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Heart of Hadrian's Wall
...a day is never long enough
Hadrian’s Wall and its surrounds has a great variety of attractions to suit families with young children, families with older children in fact, children of all ages!
Many of the historic sites and museums offer exciting activities for children, learning about Roman history the interactive way, while further afield lovely beaches provide hours of seaside fun.
As well as family friendly walks and cycle routes, the local cinemas and swimming pools will also keep children entertained.
Have a look at a selection of family attractions below... and remember a day is never long enough...
Adventure Activities
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Whitehouse Farm Centre is Northumberland’s largest family-run Farm attraction. A great place for families, as well as school and group visits, where you can see, handle and feed a wide variety of animals from traditional breeds to more unusual and exotic sp es. As well as...
Adventure Activities
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As well as being a hugely popular wedding venue and the campus of Northumberland College, at Kirkley Hall is also a fantastic family day out.
Adventure Activities
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Beamish Wild Treetop Adventure course is set in the ancient woodland treetops in the heart of County Durham. The High Ropes Course is about 2 hours of non-stop fun and challenges.
Adventure Activities
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An up and coming family-run animal collection in the heart of Northumberland. The park currently has 17 acres for visitors to explore with over 50 species of animals to see.
Adventure Activities
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Endless Adventure North East provides bespoke and individually adapted activities for Stag and Hen parties, Corporate, Education, Charities and Individuals looking for their own unique experience. The reviews they have are all glowing and are definitely a company to contact if you're looking for some adventure. There are also...
Adventure Activities
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Broomley Grange sits in 22 acres of private grounds - an outdoor activity centre for young people across the UK to enable them to learn and develop life skills and capabilities, in order for them to mature into responsible adults.
Adventure Activities
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A popular choice for Scottish and English schools and non-school groups, Dukeshouse Wood is situated on a beautiful fellside just outside Hexham, close to Newcastle and the Scottish Borders. The 18-acre activity park in an area of unspoilt countryside houses exciting adventure activities such as zipwire,...
Adventure Activities
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If you fancy a bit of outdoor adventure with a difference, then this is the place for you. A wide range of outdoor pursuits are yours to try, whether it's for a kids party, a stag or hen do, or a corporate outing designed to rejuvenate your team. ...
Leisure Activities
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Set in the grounds of Matfen Hall, this course is set high amongst the trees and is high energy fun. Designed to push you hard, this Treetop Challenge has high platforms, super speedy zips and stomach-churning Tarzan Swings.
Heritage
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Tynemouth Castle and Priory on the coast of North East England was once one of the largest fortified areas in England. Overlooking the North Sea and the River Tyne, it dominates the headland. With its 2000 year history and beautiful views it is the perfect location for a family...
Forts and Castles
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Edlingham Castle dates mainly from the 14th century, although a manor house of the 13th century is probably concealed beneath the later building. The earliest standing remains are those of the hall house, built about in 1300 by Sir William Felton at a time when Northumberland was relatively peaceful....
Forts and Castles
A hugely important structure in Newcastle's history, Newcastle Castle has had a chequered history, but the site itself has been in use since Roman times.
Forts and Castles
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The pre-Norman history of the site at Warkworth is still not entirely clear, but it's fairly likely that there was a settlement there back to at least the 8th century, probably utilised by the Anglo-Saxon Earls of Northumbria. The first written record of Warkworth Castle occurs...
Forts and Castles
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For 450 years Norham Castle, first built in the 12th century, was one of the great English strongholds along the river Tweed, a barrier against the Scots. The Scots besieged it nine times, capturing it on four occasions. The remains of the impressive great tower still reveal signs of...
Forts and Castles
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Set in the charming village of Etal by a ford over the River Till, this Northumberland castle is more important that the current ruins imply. Built by Robert Manners as a defence against Scots raiders in the mid 14th century, it fell to James IV's invading Scots army in...
Forts and Castles
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An awe-inspiring sight, Dunstanburgh Castle stands proudly at the edge of the coast, and although is now in ruins, has been proven in the last one hundred years to have been in use for much longer than originally thought. Built in the early 14th century by...
