Out and about in Northumberland

parahandy

We're going down to Newcastle on Sunday and staying two nights in a Travelodge. We're hopefully going to go to Alnwick Castle but what else is there we could do? Two adults and a nine-year old monster. Sorry, daughter...

Any ideas?

alba7

Hi parahandy

There's Cragside House - the first house to be powered with electricity (I believe, but I may have misunderstood!) It also has lovely gardens. I would recommend Gibside estate, near Rowlands Gill, some beautiful walks through the estate.

If the weather is anything like today, you will need some indoor activities. What does your daughter like to do? There's the Discovery Museum in Newcastle (very hands on activities). Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle also sometimes runs art based activities for children. Great North Museum (Hancock) is somewhere my 8 year old nephew loves, but he's really into nature and dinosaurs!

Miss_J

Cragside and Gibside are 2 of our favourite places to visit as we're National Trust Members.

If the weather is good and you fancy a nice run out there's also Holy Island, the castle is NT property and the Priory is EH, but the island itself is also worth visiting for a day. We had a lovely day in Bamburgh the other day, but again you'd need good weather.

Second the Discovery Museum, we spent a rainy day there this week, it's very child focused. We tend to stay clear of the Great North Museum, only because my kids aren't interested in Natural History and get bored there.

Beamish is a good day out and doesn't matter too much if it's raining as you can ride on the vintage transport around the different attractions.

One of our favourite things to do on a Sunday is to take a walk around the Sunday quayside market, grab a bag of hot donuts and then walk across the Milennium Bridge to the Baltic. Once there we head to the 5th floor to look out of the bridges and the river Tyne and then make our way back down to the ground floor visiting all the different art exhibitions on the way.

Whatever you choose to do, have fun.

gingerdad

You have also got the life centre in newcastle which is a great hands on sicence museum.

We like Alnwick castle and garden great day out, if you are doing the gardens make sure your daughter takes something to get she doesn't mind getting wet.

beamish is another great day out up that way lots more on http://www.daysoutinfo.co.uk

parahandy

Thanks all, I've also found some special offers on visitnorthumberland.com
Definitely think I'll take her to the Discovery Museum.