Whitley Bay

Working-class pride meets seaside grandeur along this stretch of Northumberland coast. The town's golden sandy beach stretches for two miles, backed by Victorian terraces that once housed miners and shipbuilders. Today it's a proper family resort that hasn't lost its honest character despite the influx of day-trippers from Newcastle.

Whitley Bay's Spanish City reopened in 2018 after decades of decay, its art deco dome now housing restaurants and shops rather than fairground rides. The promenade remains gloriously unchanged - fish and chips, amusement arcades, and ice cream vans doing a roaring trade come summer. St Mary's Lighthouse stands sentinel on a rocky island, accessible at low tide for those willing to make the scramble across seaweed-slick rocks.

Inland, the landscape shifts to former mining country. Cramlington sits just a few miles west, connected by regular Metro services that make car-free visits entirely feasible. The old pit villages retain their character, with remnants like the Old Hartley Standing Stone reminding visitors of much older histories. Seaton Delaval Hall, one of Vanbrugh's architectural masterpieces, lies just south.

Parks like Parkdean's Whitley Bay and Sandy Bay sites put you within walking distance of the beach action. Others, including the peaceful Tranwell Farm Holidays further inland, offer countryside calm while keeping the coast within easy reach. The Metro system makes everything wonderfully accessible - you can be exploring Newcastle's quayside or venturing north to Tynemouth's priory ruins within the hour.