This is an advertisement feature from 2019. Please check with Stagecoack for up to date info for 2022. This bus was not in service in 2020 & 2021.
The Seasider is an open-top bus (operated by Stagecoach) running along the North Tyneside coast between Whitley Bay and North Shields Ferry Terminal across weekends and school holidays from now until September. If you're looking for a family day out in North East England, I can highly recommend a trip on this bus as a starting point.
I love, love, love visiting the North Tyneside Coast but trying to get parked here on a sunny weekend can be an absolute nightmare (plus the area is known for its enthusiastic parking wardens - you have been warned) and as much as I love visiting the area, I try avoid on sunny days due to parking stress.
I like the idea of being able to park our car in Whitley Bay first thing (when its a lot quieter) and spend the full day exploring the North Tyneside Coastline without worrying about parking.
It is just such a hassle-free way to explore the area. I have fond memories of taking the open top bus in Scarborough every year as a child and think the Seasider brings back some of this old-school nostalgia to the North East coastline.
I love, love, love visiting the North Tyneside Coast but trying to get parked here on a sunny weekend can be an absolute nightmare (plus the area is known for its enthusiastic parking wardens - you have been warned) and as much as I love visiting the area, I try avoid on sunny days due to parking stress.
It is just such a hassle-free way to explore the area. I have fond memories of taking the open top bus in Scarborough every year as a child and think the Seasider brings back some of this old-school nostalgia to the North East coastline.
The Seasider Tickets and Timetable
The Seasider is very reasonable indeed. A single ticket will set you back £2.50 or you can hop on and off as much as you like throughout the day for £4.
Our family was only using the Seasider service on the day of our trip, so the best value ticket for us was the Seasider family ticket which is £8 (purchased directly from the driver) and allows a family (up to 2 adults and 3 children) to hop on and off as much as they like throughout the day.
Buses are every 30 minutes and run between 09:57 and 16:23. Below is the timetable for 2019. Please check with Stagecoach to check if this bus is running this season and for current timetables.
Our family was only using the Seasider service on the day of our trip, so the best value ticket for us was the Seasider family ticket which is £8 (purchased directly from the driver) and allows a family (up to 2 adults and 3 children) to hop on and off as much as they like throughout the day.
Buses are every 30 minutes and run between 09:57 and 16:23. Below is the timetable for 2019. Please check with Stagecoach to check if this bus is running this season and for current timetables.
Other Ticket Types
Tyne & Wear Dayrider Plus Family : If you're travelling to the coast with kids from Newcastle City Centre (or other areas served by Stagecoach on this map), a Tyne and Wear dayrider plus family is just £9 and gives you unlimited travel on Stagecoach buses (including the Seasider) for up to 2 adults and 3 children for the day..
Day Rover Family Ticket : If you fancy taking the Shields Ferry as part of your trip and/or need to use the Metro or a non-Stagecoach bus as part of your day but are only travelling within Tyne and Wear, I'd recommend the Day Rover Family Ticket which is £15.50 for up to 2 adults and 3 children (see here for details)
Explorer Family Ticket : If like me, you don't live in Tyne and Wear and need to use public transport to get to the North Tyneside Coast, an Explorer Ticket might work out to be the best for you. We've used this a few times now and it's ideal if you need to travel to North Tyneside from somewhere like Northumberland or Middlesbrough. You can use this ticket on most bus services, Metro, some trains, the Shields Ferry and more across the whole of the North East. Tickets are £20.60 for up to 2 adults and 3 children. Find out more here.
Under 16s and Concessions : If you hold a Tyne and Wear Concessionary Travel Pass you can use the Seasider service free of charge (weekends and public holidays) and Under 16s with a pop card can pay 60p for a single journey or £1.10 all day (which may work out cheaper than the family ticket if there's just one adult in your party).
Seasider Discounts
Stagecoach have teamed up with some fabulous local businesses and you can gain some great discounts by simply showing your Seasider bus ticket. I'd definitely recommend using the discount for Tynemouth Priory, a beer at Storm Cellar (got to make the most of leaving the car at home) and fish and chips from Trenchers which are always spot on.
What did we get up to?
Our day started at Whitley Bay where we boarded the Seasider at Whitley Bay Metro Station after parking our car in the station car park (it's free to park here but always check each time you visit). It's chilly upstairs but that's where all the fun is. The views of the North Tyneside coastline were unrivalled and we loved spotting lots of dogs out for walks too.
There are food stalls, cakes, antiques, collectables, books, jewellery, art dealers, fruit and veg, toys, butchers, bakers, fishmongers.....all sorts really.
It's such a fab place for a mooch. The kids' pocket money was burning a hole in their pocket and Jack and Heidi both chose new teddy bears (£5 each) from a lovely stallholder. Heidi's bear is all the way from Canada and Jack's Panda was handmade by the stallholder.
