North East Family Fun

50+ Baby, Toddler & Pre-School Classes Across North East England

A question I am asked a lot is if I know of any baby/toddler/pre-school classes so I thought I would ask followers for their recommendations and pop them altogether in a post. Information is correct as of April 2021. At time of publishing, not all of these classes will be fully running but do keep an eye on their social media / sign up to their mailing lists for updates.

If you would like to recommend a class to add to this list, please email sam@northeastfamilyfun.co.uk with the details. There may be a slight crossover in some of the areas the classes take place - I have tried to go off their main areas.

Help Your Child Understand & Manage Their Everyday Worries & Anxiety (with the Help of Melva Mapletree)

This is an April 2021 advertisement. Any subsequent shares of this post have not been asked or paid for. Melva image credits : Mortal Fools. I am not a Mental Health professional, please consult your GP if you have any concerns.

Melva online is a fun mental health resource, suitable for children aged 7-11 (and their families) to support their wellbeing and better understand and manage their everyday worries during what has been a very chaotic time for us all.

Find out more about Melva online, and purchase here.

Secret Garden Seaton Delaval Review

This post is based on a walk-in visit in April 2021 and a booked table in May 2021.

I decided to wait a few weeks before visiting myself and I have a table booked in a couple of weeks, but this Friday lunchtime, Steve was off work so we decided to pop along and make use of their street food/coffee shop takeaway service.

Lightwater Valley - What's On

Lightwater Valley is a theme park in Ripon, North Yorkshire which is perfect for families with under 10s to enjoy.

Treetop Trails (formerly Treetop Nets) are now included with admission and is your chance to walk amongst the treetops and bounce with all of the family.

2 for 1 Garden Entry with Gardeners' World Magazine

This popular deal is back for 2023.....

Wynyard Hall Gardens, Woodland Walk & Superworm Trail

This post is based on a visit in April 2021. Please double check information with venue direct before setting off as information and facilities available change over time.

This year we are spending a lot of time here in the North East and I am investing in a couple of annual passes. Somewhere I have been meaning to visit in a long time is Wynyard Gardens. I have visited a couple of times before but it has always been part of a special event. The gardens always look gorgeous so we decided to combine our visit with Wynyard Woodland Park with a trip to Wynyard Gardens which is only a couple of miles away.

Burn It Up North Shields Review

(ad) This post is based on us attending a press event on 19 April 2021. We have not been asked or paid to share this post. Please double check details before making plans/booking as information can change (especially relating to opening hours, the booking process and food vendors/prices).

I have included a menu and prices at the bottom of this post so make sure you scroll right to the end if you want to check them out.

Looking for an alternative venue? Click this post to find out why we preferred The Secret Garden

Visiting Ouseburn with Kids

Seven Stories has launched a pavement cafe in Ouseburn. It looks like it will be a fantastic place to stop off with kids for refreshments or a light bite to eat when visiting the area.

The new pavement cafe will be open from Thursday - Sunday 11am-4pm and will serve traybakes, muffins and cakes based on favourite children's stories.

Always Dreamed About Starting Your Own Business?

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I think this past year has been a chance for many of us to take stock and think about what we really want from life. Many of us have been furloughed / working reduced hours which has given us the time and space needed to start a new hobby or learn a new skill.

Those of you who watch my Instagram stories will know that my brother has been furloughed as a chef, taught himself carpentry from scratch and has been making mud kitchens and tables which he has really enjoyed. There are 1000s of people like Mark who may be thinking about taking their new found skills to the next level or turning their hobby into a business but are perhaps not sure where to start. Or maybe have a business idea but are unsure how to take the first steps or where to apply for funding. If this is something you are interested in exploring, this post is for you.

Wynyard Woodland Park : Visitor Information

This post is based on a visit in April 2021. Please always check details direct with venue before setting off as information can change over time.

Wynyard Woodland Park is a play area which many of you have recommended to us over the years. I am so pleased we finally made the trip and spent a sunny morning here in April. It is fantastic!

Richardson Dees Park, Wallsend : Visitor Information

*this article was first posted in April 2021 and was last updated in April 2023

Richardson Dees Park in Wallsend, North Tyneside is somewhere we used to visit a lot when Harry and Heidi were little and we lived in Wallsend. It was lovely then but having a bit of cash spent on it, it's even better now.

