Tynemouth
Tynemouth Priory and Castle · Photo: Thenorthmannn
A classic North Tyneside coast day: a ruined priory and castle on the headland, a sandy horseshoe bay with rock pools for the afternoon, then fish and chips under the white dome at Whitley Bay. Short hops keep little legs fresh.
Castle · 10:00–11:30 (1h30m)
Children's trail round the priory ruins, castle and coastal gun batteries, with sea on three sides.
An indoor and outdoor castle in Tynemouth, aimed at ages 4 and up.
Photo: Thenorthmannn
Park · 11:40–13:00 (1h20m)
Lunch at the park tea room, then the play area and pump track in the wooded dene.
A Victorian wooded dene park between North Shields and Tynemouth with a pond, play area, BMX pump track, sculpture trail, a pet cemetery and a tea room. A free run-around stop before or after the beach.
Photo: Alex Kinney
Nature & gardens · 13:15–15:45 (2h30m)
Sheltered little beach between two piers; rock pooling at either end. Lifeguards daily in summer.
A small horseshoe-shaped sandy bay between two piers, with rock pools at either side and cafes and chippies just above. Sheltered and compact, it suits little ones better than the bigger beaches nearby.
Photo: Les Hull
Food stop · 16:00–17:00 (1h)
Early tea of fish and chips under the dome; kids' meals and a kids-eat-free offer advertised (check terms).
A fish and chip restaurant under the restored white dome of Whitley Bay's Spanish City, with a seafront takeaway hatch. Offers children's meals and a kids-eat-free deal, handy after the beach or St Mary's.
Photo: spanishcity.co.uk
North EastTynemouth / North Shields
Turn a short river crossing into the highlight of the day: explore Tynemouth's priory, ride the passenger ferry over the mouth of the Tyne, then spend the afternoon on the South Shields side with a fish and chip lunch, a Victorian park with a miniature railway and a big sandy beach.
Tynemouth Priory and Castle → Shields Ferry → Colmans Seafood Temple → South Marine Park + 1 more
North EastBeamish / Stanley
Give the whole day to the open-air museum: ride trams between the 1900s town, pit village, farms and 1950s streets, and eat in one of its period cafes. On the way home, stretch legs on a short gorge walk to the world's oldest surviving single-arch railway bridge.
Beamish Open Air Museum → Causey Arch Picnic Area
North EastWashington
Flamingos, ducks and woodland hides fill the morning at the wetland centre, followed by a short look round the 17th-century house linked to George Washington's ancestors. Finish by climbing the grassy hill to the Greek-temple folly that watches over Wearside.
WWT Washington Wetland Centre → Washington Old Hall → Penshaw Monument
