Visitor Guide
Visit the North East
From the beaches of the North Sea coast to the historic market towns of Northumberland, the North East is full of genuinely great days out. Pick a town below for a local visitor guide — how to get there and where to park, what to see and do, and where to eat and stay. Each guide is written locally, and names the town’s real tourist information centre where there is one.
The Coast
Beaches, priories and seaside towns along the North Sea coast.
Tynemouthtynemouth.live
Priory, pier and the Longsands
A handsome coastal village on the Metro — Tynemouth Priory and Castle on the headland, the sweeping Longsands and King Edward's Bay, and a lively weekend market in the old station.
Plan your visit →Whitley Baywhitleybay.live
Spanish City & St Mary's Lighthouse
A classic seaside town with a long sandy beach, the restored Spanish City dome, and St Mary's Lighthouse on its tidal island at the northern end.
Plan your visit →South Shieldssouthshields.org
Award-winning beaches & Arbeia
Sandy Blue Flag beaches at the mouth of the Tyne, Arbeia Roman Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), The Word cultural centre, and the famous Colmans fish and chips.
Plan your visit →Blythblyth.live
South Beach & the beach huts
A long dune-backed beach with a landmark row of colourful beach huts, the WWII coastal-defence museum at Blyth Battery, and the Victorian Ridley Park.
Plan your visit →Northumberland Market Towns
Historic inland towns with castles, gardens, abbeys and Hadrian’s Wall on the doorstep.
Alnwickalnwick.live
The Castle, the Garden & Barter Books
A historic Northumberland market town — Alnwick Castle (much-filmed Percy family seat), The Alnwick Garden with its Grand Cascade and Treehouse, and Barter Books in the old railway station.
Plan your visit →Hexhamhexham.live
The Abbey & Hadrian's Wall country
A Tyne Valley market town with its own railway station — the Saxon-founded Abbey, the Old Gaol (England's oldest purpose-built prison), a bustling market, and a gateway to Hadrian's Wall.
Plan your visit →Morpethmorpeth.net
Carlisle Park & the Chantry
A riverside market town on the East Coast Main Line — the award-winning Carlisle Park and William Turner Garden, a Norman castle, and the Chantry housing the Bagpipe Museum.
Plan your visit →What’s on this weekend
Planning around events? See what’s on across the North East this weekend, or browse the full regional events calendar.