North East Family Fun

10 Free Days Out Near a Metro Station

This post shares 10 FREE days out which are close to a Metro Station. If you don't live near a Metro Station, many offer bus connections and some stations have free/paid car parks too if you'd like to park and ride.

Don't forget, kids aged 11 and under travel for free by Metro with a fare paying adult. All day, every day and they don't need a ticket. Find out more/check the t&cs here.

What's On in the North East for Kids & Teens - July 2023

AD - This post contains adverts and affiliate links and I have recently worked with some of the businesses and attractions mentioned in this post. As always, please check info with venues direct before heading out as info may change.

I'm pleased to share a bumper guide of events taking place this July in the run up to the kids breaking up from school.

As always, this guide has been written in advance and it is super important to click the links to the official websites and check for the most up-to-date information from venues themselves as the information provided in this post may have changed.

Stockeld Park - New Indoor Play Area Opens

This post is not an advert and has been based on a press release. Please contact Stockeld Park for the most up-to-date information. Photo credits: Stockeld Park.

Stockeld Park regularly pops up as a recommendation for somewhere to visit in our Days Out Facebook Group and it features in our 'Places to stop off when driving South' blog post. When I heard they had expanded and added a new attraction, I thought it was worth sharing.

We've just returned from a lovely break in North Yorkshire. It was a bit of a celebration for us - Steve was originally due to leave his employed job this week and combined with the fact that my kids had a 4 day weekend meant that booking somewhere to celebrate Steve's new found freedom and making the most of a long weekend in term time was on the cards.

Pranzo Whitley Bay | Lunch Menu Review

This post is based on a visit in June 2022. Always check for the most up-to-date information with Pranzo direct when making plans (find their FB page here).

Credit: Pranzo

Pranzo is an Italian Trattoria and Deli on Station Road in Whitley Bay. It's next door to Sushi Me Rollin' and on the same street as Whitley Bay Metro Station so super easy to get to by public transport. There is street parking outside (sometimes paid - check times) and there is a free car park outside Whitley Bay Metro Station.

Where to Buy Lobster in Northumberland

This post has been published by Steve. Please always check with venues direct for the most up to date information when making plans.

For most people (myself included), Lobster is a very occasional treat and something to save for really special occasions. The odd time we do order lobster, it does feel super special.

Over the years, we have tried lobster from a few places in Northumberland when out celebrating special occasions and we thought we'd put together and post sharing some of our favourite spots and the best places to buy this luxurious crustacean.

I personally love it when my lobster turns up with a lobster crack and pick so I can really get in there and get every little piece. More often than not though, the restaurant has done all of the hard work for you and I have found lobster to generally be served ready to eat.

11 Reasons to Visit 'A Northumberland Menagerie' in 2022

This is an advert for June 2022. Any edits/shares beyond this date have not been asked or paid for. Please always check with venues direct for the most up-to-date information when making plans and before setting off.

A Northumberland Menagerie is a series of exhibitions by artist Bethan Maddocks taking place across four museums in Northumberland in 2022 (until 30 October). Click on the links below for more information about the exhibitions at each site:

How to Book Fishing at Kielder (with Kids)

Thanks to our writer Bethanie for sharing this post. Always check with Kielder Waterside Park for the most up to date information when making plans. AD - the links in this post are affiliate links.

Would it surprise you to learn that Kielder is the largest man-made lake in northern Europe? It is also home to one of the largest areas of forest in England.

Crieff Hydro Self Catering Review

AD - This post has been published by our writer Gaia and is based on a press stay in June 2022. Any shares beyond this date have not been asked for. Please always check with Crieff Hydro direct for the most up-to-date information.

Kids Eat Free in Whitley Bay

This post has been written by our writer Steve and is an advert for June 2022. Any shares / edits beyond this have not been asked for. The photos in this post have been taken on multiple visits over the years - we're big fans!

Is there anything better than fish and chips by the sea? We're very lucky to live so close to the seaside that it only takes a few minutes to get some fresh fish and chips. Trenchers is a great restaurant inside Spanish City in Whitley Bay to visit for just that.

The Fun Jungle Washington Review

This is a guest post by our writer Cat and based on a visit in May 2022. Please always check with venues direct for the most up to date information when making plans.

The Fun Jungle is a soft play centre located in Sulgrave in Washington. If travelling by car, NE37 3AZ will get you to the Industrial Unit which is just off the main road. The unit stands alone through some metal gates and has plenty of free parking.

Visiting Eshott Airfield & Cafe

This post is based on a visit in June 2022. Please always check for the most up-to-date information with the venue direct when making plans and before setting off.

A few people had mentioned that Eshott Airfield is somewhere I should visit and write about. My 6 year old nephew is currently into planes and as we'd recently watched Maverick together, we thought why not continue the Top Gun theme and visit the airfield together to see what it was all about.

14 Things to Do in Hexham Town Centre with Kids (2022)

Hexham is a picturesque market town in Northumberland. Regularly voted as one of the happiest places to live in the UK, it's a lovely place to visit for a day out.

Hexham is super easy to get to by public transport - there is a bus and train station in the centre of town. We usually park in Wentworth Car Park (NE46 1QE) which is free with a Northumberland Parking Disc - just make sure you park in the correct colour zone for your length of stay.

Darwin Forest Review (2022)

Ad - This post was published in June 2022 and is based on a press trip in May 2022. Any shares / edits beyond this date have not been asked for. Please visit darwinforest.co.uk for the most up-to-date information.

This trip had been originally planned for Spring 2020 but for obvious reasons, had to be postponed. Our original plan was to spend the weekend visiting Alton Towers with our Merlin Annual Passes and using Darwin Forest as a base from which to do this.

Our Family Meal Plans (Summer)

Ad - some of the links in this post are affiliate links

I love reading other people's meal plans and used to share our own when I first started this blog. I sometimes do still share on Instagram. Anyway, this feature is back. I am not the best at sticking to features so I'm not going to say I will share this every week religiously but I will try my best to keep it updated.

The Loading Bay North Shields Review

This post has been published by our writer Steve and was last updated in June 2022. For the most up-to-date information, please see here: https://www.theloadingbaynorthshields.co.uk/

The Loading Bay is a great little Street Food Hang Out near North Sheilds Fish Quay. I recently visited with Sam and Sam's brother Mark for brunch.

Why are Kids Clubs on Holiday So Controversial?

I am writing this bit of a rant after receiving what I perceive to be judgemental comments on a TikTok video I posted a few weeks ago.

Some of the comments mention that you shouldn't send your kids to childcare on holiday and that holidays are supposed to be about creating memories together as a family rather than sending your kids off to strangers.

Stephenson Railway | FREE Train Museum & Cheap Heritage Train Rides

This post is based on a visit in April 2022. Please check the Stephenson Railway website and social media for the most up-to-date info, especially regarding opening times, booking info and special events.

Stephenson Railway is a small, free to visit train museum in North Shields. There is a free car park onsite and a bus stop nearby. The museum is not open all of the time and trains only run on selected dates so do check before heading out.

The museum is accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs and the train platform is accessible too however train carriage doors are restricted to 55cm and cannot accommodate wheelchairs. Wheelchair users must be able to self transfer from a platform to a carriage if they wish to ride. Find out more about access here.