Local Area Guide
There's plenty to see and do nearby. Here are our top picks.
We're lucky to be right in the middle of it all — museums, castles, beaches, and proper pubs are all on your doorstep. These are the places we love and the ones our guests keep coming back for. Northumberland, Hadrian's Wall, Holy Island, Alnwick, and Berwick are all comfortable day trips too.
Don't Miss
Beamish Museum
Step back in time at this award-winning open-air museum with trams, farms, and cobbled streets.
Angel of the North
Antony Gormley's 20-metre steel sculpture, one of England's best known landmarks.
Penshaw Monument
A hilltop Greek temple replica with panoramic views stretching to Durham and the Pennines.
Durham Cathedral & Castle
UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe's finest Norman buildings.
Washington Old Hall
17th-century manor, the ancestral home of George Washington.
F Pit Museum
Small but fascinating museum telling the story of the region's coal-mining past.
Woodhorn Colliery Museum
Beautifully restored colliery home to the famous Pitmen Painters collection.
Finchale Priory
Medieval ruins on the River Wear. Free to visit, run by English Heritage.
Newcastle
Vibrant Quayside, Tyne Bridge, great shopping, nightlife, and the BALTIC gallery.
Sunderland & Seaburn
Award-winning beaches, the annual airshow, and the new Culture House.
Tynemouth
Sandy beach, clifftop priory ruins, and a brilliant weekend market with street food.
Arbeia Roman Fort
Reconstructed Roman gateway and museum on Hadrian's Wall in South Shields.
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
Free museum with 2,000+ plants in indoor gardens. Suits all ages.
Great North Museum: Hancock
Life-size T-Rex, planetarium, and interactive exhibits. Newcastle's top free attraction.
Centre for Life
Award-winning science centre with hands-on experiments and a planetarium.
National Glass Centre
Live glass-making, exhibitions, and a café on the banks of the River Wear.
Sunderland Empire
The North East's largest theatre, the only venue for major West End shows.
Arts Centre Washington
Theatre, gallery, and music venue with a year-round programme for all ages.
Stadium of Light
Sunderland AFC's 49,000-seat home. Stadium tours and major concerts year-round.
Washington Wetland Centre
45 hectares of wetland and woodland, home to birds from around the world.
Princess Anne Park, Washington
Woodland paths along a burn. Good for dog walks and families.
Tanfield Railway
World's oldest railway. Ride a steam train through the countryside.
Saltwell Park
Beautiful Victorian park with a lake, gardens, and a brilliant café.
Herrington Country Park
Wide-open parkland with a lake, play areas, and easy walking trails.
Chester-le-Street Riverfront
Riverside walk along the Wear. Good for a morning stroll.
Barley Mow Inn
Local pub a short walk away. Good for a relaxed evening.
The Wheatsheaf
Pub with real ales, food, and a beer garden.
Toby Carvery, Washington
Family-friendly carvery, also known for its cakes.
York Road Fish Shop
North East fish and chips, a short walk away.
Pity Me Nursery
Garden centre with a cafe. I rate the cakes.
Washington Galleries
Handy shopping centre with high street stores, cafés, and free parking.
Morrisons, Birtley
Large supermarket with a café and plenty of free parking.