After the canals in the midlands, we headed north to Edingburgh..but first with stopovers in Nottingham and Leeds. Nottingham had a charming castle and interesting history and all...but we later found out it has the highest crime and highest number of guns per capita than anywhere else in the UK. Driving around the city we could believe those claims (its still not as scary as high-crime US cities though). Leeds turned out to be a very charming place in the very scenic farming area of Yorkshire. My best clubbing experience in the UK was in Leeds, not just for the music but also because the people were so friendly. Leeds also gets an inordinate number of music festivals in the summer (more than anywhere else in the UK). It also has a great university. I wish I had spent more time in Leeds, and would consider going back to the UK for the Leeds/Manchester corridor more than London any day.