20+ Ideas for things to do in Berwick-upon-Tweed

This post includes some experiences which were covered by Visit Berwick during our press trip in September and others which I have paid for myself. I have not been paid to write to post & Visit Berwick has no editorial control. The post features affiliate links for Haven.

Berwick-Upon-Tweed is somewhere I had not visited until this year despite being recommended to us on numerous occasions. I'm not sure why - I think my preconceptions were probably that there wasn't much to do there and it was just a market town with a few shops.

Well, how wrong could I be? We visited twice over the summer - once as part of a holiday with my brother which we paid for ourselves and another as part of a press trip with Visit Berwick. Across our two visits, I discovered that there is loads to do in the town and I'd highly recommend planning a day trip or short break to Berwick sooner rather than later to see all that Berwick has to offer for yourself.

Travelling to Berwick-Upon-Tweed 

Berwick is super easy to get to. If you're driving, it's straight up the A1. Most of the car parks in the town centre offer free parking with a Northumberland parking disk (they're £1 from a machine/shop if you don't already have one). Berwick also has its own train station right in the centre of town and trains are regular and super reasonable. Steve booked a single ticket for £11.50 on the day of travel during our last trip but I have spotted tickets from as little as £6 return if booked in advance.

There are direct trains from Newcastle and Morpeth (and other stops along the East Coast) and the train takes just over 40 minutes from Newcastle. Finally, the X18 and X15 buses serve Berwick from across the North East - you can check their timetables here. 

20+ Ideas for things to do in Berwick 

Enjoy a cracking Sunday Lunch at The Plough on the Hill 

2024 update - this place has now closed 

The Plough on the Hill, Berwick is a lovely pub just outside of the centre. It has recently been refurbished and you can expect wonderful countryside views from the outdoor terraces. There is an outdoor play area for kids and dogs are welcome too. 

I highly recommend their Sunday sharing board for a big family lunch or the kids make your own pizzas available Monday-Saturday. Find out more here. 

Enjoy Burgers, Pizza & Homemade Lemonade at Lock, Stock 'n' Burgers 

2024 update - this place has now closed 

Lock, Stock 'n' Burgers is a fantastic restaurant to visit in the centre of town. Everything is freshly prepared, the staff are lovely and it's one of those places which won't break the bank (homemade cheeseburgers are available from £5). We visited on a Sunday and their Sunday Lunch also looked to die for!

Visit Cocklawburn Beach 

Cocklawburn Beach is a couple of miles from the town centre (right by Pot-a-doodle do). It's dog-friendly and one of those beaches which has it all - miles of golden sands, sand dunes to jump from and rock pools too. It was deserted on the afternoon of our visit and a good place to visit if you need to get away from it all. 

Follow the Lowry Trail

Visit Berwick Tourist Information Centre and pick up a free Lowry Trail leaflet - the trail takes you around town and should take around 3 hours in total. Expect to see 18 interpretation panels & reproductions of the famous artist's work (who used to regularly take holidays in Berwick). 

Paint Pottery at Pot-a-doodle do 

Pot-a-doodle do is a gem of a site and a lovely place to spend an afternoon. You can drop into their art studio (check opening times before making a trip but it's generally between 10am-3/4pm) and pick a pottery piece or an arts and crafts activity to complete. Prices are per piece and generally between £10-£20. You can take your piece away on the day or if you'd like it to be glazed, return later in the week to collect. As well as pottery painting, Pot-a-doodle do offers glamping pods, has a lovely cafe and play park for kids too. I made a short video during our day here if you'd like to see more:

Take a walk along the River Tweed 

The banks of the River Tweed are gorgeous & I'd highly recommend taking a walk and admiring the various bridges. There are a few coffee shops down by the harbour which is a lovely place to stop and take it all in.

Visit Paxton House 

Paxton House is a country estate just outside of Berwick. There are beautiful gardens, play parks for children, animals, trails to follow, woodland sculptures, a stately home, cafe, boat trips, fishing....I could go on. Northumberland Family Diaries has shared more information in this post. 

Enjoy a boat trip with Berwick Boat Trips 

Berwick Boat Trips depart from the harbour (you can't miss the 'boat trips' sign). There are various options including a sunset cruise, bridges and castles or out to sea. Prices are super reasonable too. If you are lucky, you might spot a dolphin. We found the guides to be really informative and it was during our boat trip that we really got to the heart of Berwick, it's people and history and I'd say it's one of the trips you must do whilst in Berwick.The scenery was stunning too.