Then it was onto Tynemouth Priory. We're English Heritage members but if you're not, you can gain 25% discount with your Seasider ticket.
I love Tynemouth Priory and it's a great place to stretch your legs. I ran around with Heidi and Jack while Steve and Harry read all the info signs and filled us in on their facts later.
There's an underground bunker you can visit, you can walk the priory walls and there's a small visitor centre with dress up etc... too. The best thing is definitely the views though. There are picnic tables dotted about and you can enjoy a picnic with the most splendid backdrop.
The Seasider buses are every 30 minutes and ran pretty much on time on the day of our visit. It was easy to plan our day around the timetable. After the Priory we caught the bus to Cullercoats where we played in the park and visited Cullercoats Coffee to warm up a bit. The hot chocolates here are divine and pretty reasonable too. There are toys for kids but my three were fine tucking into their cakes and warm drinks.
Back on the bus and this time it was back to Whitley Bay where we enjoyed some traditional seaside fun including playing on the 2p arcades, gorgeous fish and chips from Trenchers in Spanish City (20% off if you show your bus ticket) and then ice creams all round from Di Meos.
As we walked back to the car, we walked past Storm Cellar (where you receive 25% off a pint with your bus ticket). We were super tempted to pop in but after 6 hours of sea air, we were more than ready for home and feel like a pint may have sent us to sleep. Next time though!
We had a lovely day exploring the North Tyneside Coast with Seasider. I loved being able to hop on and hop off at various stops rather than just staying in one area which is what we'd normally do if we had the car. It was a chilly day on the day of our visit but it still felt good to get outside and explore the coast - you don't need to wait for sunshine to have fun.
What did we think of the Seasider Open Top Bus Tour?
I love that the service is dog friendly, it is so much fun and offers fantastic views of the coast. It's also a pretty cheap day out and ideal if you're on a budget.
I'd recommend to tourists visiting the North East and locals alike. My top tip would be to wrap up as it is chilly up top (and you must ride up top in my opinion). Equally, make sure you wear suncream if you're visiting in summer as you might not be as aware of the sun due to the breeze.
For me, the service ends a little too early. I'd love to see the service continue into the early evening next year. We spent a few hours at Whitley Bay in late afternoon once the service had terminated but it would have been nice to have a few more options for places to visit for tea.
The Seasider is a really good way to explore different areas across the North Tyneside coast rather than just sticking with one place.
We found the bus drivers to be friendly and helpful and the buses ran to time too. I'll definitely try this service again when it's just me and the kids in the summer holidays and use it to visit several beaches in one day.
Here are a few ideas for other places to visit at each stop along the route. We really are spoilt for choice when it comes to the North Tyneside Coast and it would be impossible to squeeze everything into just one day.......
Whitley Bay
I have so much love for Whitley Bay and would recommend starting and ending your day here as there's just so much to squeeze in. Personal recommendations from me include walking along to St Mary's Lighthouse where you may spot some seals if you are lucky.
If you're visiting with older kids, you could try the Escape Rooms and VR gaming at Pirate Escape - this is one of Harry's favourite things to do and he asks to visit the VR room every birthday and if you're looking to cool off in the summer, Whitley Bay Park has a water play area and of course there are miles of sandy beaches too.
If you're visiting with older kids, you could try the Escape Rooms and VR gaming at Pirate Escape - this is one of Harry's favourite things to do and he asks to visit the VR room every birthday and if you're looking to cool off in the summer, Whitley Bay Park has a water play area and of course there are miles of sandy beaches too.
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| Pirate Escape Whitley Bay |
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| Whitley Bay Park |
Whitley Bay is home to some fantastic independent shops such as For The Love of the North and Nicholson's Butchers and I always leave wishing I had so many good independent businesses where I live. A spot of shopping should definitely be on the cards.
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| For The Love of the North |
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| Trenchers Whitley Bay |
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| Spanish City Whitley Bay |
If it's traditional seaside fun you're after, don't miss the amusement arcades on the seafront, ice creams from Di Meos and fish and chips from either Trenchers in the dome (25% discount with your ticket) or Pantrinis (which is a lovely local family business).
Finally, I can't write about Whitley Bay without mentioning the fabulous Jam Jar Cinema. This independent cinema is just lush and ideal if you need to hide from the sun (or rain) for a bit. They run special offers for kids over weekends and school holidays too.
Finally, I can't write about Whitley Bay without mentioning the fabulous Jam Jar Cinema. This independent cinema is just lush and ideal if you need to hide from the sun (or rain) for a bit. They run special offers for kids over weekends and school holidays too.