Forts and Castles
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Bamburgh Castle has a long and fascinating history, with the area being occupied from pre-historic times, to the Votadini, the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, and Normans, to the present day, where as well as being an imposing and remarkable structure, it is also a family home to the Armstrong family. ...
Museums
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The Sill features exhibitions, learning & event spaces, café, a world-class Youth Hostel, business hub and a shop showcasing local crafts and produce. The Sill is the UK’s National Landscape Discovery Centre at Once Brewed in the Northumberland National Park. The building is the result...
Hadrian's Wall
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Built around 122AD, Willowford Bridge was used to carry both Roman soldiers across the River Irthing, and, excavations have shown that it also supported Hadrian's Wall across the river too.
Heritage
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The largest Iron Age hill fort in Northumberland, Yeavering Bell sits at the top of a high hill on the edge of the Cheviot Hills, within Northumberland National Park. The 'Bell' is actually the entire hill, at the top of which is an area of about 5.6 hectares surrounded...
Natural History
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The Sill is the UK’s National Landscape Discovery Centre at Once Brewed in the Northumberland National Park. The building is the result of an innovative partnership between Northumberland National Park and YHA England and Wales. The Sill is a showcase of local pride and passion. It...
Museums
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Free to enter, this is a firm favourite for both North East residents and visitors alike.
Museums
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The Great North Museum: Hancock was purpose built in Newcastle as a natural history museum in 1884 to house the growing collections of the Natural History Society of Northumbria.
Forts and Castles
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One of the best-preserved turrets on the line of Hadrian's Wall, with a stretch of wall 70 yards long, and two and a half metres high, built by men of the Twentieth Legion. Brunton Turret is about 20 mins walk from Chesters Roman Fort.
Leisure Activities
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Founded in 1909, and designed by James Braid, Brampton Golf Course is blessed with beautiful panoramic views of the Lake District mountains, the North Pennines, Talkin Tarn and the Southern Uplands of South West Scotland. A hidden gem of a golf course, it's a good challenge...
Leisure Activities
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Tynedale Golf Club is a 9 hole set along the banks of the River Tyne, with stunning views, and whilst a good test for all golfers, it's a gentle undulating course, and suitable for golfers no matter what handicap. Visitor Rates are very reasonable, and the...
Heritage
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The birthplace of Thomas Bewick, the cottage and farmhouse of Bewick is perhaps Northumberland’s greatest artist: a wood engraver and naturalist who revolutionised print art in Georgian England. Set in a tranquil garden with views across the Tyne Valley, Cherryburn is surrounded by the natural world that inspired his...
Forts and Castles
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Thriving communities built up around Hadrian's Wall, with settlements and forts being established to both feed and provide for both soldiers and the extended community around them. Corbridge was one such flourishing town, and was a vibrant community right up until the end of Roman Britain in the early...
Leisure Activities
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With plenty of space for little ones to run, jump, climb, and crawl to their heart's content - Crackers is a popular destination for parents and their children, especially on a cold and wet day. With three separate play areas designed specifically for different ages, as...
Leisure Activities
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With two swimming pools with moveable floors, a large and well-equipped gym, regular fitness classes held in dedicated studios, a tenpin bowling centre and Jungle Jack's, a children’s softplay area.
Leisure Activities
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With 3 outdoor pools featuring a water slide and giant inflatables; a large sports hall which can be booked for activities such as badminton, basketball, and bowls; a fully equipped fitness suite; and a hall which can be booked out for parties, Haltwhistle Swimming & Leisure Centre is a...
Leisure Activities
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Glendale Pool is a self contained, indoor, heated swimming pool, available for private hire. L10m x W5m x D1.9m Water temp 31oC floats and toys available Family friendly all weather activity
Heritage
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This quaint small stone cottage was built circa 1760 to accommodate mining families. The furnishings reflect the year the great rail pioneer, George Stephenson, was born here (1781), when his whole family lived in the one room. The property is managed by the National Trust. Don't miss...
Museums
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Beamish is a wonderful place that brings history to life but you must allow a full day to fully experience the extent of the exhibits, and even then you may not see everything in one visit! Beamish Museum contains an operational tramway with historic trams which...
