For a property to get a big thumbs-up from Kevin McCloud and Grand Designs, you know it must be special – and you can now stay overnight inside one of his favourites, the Lymm Water Tower.
This iconic 150-year-old landmark just outside Greater Manchester has been carefully converted into an Airbnb favourite.
The tower’s restoration has been an award-winning endeavour and has been in the public eye for more than two decades, The Hoot Leeds reports.
After being purchased back in 1997 by a sealed auction bid to Jannette and Russell Harris, the historic building was transformed into a contemporary home that combines that need to escape reality without compromising on any modern conveniences.
The Lymm Water Tower was a working water system up until the 1970s but has since been transformed with an extensive wrap-around extension that makes up the rooms itself.
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Described as an ode to ‘calm modernity’, there’s truly nothing quite like it in the north, even the UK – and now, you’ve got the opportunity to play Grand Designs without any of the construction, and stay here on a countryside escape of your own.
Inside, you’ll find two different staycation options.
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Set over two floors, the first is a open-plan, double-height suite with a king-size handmade Duxiana bed, a dressing area, with dressing table, extensive wardrobe space with a guest tablet (but no TV), plus and a bathroom floating over the bedroom: so regardless of whether you’re staying for a single evening, or a fortnight, you’ll have plenty of storage and freedom to make the staycation your own home, for however long you need.
The Penthouse Suite meanwhile is a single-storey, open-plan lounge with en-suite and king-sized bedroom. This suite in particular boasts the award-winning views, and is fitted with stunning sound system, mood lighting and a TV and guest tablet.
Both come with first-class service it would seem. Continental breakfast trays are served in your room and welcome refreshments are provided. You’ll also have access to a refreshment area, complete with, tea and coffee making facilities, ice, glasses and a fridge – and the hosts have even received a prestigious ‘superhost’ rating on Airbnb for their hospitality.
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Lymm Water Tower. Credit: Airbnb
So, why exactly has the water tower become such a popular name across the north over the past two decades?
The restoration and renovation project appeared on TV show Seven Year Makeover, and went on to be selected as one of Kevin McCloud’s Best of Grand Designs, despite the fact that it did not appear on the show itself, and went on to win 11 different awards.
Most notably, the former owners, the Harris’s, took home 2006 RIBA Award for the Best Contemporary House before deciding to move on from the project, and was later sold to its current owners, who have decided to share the unique home with the UK by opening it up as a short-term rental.
These days, the site itself is the perfect escape to the country, and with just an hour to drive from Leeds, or slightly further from Sheffield, Lymm has plenty to offer.
You can find more information, including how to book your staycation at Lymm Water Tower on Airbnb here.
Trains halted after car crashes onto Manchester to Liverpool line in Salford
Danny Jones
There is set to be some significant travel chaos for the remainder of the day after a car crashed onto a section of the train tracks in Salford, resulting in major rail delays.
At present, all trains running along the line between Manchester city centre and Liverpool have been cancelled while the vehicle is removed from the tracks.
The incident is said to have occurred in the early hours of Friday morning (7 February) and while the exact details surrounding the crash are still scarce, the car landed on its roof and the driver has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.
These were the scenes late last night/this morning:
#ARREST | We responded to a collision on Regents Road in #Salford this morning at around 2am, following reports of a road traffic collision involving one car on the railway line near Regents Road roundabout.
According to reports, the 30-year-old is said to have been rushed to the hospital for further assessment, though their injuries are not thought to be serious.
Fortunately, there were no other drivers involved in the accident which took place at around 2am on the roundabout at Regent Road in Salford.
Nevertheless, the Greater Manchester rail network and beyond will still be impacted well after the car has been removed from the tracks.
Transpennine Express has stated that travellers can expect disruption until around 1pm at the earliest but with the knock-on effect cancellation and delays will have on local lines, not to mention the congestion that will follow on further North West lines and other public transport, the situation is less than ideal.
You can see more footage from the scene this morning down below:
‼️There’s major disruption to the trains between Manchester and Liverpool this morning – after a car smashed into train tracks in #Salford.
Providing the latest updates to passengers online, Northern Assist has stated that those “Liverpool Lime Street who require Manchester Victoria/Piccadilly/Oxford Rd can travel via Warrington Bank Quay. Passengers at Manchester stations who require Lime Street can travel via Warrington Bank Quay.
“Passengers at Chester who require Manchester Victoria can travel via Stockport or alternatively travel on Transport for Wales services between Chester and Newton Le Willows where a bus service will operate towards Manchester Victoria…
“Passengers at Manchester Piccadilly who require Chester can travel via Stockport or alternatively, travel to Manchester Victoria, where a replacement bus service is operating to Newton le Willows and travel on the next available Transport for Wales service to Chester. Ticket acceptance is in place with Transport For Wales, via any reasonable route.”
Fingers crossed that the car is removed from the track promptly, the debris is cleared up as quickly as possible and the situation in Salford is resolved soon – keep your eyes peeled on social media for information on services.
⚠️If you are travelling between #liverpool and #Manchester today please be aware of disruption due to a police incident
In a bid to build on current annual offering of Bee Network bus tickets, TfGM has now announced that a new ticket annual ticket covering both bus and tram journeys will be launching just over a month’s time.
Launching 23 March, get unlimited bus and tram travel from £2.75 a day with a new multi-modal annual ticket. 🚌🚃
Spread payments monthly or annually – at no extra cost – with your local Credit Union.
Customers who purchase the annual ticket when it launches are set to save 15%, when compared to buying 13 28-day tickets – with the overall price depending on the numbers of Metrolink zones chosen, ranging from one to all four zones.
You’ll also be able to spread the payments monthly or annually too, and at no extra cost, all with the support of a Credit Union loan.
According to TfGM, keeping fares low like this is “a key part of the Bee Network”, but it has only been made possible by Greater Manchester becoming the first area to bring buses back under local control in 40 years.
A new ‘cheaper’ annual bus and tram ticket is launching in Greater Manchester next month / Credit: TFGM
As well as the existing Bee Bus annual ticket, this new multi-modal annual ticket will also sit alongside the existing Metrolink annual travelcard, which provides unlimited travel for tram passengers through their chosen zones, as well as the new £2 ‘hopper’ fare that allows passengers to use multiple buses within one hour and the reduced seven and 28-day and annual tickets.
The new ticket will be available from 23 March, which is the same day as the launch of the highly-anticipated London-style transport system, allowing passengers to tap in and tap out on Bee Network buses and trams.
The move will see a maximum daily cap of £9.50, and weekly cap of £41 for unlimited bus and tram travel anywhere in Greater Manchester – with off peak options costing even less.
Sophie Smith -
25th February 2024 