Cullercoats
Cullercoats is my favourite beach along the North Tyneside coast. It is honestly so stunning and as it's a little cove, you're usually pretty sheltered from the elements. The sea is usually pretty calm here and my kids are always fascinated by the lifeboat station.
Beyond the beach, there's a cute little play park overlooking the bay. I'd probably recommend this more for younger children but it's definitely worth a visit.
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| Cullercoats Beach |
For food, SO many people rave about The Boatyard but it's always so busy whenever I try and visit. If you can get a table, their breakfasts are said to be some of the best in the North East. I'd also recommend Cullercoats Coffee - the staff are so lovely here and there are toy boxes for kids. It's a great place to take a break.
My final recommendation for Cullercoats is Cullercoats Bike & Kayak. You can hire bikes (including tandems which would be a super cute way to enjoy the beautiful coastline), kids trailers and bikes from just £7.50 per hour. Or how about trying a family kayaking lesson or adventure? There are loads of options here and lots of readers have recommended this company to us in the past.
Tynemouth
I've always loved Tynemouth and if you're a foodie, you definitely need to get off the bus and explore this area. First up, there's a popular market in the station every Saturday and Sunday. The market sells everything from antiques to pre-loved toys, foodie treats and books. It's a lush place for a potter and who knows what you might find!
Tynemouth is home to lots of lovely local pubs, cafes, restaurants and independent shops. My go-to places include Tribe which is packed with wonderful clothes and gifts for children (and is part of the national water Refill scheme too so handy to pop into and top up your water bottle), the Priory Pub which is full of charm (and dog-friendly too), Gareth James Chocolatier for the absolute best brownies in the world and Longsands Fish Kitchen for some pretty epic fish and chips (you must try their curry sauce).
Down by the beach, King Edwards Bay is a favourite with families and Riley's Fish Shack has been listed as one of the best restaurants in the world on numerous occasions. The queues are always long here but it's more than worth the wait. Eating fresh seafood on the beach - does life get any better?
Tynemouth Priory overlooks the coastline and mouth of the Tyne and is steeped in history. You'll receive 25% discount on your ticket and there's loads to see from underground bunkers to mini museums and of course, spectacular views. I think so many people have walked past Tynemouth Priory and never stepped inside, well today I am urging you to take a look. Read about our trip a few years ago here.
Finally, you can walk along the coast by Tynemouth Longsands and visit the Blue Reef Aquarium (£2 discount with your bus ticket) and Tynemouth Park which is home to dinosaur golf, a pirate treasure hunt, boating lake and cafe. Their prices are really reasonable and they also run a fab deal where kids can play on the inflatables all day from as little as £3.50.
The Seasider route begins and ends next to the North Shields Passenger Ferry Terminal and for a small extra charge (or if you're using one of the 'other' ticket types mentioned at the top of this post), you can catch the ferry over to South Shields which is always lots of fun.
The timetable works out so you should get to the terminal around 10 minutes before the ferry departs which is ideal. There's parking next to the ferry terminal in South Shields too so if you're planning a trip from the South of the Tyne, I'd recommend parking here and catching the ferry across to the Seasider bus stop.
South Shields is a lovely town to visit and I'd recommend The Word Museum which is free to visit, right next to the ferry terminal and currently featuring secret codes, lost dialects and when the bugle calls exhibitions.
If you don't fancy catching the ferry across the Tyne, there's still lots to see and do in North Shields. Our favourite area is the fish quay and it's a nice place to walk along.
In some ways it feels like this area of the coast has been trapped in time with its fish markets and traditional fish and chip shops yet these sit alongside modern bistros and tapas bars too. We like walking along the coast from North Shields to Tynemouth - the views with mouth of the Tyne next to us are beautiful (if you don't fancy climbing a big hill, walk the reverse route from Tynemouth to North Shields).
We had such a brilliant day exploring the North Tyneside coast. So much so that I'll definitely be planning a return trip in the school holidays.
Once you've bought your bus ticket, it's one of those days where you can spend as much or as little as you want. There is so much choice when it comes to places to visit along this stretch of coastline and the open top bus is probably the best (and most fun) way to take in the outstanding views.
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| Tribe, Tynemouth |
Tynemouth is home to lots of lovely local pubs, cafes, restaurants and independent shops. My go-to places include Tribe which is packed with wonderful clothes and gifts for children (and is part of the national water Refill scheme too so handy to pop into and top up your water bottle), the Priory Pub which is full of charm (and dog-friendly too), Gareth James Chocolatier for the absolute best brownies in the world and Longsands Fish Kitchen for some pretty epic fish and chips (you must try their curry sauce).
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| Riley's Fish Shack |
Down by the beach, King Edwards Bay is a favourite with families and Riley's Fish Shack has been listed as one of the best restaurants in the world on numerous occasions. The queues are always long here but it's more than worth the wait. Eating fresh seafood on the beach - does life get any better?
