Yeah as a Liverpudlian the Beatles milking has pissed me off for a long time too. The city has so much to offer culturally, historically, architecturally and basically across the board but instead we put a disproportionate amount of funding into stuff to do with a band who, while huge, shouldn't be such a focus of our tourist industry. Tbf though it's a lot better than how it was pre-2008 and Liverpool One, the Beatles milking was insane then. Still the best city though!
I'd definitely recommend the Lake District, even if you only visit one of the lakes, just to get a taste of the countryside. If I'm remembering my childhood correctly, Ullswater is a fave.
And Blackpool is good
only for the fair if you're in the North West (which you will be if you go the Lakes or Manchester), the city itself will make you want to kill yourself.
trust me sis you don't want to come here .. the only redeeming quality is the gay village