Vertu Motors Arena

The Vertu Motors Arena sits on the outskirts of Stanley, a proper modern sports venue that's home to Gateshead Thunder rugby league. It's not ancient, it's not overly grand, but it does the job well - the kind of place that comes alive on match days with genuine energy. The stadium itself seats around 11,500, which means it's intimate enough that you actually feel part of the crowd rather than lost in some cavernous football ground.

On non-match days, there's not a huge amount to do here unless you're into rugby league or fancy catching a concert or event. It's functional rather than scenic. That said, if you're the sort of traveller who wants to experience what a working northern sports arena feels like - the local pride, the pre-match buzz, the genuine fans - then timing a visit around a Thunder home game is worth considering.

For families, match days absolutely work. Kids soak up the atmosphere, the food's decent enough, and there's none of the pretension you get at the big football stadiums. Allow two to three hours for a match start to finish.

If you're staying at Beamish Holiday Park or the five-star Beamish Glamping site nearby, the arena's only a short drive - makes for an easy evening out. The Beamish Museum itself is the real draw for most park visitors, but combining a Thunder match with a glamping stay gives you something genuinely local, something the typical tourist misses.