Experience a thrilling night at Berwick Speedway 

Berwick Speedway takes place on Saturday nights in Shieldfield from March until October. Kids go free and it certainly makes for a Saturday night out with a difference. The atmosphere is very family friendly with lots of kids there, mascots challenging each other and dancing throughout the night and a commentator explaining the rules and keeping you in the loop. It is such a great night and one of those things you must experience - my heart was in my mouth!

Catch a show at The Maltings 

Berwick has it's own theatre and cinema - a brilliant option for an evening out or rainy afternoon idea.

Learn about the Berwick Cockle at Audela 

I don't know why this surprised me, but Berwick has a fantastic food scene going on. We enjoyed a delicious meal at Audela which is a fine dining restaurant in the heart of Berwick. You won't find a kids menu here and it's not the best for fussy eaters (please check the menus online before booking) but we found the staff to be super welcoming and they offered smaller portions for the children. Audela is where Berwick Cockle's were originally made - a sweet treat which is kind of like a soft minty rock. If you ask the staff, they'll share their story and let you have a try.

Burn off your excess energy at the Swan Centre 

A trip to the Swan Centre is another brilliant rainy day idea. There's a swimming pool with flume, soft play, sports courts, bowling green and more.

Visit a Micropub 

The Curfew in Berwick is the most Northernly Micropub in England. Expect real ales, ciders and craft beers. There's a beer garden too and it's a brilliant place to catch up with friends.

Shop until you drop at Berwick's Independent Shops 

As well as larger chain stores, Berwick Town Centre seems to have a larger than average proportion of independent shops. The town is a brilliant place to pick up a quirky gift and if you like shopping, you'll love it here.

Walk the Town Walls 

Berwick has two sets of city walls - the Elizabethan Walls are just over a mile in length and taking the walk around them really gives you the best perspective of the town (and the best views too). The walk should take around 45 minutes. As we walked the walls, Heidi discovered this old coin lying on the grass and was chuffed to bits.

Check out Berwick's exciting calendar of events 

When planning a day or short break in Berwick, I'd highly recommend browsing the Visit Berwick calendar of events first. There is so much going on from festivals to sporting events. We visited during the weekend of Berwick Food Festival which was fantastic and probably the best food festival I've ever been to. It was dog-friendly, featured free cooking classes for kids and lots of yummy food to buy. Worth looking out for next year.

Visit Berwick Barracks

Berwick Barracks is managed by English Heritage so if you're visiting Berwick and you're a member, don't forget your membership card. It's a fabulous place where history is brought to life with replica cannons and interesting exhibitions.

Shop local at Berwick market 

Berwick Market takes place in Marygate every Wednesday and Saturday and is a great place to pick up a local treat for supper. This honey-smoked goat's cheese is divine.

Pop into Berwick Museum & Art Gallery 

Berwick Museum & Gallery is located inside of Berwick Barracks (additional fee). Home to the Berwick Burrel Fine Art collection and a wide range of artefacts from Egyptian antiques to dinosaurs and dragons.

Feel the sand in your toes at Berwick Beach 

There are a few beaches to choose from in Berwick - we like the one just by Haven Berwick and the Golf Club. There's a play park for the kids and it's nice and sheltered. You might spot a swan too - there's around 300 of them in the area.

Play Mini Golf 

Mini golf is available on the sea front at Berwick Golf Club for just £2 per person. What a bargain! We avoided this though as we don't seem to be able to manage a game without some kind of meltdown. Anyone else? 

Where to Stay in Berwick 

We have stayed at Haven Berwick twice now and it's one of the best holiday parks I've stayed at. I think I'll write a full review at some point so stay tuned but here's a quick overview of why we love it: 

• Direct beach access
• You can walk into town in 10-15 minutes
• Friendly staff (especially the reception team and security)
• Reasonable prices (£12 for 4 beers/£3.99 for a kids meal in the restaurant
• Doesn't feel too busy but there's still lots to do - campfire cooking is a popular activity 
• Live music in the evenings 
• A play park, trampoline & sports courts
• Well-stocked shop on-site
• Soft play, craft room and amusement arcades 
• An indoor and outdoor pool 
• You don't need a car - Haven Berwick is a 10 minute walk from Berwick Train Station or catch a taxi from outside the station for around £3. 

Find out more about Haven Berwick, check prices and book online here.

Find out more about Haven Berwick, check prices and book online here.

Other options include glamping at Pot-a-doodle do, the YHA (click here to read a review by Yorkshire Tots) or staying in one of Berwick's lovely-looking B&Bs. 

I hope I've inspired some of you to visit Berwick for the day or a short break. Over the course of our couple of trips this summer, we've fallen in love with the place. There's loads to see and do and I'm sure it won't be too long before we are back. 

To find out more about what to do in Berwick or any of the places mentioned in this post, please visit the Visit Berwick website below.

https://www.visitberwick.com/

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