Is anyone aware of any harpsichords in the North West? The only ones I've ever seen are (out of tune/broken) in Bradford...that's just too far for me! :-\

My daughter's clarinet teacher makes harpsichords for a hobby - that's in Manchester. I don't think that he makes them to sell though.

I'm not looking to buy one (yet ) I'm just interested if there's any around to have a little tinker on! I would have done so when getting my recorders, but I forgot to ask

There's a guy in Lancaster who makes them, he says visitors are welcome, but I don't know if that's only visitors who are intending to buy one .

Have a look here .

Wee bit far for moi methinks

IL - AP's suggestion is a good one, even if it feels a bit far to travel - for one thing, Bob is a very nice guy, and for another, he does a huge amount of work looking after harpsichords in the north-west - and further afield too, for that matter. He would be a good contact if you wanted to find out where to get access to instruments to have a try-out.
I do remember going with my husband to look at instruments in Manchester and round abouts - but they were antiques, and one was in the stuffy dusty basement of a music shop, cough, cough, splutter, sneeze. Not the best place to go to try out.

there is onr at chethams

Oh yeah and Chethams are REALLY gonna let me use a harpsichord for virtually no reason, especially since I'm not a harpsichordist

Have you asked?

Well no