North East England offers dramatic castles, sweeping coastlines, beautiful countryside and historic cities. From Bamburgh and Lindisfarne to Newcastle and Durham, the region combines spectacular landscapes with a rich heritage.
During our visits, we explored coastal villages, historic landmarks and vibrant city centres, discovering excellent food, welcoming pubs and plenty of local character along the way. Browse our North East England travel articles below for inspiration on places to visit, stay and dine.
Our latest journey around North East England, exploring Newcastle, Northumberland and County Durham, with new places to stay, eat and visit throughout this fantastic region.
Follow our 2026 North East England trip
A Northumberland cottage break based in Alnmouth, exploring coastal villages, local attractions, beautiful scenery and plenty of places to eat and drink along the way.
Read more about our Northumberland trip
Crossing from Scotland into Northumberland with a memorable stop at Holy Island, dramatic coastal scenery and the perfect end to our NC500 adventure.
Read more from our NC500 road trip
The final day of our NC500 journey was spent exploring Northumberland before heading home, rounding off an unforgettable Scotland and North East road trip.
Read more from our NC500 road trip
North East England offers a wide range of accommodation, from coastal inns and countryside manor houses to boutique city hotels, luxury spa resorts and historic castle stays. Some accommodation options to consider include:
INNSiDE by Meliá Newcastle – Check availability
Maldron Hotel Newcastle – Check availability
Manor House Hotel, Holy Island – Check availability
Jesmond Dene House, Newcastle – Check availability
Langley Castle Hotel, Hexham – Check availability
The Tempus at Charlton Hall, Chathill – Check availability
The Whittling House, Alnmouth – Check availability
The Cookie Jar, Alnwick – Check availability
Beadnell Towers, Beadnell – Check availability
Matfen Hall, Northumberland – Check availability
Hotel Indigo Durham – Check availability
Seaham Hall, County Durham – Check availability
Radisson Blu Hotel Durham – Check availability
Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa, Durham – Check availability
The North East offers everything from fresh seafood and coastal pubs to Indian cuisine and contemporary city restaurants. You can find more recommendations in our Where To Eat In North East England guide.
The Salt Water Cafe, Beadnell – Read our review
Hinnies, Whitley Bay – Read our review
The Manor House Hotel, Holy Island – Read our review
The Old Boat House, Amble – Read our review
The Jolly Fisherman, Craster – Read our review
Riley’s Fish Shack, Tynemouth – Read our review
Dobson and Parnell, Newcastle – Read our review
Lal Khazana, Shilbottle – Read our review
North East England packs an impressive amount into a relatively compact area, combining lively cities, historic towns, dramatic countryside and some of England’s most spectacular coastline. Newcastle makes an excellent base for exploring the region, with Northumberland to the north and County Durham to the south.
Newcastle & Gateshead
Sitting either side of the River Tyne, Newcastle and Gateshead offer a great mix of history, culture, shopping, nightlife and, importantly for us, a thriving food and drink scene. The Quayside and its famous bridges are among the region’s most recognisable sights, while areas such as Ouseburn are home to independent venues, galleries and creative spaces.
Beyond the city centre, Tynemouth and the North East coast are easily accessible, making Newcastle a useful base for combining a city break with days exploring further afield.
Northumberland
Head north from Newcastle and the landscape quickly changes. Northumberland is renowned for its castles, countryside, historic market towns and more than 30 miles of beautiful coastline.
Bamburgh Castle dominates one of the best-known stretches of the coast, while the tidal island of Lindisfarne – Holy Island – combines dramatic scenery with centuries of history. Further south, coastal towns and villages including Alnmouth, Amble, Warkworth and Craster provide plenty of reasons to slow down and explore, not least some excellent places to eat and drink.
Inland, Alnwick is home to Alnwick Castle and The Alnwick Garden, while the west of the county takes you into Hadrian's Wall country. The 73-mile Roman frontier is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Northumberland containing the longest surviving stretch and major sites including Housesteads, Vindolanda and Chesters.
County Durham
To the south, County Durham offers another very different side to the North East. At its heart is historic Durham City, where Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site above the River Wear.
Elsewhere in the county you'll find market towns, countryside, the Durham Dales and the Durham Heritage Coast. Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, is one of the region's best-known visitor attractions and brings the history of North East England to life across its extensive open-air site.
Food and drink are increasingly part of the attraction across the whole region, from seafood on the Northumberland coast and traditional country pubs to independent restaurants, cafés, breweries and contemporary city dining.
Planning A Visit
For more information and inspiration when planning a trip, the region's official tourism organisations are a useful starting point:
Visit North East England – The official visitor website for North East England, covering destinations, experiences and trip planning across the wider region.
https://www.visitnortheastengland.com/
NewcastleGateshead – Visitor information covering Newcastle, Gateshead, the Quayside, surrounding neighbourhoods, coast and countryside.
https://newcastlegateshead.com/
Visit Northumberland – The official visitor guide to Northumberland, including the coast, castles, Hadrian's Wall, accommodation, attractions and events.
https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/
This is Durham / Visit County Durham – The official tourism website for Durham, covering Durham City, the Dales, coast, attractions, accommodation and food and drink.
https://www.thisisdurham.com/
Our latest North East England coverage is being developed with the support of Experience North East England, working alongside the region's local visitor economy partners to showcase more of what the North East has to offer.
Experience North East England
https://experiencenortheastengland.co.uk/
If you enjoy exploring the North East of England, you may also like these destinations we’ve visited and written about.
York – A historic walled city packed with character, from York Minster and medieval streets to independent shops, restaurants and riverside walks.
Stratford-upon-Avon – A historic market town famous as the birthplace of William Shakespeare, with beautiful timber-framed buildings, riverside walks and the world-renowned Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Latest Travel Articles – Browse our most recent travel stories, destinations and travel experiences from the UK and beyond.
Last updated September 2026.
