The Northumberland Travel Guide highlights local attractions, places of interest, entertainment and offers tourist information for visitors to Northumberland and the Tyne and Wear area in North of England. The county has a relatively low profile as a tourist destination compared to some of the better known counties. The limited number of visitors has meant a beautiful and unspoilt coastline among the best in the UK. There is actually plenty to do and experience in the county and surrounding areas leaving the discerning tourist with lots to enjoy.
Overview and Attractions
There are a number of islands located off the Northumbrian coast, the best known are Lindisfarne (Holy Island), and the Farne Islands, best known for the sea-bird colonies.
There are seaside resorts and traditional fishing villages to explore here set in beautiful countryside and scenic coastline. History buffs will find a huge range of castles in the county all with their own unique historical stories to tell and make for a fascinating day out. To the south of this area is Tyne & Wear, which enjoys a much higher profile as a tourist destination, indeed it is among the most visited tourist destinations in the UK. There are many attractions and activities in the area, ranging from history to outdoor pursuits and family days out.
The main areas of Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland border the two main rivers the Tyne and the Wear, where the region has its name. The two rivers have had a major role in the development of the area, the Romans used using the rivers as a form of defence when building forts as part of Hadrian’s Wall.
Hadrian’s Wall is thought to be among the most important monuments built by the Romans in the UK. It is the best known frontier in the Roman Empire and today reminds everyone of past glories of a past civilisation. It was designated a world heritage site in 1987, Hadrian's Wall ranks alongside other great historical treasures around the world. It has around 2,000 years of history and goes through some wild and dramatic landscapes as well as a range of towns and villages. A visit here is regarded as a must do for any visitors both from the UK and overseas. This fascinating monument has great history and heritage behind it and will leave visitors feeling as though they have seen something really special.
Bamburgh Castle is among the finest castles in England. It has a dramatic location perched on a basalt outcrop on the edge of the North Sea at Bamburgh in Northumberland. Bamburgh Castle has some stunning views of the Farne Islands, Holy Island and further landward to the Cheviot Hills. The castle is open to visitors from March to October, for the exact dates it is wise to check in order to avoid disappointment. The castle is licensed for civil weddings, providing great photo opportunities. The Armstrong Museum and Bamburgh Castle Aviation Artefacts Museum (BCAAM) are housed in a building in the north ward of the castle. The Armstrong museum shows the life of the first Baron Armstrong, who excelled in engineering. There are also relics of aviation from its beginnings to the present day. Exhibits in the BCAAM include those from the two world wars.
Hexham Abbey is located in Hexham on a site that has had a church on it for over 1,300 years. In Norman times Wilfrid’s abbey was replaced by an Augustinian priory, the church that is here currently is mainly that building, it represents the early English style of architecture. The choir, north and south transepts and the cloisters all date back to this period. The east end was rebuilt in 1860 and the nave was built in 1908. More recently in 1996 another chapel was created. Since 1537 the Abbey has been the parish church of Hexham and is still a centre for worship.
Wallington House and Garden dates back to 1688, the house was home to generations of the Blackett and Trevelyan families. There is Palladian exterior with a rococo plasterwork in the interior, the house has some impressive collections of fine ceramics, needleworks, dolls houses and paintings. The Central Hall is influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites. The gardens are influenced by Capability Brown and there are a number of walks that go through the lawns, lakes and woodland. The beautiful Walled Garden has many collections of plants, while longer walks take in wooded valleys and high moorland. There is a gift shop for souvenirs and a restaurant and farm shop making for an enjoyable day out.
Northumberland National Park is the most northerly of the national parks in England. The northern area of the park is part of the Border Forest Park, with many miles of conifers planted by the Forestry Commission. The southern border of the park is marked by Hadrian's Wall, created by the Romans in the 2nd century AD as a barrier to keep out the tribes to the north. Fans of nature will enjoy the variety of wildlife on show, you can see swans, Roe deer and curlew which are also the symbol of the park. There are great walking opportunities in the Otterburn Range whilst the river valley offers some of the most unspoilt scenery in the north of England. The Pennine Way long distance trail runs through the park and has long sections running parallel to Hadrian's Wall.
The Northumberland coast has been described as the best feature of the county with its un-crowded, long sandy beaches and great scenery. Visitors can take some time to visit the many attractive fishing villages, little seaside resorts and castles on the coast. The 40 mile stretch of coast from Amble to Berwick-upon-Tweed has been recognised as a Heritage Coast and also as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and efforts are thus made to conserve both of this national treasure for the benefit of the country and future generations. There are plenty of attractions around the Heritage Coast including Amble Marina, Warkworth Castle, the resort of Alnmouth famous for the red roofs, Craster village and Dunstanburgh Castle, the attractive resort of Seahouses, to name but a few.
The southern part of the Northumberland coast has its own attractions such as South Beach Blyth and the harbour at Seaton Sluice and Druridge Bay which also has its own Country Park. At Berwick the Tweed estuary is contains one of the largest colonies of mute swans in Britain. At Berwick town visitors can enjoy a journey through history. The town has a long history of changing hands between the English and Scots who vied for control of the border region.
The village of Low Newton-by-the-Sea is looked after by the National Trust. The Heritage Coast offers a great place to go exploring and relax in this sparely populated region.
Theatre fans can try the Whitley Bay Playhouse that is situated in the picturesque coastal town of Whitely Bay in the North East. The Playhouse first opened back in 1913 and is flanked on all four corners by French Renaissance towers that produce a great effect. In the 1950’s the theatre concentrated mainly on hosting films, and it was in the 1970's when it began to combine this with hosting amateur productions. The theatre has undergone extensive modernisation and renovation and now offers a great facility for visitors. When visiting Whitley Bay, a great way to spend the evening is to take in a show here, the theatre hosts a range of professional and amateur productions that include dance, music, jazz, drama and comedy. In addition films buffs are well catered for too as the theatre also show a range of the latest films.
Gershwins Restaurant is a jazz themed restaurant based in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne. There is quality British and other cuisines from around the world on the menu here using a wide range of quality ingredients. The chefs’ mix of world and European cuisine means many tempting dishes to try and the starlit ceiling, candles, jazz theme and live jazz music mean there is a great atmosphere in which to enjoy your dining experience. Gershwins restaurant is a family based restaurant that was established in 1997. The restaurant aims to cater for lovers of fine food and wine and has been built with comfortable surroundings to add to the experience. It has a fine reputation in the area.
Blackfriars Restaurant is famous for being the oldest purpose built restaurant in the UK with its origins going back to 1239. It has had a long history that includes a time as a hostel to accommodate King Henry III. This unique cafe/bar is now has an informal cafe bar menu by day and an a la carte menu by evening. The restaurant has live jazz every Sunday and evenings of food and wine. Blackfriars is among the most recognisable restaurants in Newcastle.
For a long time Northumberland has been among the better kept secrets in UK. The profile of the area is growing and with it are tourist numbers who are discovering the delights of the region. Tyne and Wear has a higher profile and has benefited from the large regeneration projects that have helped to modernise and transform the area. Many visitors are attracted to the region and the relativity close proximity to the border with Scotland mean trips there are possible too whilst based in the North East of England.
There are transport links serving UK tourists via road, rail and air and international airports for overseas visitors. The region has a nice mix of cities and countryside with a great coastline making it a notable place to visit.
Disclaimer: The information given in on this website is given in good faith and to the best of our knowledge. If there are any discrepancies in no way do we intend to mislead. Important travel details and arrangements should be confirmed and verified with the relevant authorities.