach these places and enjoy the journey along the way.
“This research highlights destinations that showcase the variety of landscapes across the country, encouraging people to step outside their usual routine and see more of what’s on their doorstep, and further afield.”
Inside Levenshulme Antiques Village, Manchester’s three-story treasure trove of vintage finds
Daisy Jackson
If you’re the sort of person who gets a real kick out of saying ‘Thanks, it’s vintage’, then you probably already know of Levenshulme Antiques Village. But if not, allow us to show you around a little.
This three-story hypermarket has been trading out of the former Levenshulme Town Hall for decades, filling the 127-year-old building with items potentially even older.
It’s a vast antiques centre where every twist in the maze reveals vintage furniture, collectibles, artwork and curiosities from every era imaginable.
The building itself still carries plenty of charm and history from the building’s past as the local council offices, and thankfully very little of its personality was stripped away in the process of transforming the building into the Levenshulme Antiques Village.
Today, visitors still climb the grand staircase beneath soaring ceilings and pass through hallways lined with original wall-to-wall ceramic tiles.
There’s free parking outside (which is good, because you’re likely to leave with a boot-full of treasure), and once inside, the scale of the place quickly becomes apparent.
Friendly traders fill the building, many of whom are more than happy to chat, share stories behind their stock, or guide visitors towards hidden gems tucked away in quieter rooms. And there are plenty of gems to uncover.
A room packed with mid-century furnitureLevenshulme Antiques Village is a treasure trove of vintage findsJust look at this lot…
From antique furniture and oil paintings to jewellery, records, ceramics and shelves overflowing with nicknacks, the village rewards slow wandering. One moment you might stumble across a beautifully carved temple door; the next, a collection of vintage signs or a perfectly preserved mid-century cabinet.
The top floor is perhaps the most striking space of all. Once a ballroom, the enormous room still retains a sense of grandeur, with high ceilings and huge windows flooding the space with natural light, but is now transformed into a densely packed emporium of antiques and collectibles.
Outside, the experience continues with artist workshops and creative studios, among them is craftsman Kip Kaboli, known for producing handcrafted Japanese knives and even hosting oyster events. It’s an unusual but fitting addition to a place that celebrates both heritage and craftsmanship.
Old ceramic tiles still line the hallwaysThe on-site tearoom at Levenshulme Antiques Village
Halfway through exploring, many visitors end up at the affordable tearoom on the first floor, serving comforting classics like salad sandwiches and afternoon teas.
What makes Levenshulme Antiques Village special is not simply the volume of antiques packed inside, but the atmosphere, the warm welcome from traders, and the weird and wonderful history of the place.
Rules around booking driving tests in UK change from today to make system ‘fairer’
Emily Sergeant
The rules around booking driving tests in the UK are officially set to change from today in a bid to make the system ‘fairer’.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has now introduced new rules for car driving test bookings, putting learners ‘firmly in control’ of their own booking, as it is now against the law for third parties – including unofficial test booking and cancellation finder services, as well as driving instructors – to make bookings for someone else.
It will also be a breach of DVSA’s terms and conditions for the booking service for third parties to change, swap, or cancel a driving test for someone else.
Learners should only ever pay the official DVSA fee – which is £62 on weekdays and £75 on evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
The Government says the new rules aim to make booking driving tests ‘fairer’ for learner drivers.
While driving instructors will no longer be able to book tests on behalf of of learners, they will still be able to advise learners on when they are ready to take a test, as well as set their available times to prevent learners from booking tests at times that do not work for them.
Following on from changes to test alterations which were introduced at the end of March, from 9 June 2026, further restrictions will come into force limiting learners to moving their test only to one of the three nearest driving test centres.
The DVSA has also pledged to continue increasing driving examiner capacity to help provide more tests for learners to book.
“Our priority is to stop learners being exploited by third parties, put them in control of their driving test, and make the process fairer by clamping down on businesses that resell tests at inflated prices,” commented Beverley Warmington, who is the DVSA Chief Executive.
“These new measures help bring a halt to a system where the use of bots and third parties increases the amount some learners pay for a test and blocks test availability for many others.
Daisy Jackson -
2nd April 2026 
