can you name a few of the old counties?
UNANSWERABLE
where is northern england located? It is the northern part of England,  bordered by the Midlands to the south. It extends from the Anglo-Scottish border in the north to near the River Trent in the south.
wiki:24489459
Northern England [SEP] Introduction
Northern England, also known as the North of England or simply the North, is the northern part of England, considered as a single cultural area. Northern England is bordered by the Midlands to the south. It extends from the Anglo-Scottish border in the north to near the River Trent in the south, although precise definitions of its southern extent vary. Northern England approximately comprises three statistical regions: the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber. These have a combined population of around 14.9 million as of the 2011 Census and an area of 37,331 km (14,414 sq mi).