Regional Guide
The Best Family Days Out in the North East
From otters and flamingos to jumping pillows and go-karts, the North East is packed with days out that keep children happy rain or shine. Here are the best for families with younger kids — farms and wildlife centres, an aquarium and the region’s biggest adventure park — with plenty more in our other guides.
Farms, zoos & wildlife
WWT Washington Wetland Centre
Washington
Otters, flamingos & welly walks
A brilliant all-weather day out for younger children: a mix of wetland, woodland and nature reserve home to Chilean flamingos, Asian short-clawed otters, cranes and hundreds of birds, with daily feeds, welly walks, an indoor discovery area and a big outdoor play park. Open almost every day of the year.
Whitehouse Farm Centre
near Morpeth
Farm animals & play
One of the region's most popular family farm parks, on the edge of Morpeth, with farm animals to meet and feed, reptiles, indoor and outdoor play areas and tractor rides — an easy full day for toddlers and primary-age children whatever the weather.
Plan a day in Morpeth→Northumberland College Zoo
Kirkley Hall, Ponteland
Small zoo on a college campus
A friendly small zoo in the grounds of Kirkley Hall near Ponteland, run by Northumberland College, with a surprising range of animals from meerkats and reptiles to farm favourites — a gentle, manageable day out for little ones, paired with the college's handsome gardens.
Explore Ponteland→Hall Hill Farm
County Durham
Working farm · animal handling
A working farm near Lanchester, in the Gibson family since 1925 and open to visitors across 700 acres, with animal handling, tractor-and-trailer rides, a play barn and riverside walks — a hands-on, down-to-earth day out south of the Tyne.
Aquarium & adventure
Tynemouth Aquarium
Tynemouth
Rainy-day · under-3s free
A compact seafront aquarium right by Tynemouth's beaches, packed with marine life from sharks and rays to seahorses and an otter family. Under-3s go free, and it's an easy, captivating treat for little ones — perfect to pair with a walk on Longsands or a poor-weather afternoon.
Plan a day in Tynemouth→Adventure Valley
County Durham
The North East's biggest adventure park
The region's biggest family adventure park, near Durham, with more than fifty attractions and three huge indoor play-and-animal zones — so it works whatever the weather. Jumping pillows, go-karts, a giant play fort and town, adventure golf, a farmyard and daily animal activities easily fill a full day for all ages.
More family favourites feature in our other guides: Beamish and the Life Science Centre in our best days out, The Alnwick Garden’s treehouse in our gardens guide, the puffins of the Farne Islands, and the region’s best beaches.
Plan & book your visit
- Book family attraction tickets→— Adventure Valley, Tynemouth Aquarium & more
- Find family-friendly places to stay→
Plan your day
Browse the full Visit the North East guide for parking and where to eat near each town, or see what’s on this weekend.