Two-day Tyneside coast and Beamish weekend

Castle · 10:00–11:20 (1h20m)

Tynemouth Priory and Castle

Priory and castle ruins on the headland.

An indoor and outdoor castle in Tynemouth, aimed at ages 4 and up.

Photo: Thenorthmannn

Water Activities · 11:30–12:00 (30m)

Shields Ferry

Ferry across the mouth of the Tyne.

The Nexus passenger ferry across the mouth of the Tyne, a short and cheap boat ride that children love and a fun way to combine Tynemouth/North Shields with South Shields in one day.

Photo: Eirian Evans

Food stop · 12:15–13:10 (55m)

Colmans Seafood Temple

Fish and chip lunch on the South Shields front.

A long-established South Shields fish and chip family business now trading from a converted seafront building, with a sit-down restaurant and takeaway. A natural lunch or tea stop after the beach or South Marine Park.

Photo: colmansseafoodtemple.co.uk

Park · 13:20–15:00 (1h40m)

South Marine Park

Boating lake, play areas and seasonal miniature railway.

A Victorian seafront park with a boating lake for rowing and pedalos, the long-running Lakeshore Railroad miniature steam railway, play areas and a cafe. Right beside the beach, so it slots into any South Shields seaside day.

Photo: Anthony Foster

Nature & gardens · 15:05–16:30 (1h25m)

Sandhaven Beach

Beach time, then the ferry back.

South Shields' main sandy beach, running from the pier at Littlehaven along the Sea Road promenade, with summer lifeguards and amusements, cafes and parks right behind it. An easy big-beach day with everything on hand.

Museum · 10:00–15:45 (5h45m)

Beamish Open Air Museum

Full day across the eras with tram rides; lunch on site.

An indoor and outdoor museum in Beamish, aimed at ages 0–12.

Photo: Beamish Museum

Nature & gardens · 16:00–16:45 (45m)

Causey Arch Picnic Area

Short walk to the 1720s railway arch.

A wooded gorge walk to the world's oldest surviving single-arch railway bridge, built in the 1720s for coal wagons. Free parking, picnic spots and short circular paths make it a cheap add-on to Beamish or Tanfield Railway, which runs right past it.

Photo: Oliver Dixon