Richardson Dees Park has a large enclosed play area with decent play equipment for all ages, an outdoor gym, sports pitches (including tennis courts and a bowling green), woodland walks, ducks to feed, a cafe, a skate park, lots of green space and public toilets.

It is very easy to reach via public transport or car too. There are picnic tables and benches dotted around the grounds but it does get popular and I recommend bringing a picnic blanket if you're going to spend a few hours here.

Pirate Themed Crazy Golf, Morpeth (Review)

This post is based on a visit in March 2021. Please check the Crazy Putt website and social media for up to date information.

I love Crazy Golf and it's a nice activity to enjoy for all ages. One of my children who shall remain nameless is not a fan though and has multiple meltdowns whenever we play / spends the whole time accusing others of cheating or not following the rules properly which can be stressful for us if we play together as a family. I guess it's one of those activities you either love or hate!

Pirate Themed Crazy Golf, Morpeth (Review)

I still persist and book these things though and recently we tried Crazy Putt Adventure Golf at Morpeth Family Golf Centre. Despite one child pretty much crying the whole way around because the rest of us were 'cheating' 😳 the rest of us really enjoyed this course and declared it the best outdoor crazy golf course we have tried.

30 of the Best Things to do at Kielder with Kids

This post was published in April 2021. Not all of these facilities will be open at all times and many are seasonal. Please ensure you contact venues direct to check facilities and opening hours/booking requirements before making plans. Also note that prices may have changed since posting so please do check this too.

We absolutely love Kielder. The remote village, forest and reservoir is just three miles South of the Scottish border and it is one of those places where you really feel as if you are in the middle of nowhere. There is very limited phone signal making Kielder the ideal spot to really switch off from the world.

Durham Botanic Garden : Visitor Information

This post is based on a visit in April 2021 when not all facilities were open due to Gov restrictions. Please check their website for up-to-date information before visiting or making plans.

At time of publishing, Durham Botanic Garden is free to visit and open Monday-Friday 10am - 2:30pm. You do not need to pre-book and can just walk in. The cafe, toilets and indoor facilities/bird hides are currently closed. I would still recommend as a nice peaceful walk with points of interest or a place to meet up with friends/family (within Gov guidelines) and it is lovely for a stroll. There is plenty of seating throughout the gardens and it wasn't too busy at all on the day of our visit in the school holidays.

Tyne Riverside Country Park : Visitor Information

This post is based on a visit in April 2021. Please check with venues direct for the most up to date information. A version of this post also appears on Visit Newcastle.

Tyne Riverside Country Park is situated on former industrial land by the River Tyne near Newburn. It is a lovely spot with various facilities and perfect for riverside strolls and woodland walks. The park is very well connected and part of the Wylam Waggonway and some areas are suitable for cycling and horse riding.

Wansbeck Riverside Park | Northumberland

*This article was first published in April 2021 and updated in April 2023.

Wansbeck Riverside Park is a large nature reserve in Ashington, Northumberland. Expect riverside walks, a large public play park with lots of space to run around, flat surfaced paths, green space, lots of seating and a cafe. It is FREE to visit.

We used to take the kids often when they were little as it was an ideal spot for dog walking and also a good spot for blackberry picking. We revisited on Easter Bank Holiday and it was just as good as I remember.

Nelly's Moss Lakes A 1.5 Mile Easy Pushchair Friendly Walk at Cragside

This post was published in April 2021. Please check details with venue direct before setting off as facilities, opening hours and information can change. Please follow Government guidelines.

At time of writing, visits to Cragside must be pre-booked for members and non-members. We pre-booked our visit online. Tickets are released in the early hours of Friday morning (just after midnight) for the following week. If you are unable to book a slot, I recommend giving Cragside a call on the day you would like to visit. They usually have a number of no-shows and cancellations and can often squeeze you in.

Land of Oak and Iron Heritage Centre

*This article was first published in April 2021 and last updated in April 2023.

The Land of Oak and Iron covers an ancient woodland area around Derwent Valley. It is a fantastic area for wildlife spotting, walking and cycling. Situated just off the A1 near the Metrocentre, it is a nice place to enjoy some fresh air after shopping or equally, a destination in itself.