Tynemouth Priory overlooks the coastline and mouth of the Tyne and is steeped in history. You'll receive 25% discount on your ticket and there's loads to see from underground bunkers to mini museums and of course, spectacular views. I think so many people have walked past Tynemouth Priory and never stepped inside, well today I am urging you to take a look. Read about our trip a few years ago here.
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| Retro Blue Reef aquarium photos from 2013 |
North Shields
The Seasider route begins and ends next to the North Shields Passenger Ferry Terminal and for a small extra charge (or if you're using one of the 'other' ticket types mentioned at the top of this post), you can catch the ferry over to South Shields which is always lots of fun.
The timetable works out so you should get to the terminal around 10 minutes before the ferry departs which is ideal. There's parking next to the ferry terminal in South Shields too so if you're planning a trip from the South of the Tyne, I'd recommend parking here and catching the ferry across to the Seasider bus stop.
South Shields is a lovely town to visit and I'd recommend The Word Museum which is free to visit, right next to the ferry terminal and currently featuring secret codes, lost dialects and when the bugle calls exhibitions.
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| North Shields Fish Quay |
In some ways it feels like this area of the coast has been trapped in time with its fish markets and traditional fish and chip shops yet these sit alongside modern bistros and tapas bars too. We like walking along the coast from North Shields to Tynemouth - the views with mouth of the Tyne next to us are beautiful (if you don't fancy climbing a big hill, walk the reverse route from Tynemouth to North Shields).
We had such a brilliant day exploring the North Tyneside coast. So much so that I'll definitely be planning a return trip in the school holidays.
Once you've bought your bus ticket, it's one of those days where you can spend as much or as little as you want. There is so much choice when it comes to places to visit along this stretch of coastline and the open top bus is probably the best (and most fun) way to take in the outstanding views.
Let me know if you fancy a trip on the Seasider and where you'd choose to visit along the way.
Read more:
- A Day in Whitley Bay with Kids using the Seasider Bus by Nomipalony
- A Dog-friendly trip on the Seasider Bus by Mandy Charlton
- Riding the Seasider open-topped bus by Go Eat Do
- Fish and Chips at Trenchers Whitley Bay Review
- 11 Fun things to do in Whitley Bay with Kids
- Evan's Bistro Children's Menu Review
- Visiting Tynemouth Priory with Kids
- The Fish Shack Review
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What a great deal- I wish more places did something like this, such a great way to explore. Got to love a day by the sea.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely adds an extra element of fun x
DeleteI don’t understand how you turned such a great post around so fast?! You are a blogging wizard. Pleased the bus is running to time now. Thanks for linking to me, I’ll go link to you now!
ReplyDeleteYes I was worried we were going to be hanging around but luckily, the worst it got was 2 mins late which isn't bad at all x
DeleteWe live south of the Tyne and have always wanted to take our girls on the ferry but never had a clue where to go once we were on the North side. The Seasider sounds perfect we’re definitely going to try it out!!
ReplyDeleteIt will be perfect - hope you have a brill day x
DeleteWow what a post, you did loads!! I love the Priory but apart from the beach and swimming we've not done much in that neck of the woods. Looks amazing though.
ReplyDeleteOh there is LOADS to do. We had a brill day thanks x
DeleteI am so so excited about giving this a go when our niece and nephew come up to visit in the Summer. We really wanted to take them to Whitley Bay and then maybe to play pirate crazy golf but we were worried about if they'd be able to manage the walk between the two and it's quite a walk between Metro stations. The seasider bus is just perfect, they are going to love the adventure of going on the top deck (and of course as a complete North Tyneside fan girl nerd I think I'm going to love it too!)
ReplyDeleteIt's such a brilliant way to explore. I am pretty sure there's a bus stop right outside of the crazy golf if you don't want to walk from Tynemouth. I love that the bus links up with both Whitley Bay Metro Station and the Shields Ferry x
DeleteWhat a brilliant post! as a south tynesider in origin I know the south part of the coastline much more than the north and worry about parking too! This would be ace for my mam over the holidays as a day out idea as she will have the girls for 3 weeks & doesn't drive. she has ferry perks already ha ha!
ReplyDeleteIt will be perfect for your mam and the girls x
DeleteLots of lovely photos to bring the route to life. Thank you for the shout out!
ReplyDeleteHello, we have been talking about going on the bus during half term so I'm really pleased I have come across your post. It sounds like you had a great day out. Do you remember whereabouts in cullercoats the bus stopped as this would be the easiest place for us to start our travels. Thanks
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult to describe the route. Kind of along the road from beaches and cream if you're heading towards Whitley bay x
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