NORTH-EAST ENGLAND

Whenever we go on holiday we do the guidebooks, we look at all the websites, but when we actually get there we have to do all the finding-out that many people have done before. We don't want you to have to duplicate our work. So while this page isn't everything about the North-East, it's the things that might save you a bit of time.

Tourist Information 0191 200 5895 or 0191 200 8535


• Whitley Bay
  • St Mary's Lighthouse
    First lit in 1898, now a visitor centre, this lighthouse stands at the end of a causeway (check local press for tidal times). You can climb 137 steps to the top and then remotely zoom a roof-top camera onto the tourists below.
  • Rendezvous Cafe
    A Whitley Bay landmark, proudly proclaiming 'Ices' to all walking along the Promenade.
  • Spanish City
    A symbol of Whitley Bay's faded glory, the disused dome of the Empress Ballroom stands over a disused entertainment complex. It is mentioned in the Dire Straits song 'Tunnel of Love'. The fairground has been turned into a primary school, but there are plans to renovate the Grade II listed building.
  
  
• Tynemouth
  • Grand Hotel
    Built in 1872 for the Duchess of Northumberland, this majestic hotel with cliff-top views is a must for those on a luxury break. A sea-view room is £100 a night, with a slightly ropey cooked breakfast thrown in
    0191 293 6666
  • 77 Front Street
    The best Chinese restaurant in Tynemouth, possibly on this stretch of coast. Excellent service, a fantastic range of banquets that go down so easily, and a cheery chef in proper check trousers!
    0191 296 2961
  • Land of Green Ginger
    A converted church with a range of gift and other shops, including original art by Elaine Page (not the Elaine Page), a good second-hand bookshop, and a cafe. Free toilets.
  • Metro Station
    A fantastic Victorian construction with a good books/antiques fair at weekends.
    For taxi service call Preston Taxis 0191 296 0296
  • Tynemouth Castle & Priory
    A relic of Tynemouth's monastic past. Run by English Heritage.
  • Watch House
    A museum full of memorabilia for the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade, founded in 1864. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10 - 3, Sunday 10 - 12. The setting for Robert Westall's book 'The Watch House', a sort-of sequel to 'The Machine Gunners', also set in Tynemouth. 0191 257 2059
  • Collingwood Monument
    Lord Collingwood was Nelson's second-in-command at Trafalgar, and took over after Nelson's death.
  
  
• Waterside Trail
  • This is a signed trail from St Mary's Lighthouse right round to the Royal Quays outlet village west of North Shields, well worth walking on a fine day, taking you past all of the highlights above. The leaflet is no longer available in Information Centres, but the waymarkers have very clear maps and additional information. You can continue the walk from Royal Quays to the Pedestrian Tunnel (below) by following the National Cycle Network routemarkers for 72 then 7 through East Howdon.
  
  
• Tyne Pedestrian Tunnel
  • This runs parallel to the Tyne Tunnel for motor vehicles, 900 feet from Howdon to Jarrow (easily accessible from Metro stations at both ends), with the original wooden escalators from 1951.