If you're from the west, stick to the west. That's always been my principle, devon, Cornwaal, Cumbria, lancashire, N Staffs, cheshire.plus Argyll, the ZHebrides, Cork, kerry etc. All the places I've lived and worked. never cross the Pennines!
Lancaster, Manchester and Liverpool. and Stoke/Newcsatle-under-Lyme (Keele University and Staffordshire University) are all fabulous cities with universities, loads of music, and surrounded by incredible countryside. Lancaster and Stoke are small. Liverpool and Manchester are big. If you want quick access to the lakes, Scotland and the sea and the sea, pick Lancaster. If you want a quick run down the M5 back home to oo-aar-land, pick Stoke and go to Keele probably. If you want big cosmopolitan happening cities(why not? now is the chance to sample something other than Somerset) go for Liverpool or Manchester. But it's all good.`