Last thing to check off our Northumberland list was the Angel of the North. Having seen it from the road below Son was super keen to get a better look and get up close and personal with the Tyneside giant. Easy to get to and easy to spot – this is England’s largest (I think)…
Our last full day in Northumberland and a trip to the coast was the plan with destination Tynemouth. Just a short hop from Newcastle this was the perfect spot to appreciate the ruggedly beautiful coastline. The castle and priory perched on a rocky headland overlooking the North Sea dominates the town and that’s where we spent our morning.…
A family of bookworms are we so a trip to Seven Stories was a Newcastle must. Part bookshop, part archive of children’s books and manuscripts with performances, exhibitions and story-telling sessions thrown in for good measure this sounded right up our street. Love at first sight for me. The neighbourhood is urban, quirky and vibrant, definitely regeneration…
Having read loads about this place – an educational charity whose aim is to get everyone switched onto science, a visit went straight on our Newcastle agenda. Hands on interaction was what they promised – that is definitely our bag so excitement levels were high. We arrived shortly after opening time and paid the £25…
Jury’s Inn was the hotel we settled for on our three night Newcastle jaunt. A good deal on a last minute booking website combined with a Quayside location, we snapped it up. We were happy with our choice. The hotel is right on the banks of the Tyne, mere steps away from the Millennium Bridge…
While Husband was working, Son and I ventured away from the Quayside to find out what the rest of Newcastle had in store – so much more than I expected. This city is cool, a real mix of culture, history and gorgeous architecture. No wonder they call it the “Gateway to the North.” In the 1950’s the…
We stayed a couple of nights in Newcastle, just enough time to do a bit of exploring in this great city. A hotel on the Quayside was our perfect base. Husband and I visited Newcastle (many) years ago and barely recognised the place. The whole Quayside area has been totally transformed from what was once derelict into a swish entertainment…
Having explored Alnwick Castle and immersed ourselves in all things Potter the castle gardens were next up. A bit of a shock to have to buy another separate ticket – this makes it a super expensive experience, but we didn’t want to come all this way and miss out. The (free) public park / walk linking the castle to…
Husband and Son are big fans of the boy wizard Harry – they have read all the books and seen most of the movies. I am in the “if you can’t beat them join them” camp meaning I am a bit of a late convert to Harry Potter – I’m getting there! I can hold my own…
When it comes to castles in Northumberland you are truly spoilt for choice. Son’s vote went to Alnwick Castle – all because of a certain wizard by the name of Potter (the first two Harry Potter movies were filmed here). There seemed to be a lot more besides boy wizards to recommend it, so the decision…