Railways
The Cumbrian Coast Line, as its name suggests, hugs the scenic coastline between Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness. For much of the route, the line runs very close to the coast and links the waters of the Solway with those of Morecambe Bay; both sites of special scientific interest (SSSI). Not...
Railways
This historic and scenic route was one of the last main line railways built in Britain. It was built by the Midland Railway to allow it to have its own route into Scotland, rather than having to depend on its rival, the LNWR. The line was opened...
Vindolanda
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Forts and Castles
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Vindolanda is a fascinating Roman fort and civilian settlement lying just to the south of Hadrian's Wall. You can watch the archaeologists, who are on site seven days a week (weather permitting) from April to mid-September and see artefacts as they are discovered as well has having the opportunity...
Railways
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The North of England’s double gold award winning narrow gauge railway winding from Alston into the South Tyne Valley in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Railways
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With an unparalleled history dating back to 1725, spectacular scenery and a truly unique atmosphere, it is no wonder that the Tanfield Railway is the North East's biggest and most popular steam railway.. Less than half an hour from Newcastle and within easy reach of Tyneside,...
Railways
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The Weardale Railway, situated in County Durham, was a mothballed branch line from Bishop Auckland following the River Wear westwards to Eastgate-in- Weardale, a distance of approximately 18.7 miles. The line was originally built by the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1847 to transport limestone to the...
Railways
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This is the most recent of the heritage railways in the area and only opened in 2012. The Aln Valley Railway project is an ambitious plan to reopen the branch line from Alnmouth to Alnwick, the old county town of Northumberland and the ancestral home of the...
Railways
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A 15” gauge steam railway running from Heatherslaw, 6.4km to Etal Village - a return journey of 50 minutes. When operating trains leave Heatherslaw every hour on the hour from 11am-3pm inclusive and return from Etal on the half hour from 11.30am-3.30pm inclusive. All tickets are for...
Railways
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The Eden Valley Railway is based at Warcop in Cumbria (or Westmorland, in old money), just off the A66 between Appleby and Brough. It has a selection of rolling stock, Diesel Multiple Units and Locomotives and a short running line . It is open every Sunday during...
Railways
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On the Cumbrian Coast line you could consider alighting at Ravensglass and enjoy a return trip on the “Au’d Ratty” as the narrow gauge Ravensglass and Eskdale Railway is known. The trip will take you from Ravenglass, the only coastal village in the Lake District National Park,...
Natural History
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England’s most northerly and least populated National Park is 400 square miles of Northumberland's glorious countryside, protected for its wildlife, tranquillity, biodiversity, dark skies and clean water. Stretching from Hadrian's Wall to the Scottish Border it encompasses the high moors and picturesque valleys of Tynedale, Redesdale and Coquetdale and...
Railways
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The Stainmore Railway is based at the Kirkby Stephen East Heritage Centre and is open every Saturday and Sunday with passenger trains running on selected dates. The aim is the full restoration of Kirkby Stephen East railway station and the development of a full working railway as...
Railways
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This historic railway is sited south of Gateshead in Springwell village just east of the main A1 road near the Angel of the North Designed by George Stephenson and opened in 1826 the Bowes Railway is the only operational preserved standard gauge rope-hauled railway in the world....
Railways
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The Museum is located on the 1825 route of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, the world's first steam-worked public railway. The site encompasses three significant Stockton & Darlington Railway buildings of the 1830s/50s: North Road Passenger Station, the Goods Shed and Hopetown Carriage Works. The museum...
Railways
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The Shildon branch of the National Railway Museum is well worth a visit. It is based on the site of the former Shildon Wagon Works and contains over 100 locomotives and about 200 items of rolling stock, as well as a vast collection of other railway related items and...
Railways
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Re-live the glorious days of the steam railway at Stephenson Railway Museum in North Shields. The Museum is home to George Stephenson's 'Billy', a forerunner of the world- famous Rocket. 'Billy' is joined by many other engines from the great age of steam including 'Jackie Milburn', named...