North East England
VICTORIAN PARK
Saltwell Park Gateshead East Park Rd, Low Fell, Gateshead NE9 5AX
A beautiful Victorian park to wonder around and explore beautiful streams and cascades. There are activities for all ages including a tennis and basketball courts and a pets corner where you can meet the parks animals. If you come during the summer you can enjoy the boating lake too for the water lovers of the family!
ADVENTURE PARK
Tynemouth Park Tynemouth Park, Grand Parade, Tynemouth, North Shields NE30 4JL
A dinosaur themed adventure land home to the Lost World adventure golf, The Jungle Wipeout and an outdoor soft play area with the Kamikazi slide. There is a Pirate maze to get lost and found in and a traditional Boating lake. When you get hungry you can head over for a Fish and Chip takeaway to keep you going.
CASTLE
Dunstanburgh Castle and Embleton Bay Dunstanburgh Rd, Alnwick NE66 3TT
An iconic historic castle overlooking Embleton bay, once upon a time one of the largest and most grandiose forts in Northern England, still even now thoroughly dominating an especially beautiful stretch of Northumberland's coastline. It is a reportedly easy walk from Craster along to the castle, assisted by the plethora of sheep and cows for the kids to spot and numerous rock pools on the beach to explore if you've got the weather.
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dunstanburgh-castle/ / https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunstanburgh-castle
MUSEUM
Beamish museum Regional Resource Centre, Beamish DH9 0RG
Set in over 300 acres of beautiful countryside, the museum vividly recreates life in the North of England in the early 1800s and 1900s. Definitely an educational day out for the family as you learn about how the people of the North lived and worked. Take a trip down a real drift mine, watch sweets being made and take a ride behind a replica of Puffing Billy, one of the world's oldest surviving steam locomotives at Pockerely Waggonway.
BOTANIC GARDEN
Durham Botanic Gardens South Rd, Durham DH1 3DF
Explore the plant world with a wide plant collection from all over the world as well as a woodland garden, alpine garden and bamboo grove. In the glasshouses meet some tropical creepy crawlies like scorpions and tarantulas so be ready to face your fears! Make sure to catch a glimpse of the magnificent monkey puzzle tree that the gardens circle around and make a visit to the apiary.
MUSEUM
Darlington Railway Museum North Road Station DL3 6ST
For the little budding train drivers and conductors take a step back in time and find out what Victorian Darlington was like in the 1840's and learn about the old railway stations that were born in Darlington. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions and events so make sure to check what's on for your visit. Train enthusiasts will love to see four historic locomotives including the iconic Stephenson's Locomotion No1.
HISTORIC RECTREATION
Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience Jackson Dock, Maritime Ave, Hartlepool TS24 0XZ
Children love entering the mari-time machine to experience life onboard a fighting ship. We recommend the audio guided tour of the magnificent HMS Trincomalee; the oldest warship afloat in Europe. Entry is free to the Museum of Hartlepool and during the school holidays there are craft workshops to get involved in too! Most areas are buggy friendly too.
https://www.nmrn.org.uk/our-museums/national-museum-royal-navy-hartlepool
WILDLIFE RESERVE
RSPB Saltholme Wildlife Reserve and Discovery Park A178 Seaton Carew Rd, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, TS2 1TU
A great way to explore the UK wildlife and get some interesting outdoor fun. Get muddy on an adventure trail and try to spot gulls hairs and butterfly's or look closely for some tiny creepy crawlys. Visit the wildlife garden and engage your senses as you explore the various sights, sounds and smells. The kids love the adventure playground whilst the grown-ups can sit back and enjoy the beauty of the surroundings.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/saltholme/
PUBLIC PARK
Stewart Park The Grove, Marton-in-Cleveland, Middlesbrough TS7 8AR
Covering about 120 acres and consisting of woodland and an arboretum on the southern side you can enjoy a lovely day outside; especially on a sunny day. A favourite for the whole family is the pets corner where you can meet the parks domesticated animals, deer, cattle, llamas and goats.
https://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/leisure-events-libraries-and-hubs/parks/stewart-park
FARM
Bill Quay Community Farm Hainingwood Terrace, Bill Quay, Gateshead NE10 0UE
Providing fun and fascinating activities with rare farm breeds. Come and learn about the protecting rare animal breeds. You can also get up close with some of the farms fluffiest little creatures or venture around the large green spaces in the warmer summertime. Note that the farm is largely wheelchair and pushchair accessible.
BEACH
Seahouses North Beach Northumberland Harbour, Harbour Rd, Seahouses NE68 7RN
Seahouses lies on the Northumberland coast approximately mid-way between Bamburgh Castle and Beadnell. The town has excellent amenities and is a popular destination for both tourists and locals. You can catch a boat trip out to the Farne islands where you can see puffins and other sea birds, even the possibility of spotting dolphins or whales on the boat ride.
https://www.thebeachguide.co.uk/north-east-england/northumberland/seahouses-north.htm