Whispering Pines Spa

Beamish is a living, open-air museum on a 350-acre site in County Durham, telling the story of everyday life in the North East. Original, moved and replica buildings are staffed by costumed engagers, with live demonstrations and hands-on activities. Trams and buses carry you between the different areas.

Tip: Book your pass online before you visit for faster entry, and download the map to your phone or pick one up at the Entrance Building.

Washington Old Hall is a stone manor house in the heart of Washington village, cared for by the National Trust. It includes parts of the medieval home of George Washington's direct ancestors, and the family took its surname from here. The ground floor shows a 17th-century home, with carved oak furniture and a collection of Delft ware.

Tip: Free parking is available on The Avenue, right beside the property.

Durham Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral and part of the Durham Castle and Cathedral World Heritage Site. A substantial part of the building was completed between 1093 and 1133, and it is a significant example of Romanesque architecture. The nave ceiling is the earliest surviving example of a pointed rib vault.

Tip: There is no parking at or near the cathedral, so use the Park and Ride or the Cathedral Bus into Durham. The tower is stairs only.

Lumley Castle is a Grade I listed, 14th-century quadrangular castle at Chester-le-Street, close to Durham. It stands on the banks of the Lumley Park Burn, a tributary of the River Wear. Sir Ralph Lumley converted his family manor house into a castle in 1389, and it remains a property of the Earl of Scarbrough.

Tip: Book a table in advance through the castle's website if you want to eat at the restaurant or have afternoon tea.

Hall Hill Farm is an award-winning farm attraction near Tow Law in County Durham. It has been open to the public since 1981 and is still a working farm, run by the family who have farmed here since 1925. The land covers 290 hectares of grassland, woodland and crops, and the farm is home to over a thousand sheep.

Tip: Tickets can be bought in advance online, and the farm can be phoned on 01388 731333 for help with pre-booking.

Hylton Castle is a distinctive, highly decorative gatehouse-tower in Sunderland, built by the wealthy Sir William Hylton shortly before 1400. It originally held four floors of self-contained family accommodation, and its entrance front displays royal and family heraldry, including Richard II's white hart badge.

Tip: Car parking is available at the site.

The Glasshouse International Centre for Music is a curved glass and stainless steel building on the Gateshead bank of the Tyne, designed by Foster + Partners. It opened in 2004 as Sage Gateshead and was renamed in September 2023. Inside are three performance spaces, including a 1,700-seat hall and Sage Two, possibly the world's only ten-sided performance space. It is also home to Royal Northern Sinfonia.

Tip: If driving, put NE8 2BA into your map app to reach the car park. The venue is up a hill, about a 10-minute walk from Gateshead Metro station.

The Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle upon Tyne is a natural history and ancient civilisations museum in a refurbished Victorian building. Entry is free, though donations are welcome, and the planetarium is an extra paid attraction.

Tip: For a quieter visit, go after 2.30pm on weekdays or on Sundays.