North East

The North East of England takes in County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Northumberland – a region with a wider range of landscapes and historical significance than its distance from the main tourist circuits might suggest. Hadrian’s Wall runs east to west across the region, one of the most significant Roman monuments in Europe, and the Northumberland coast to the north is among the wildest and least-developed coastlines in England.

Durham city with its Norman cathedral and castle is the most visited destination and justifiably so – the peninsula site above the River Wear is extraordinary and the cathedral interior is one of the finest in northern Europe. Newcastle to the north is a genuinely good city for a day visit, with the Quayside, the Tyne bridges, the Baltic art gallery and the Sage music venue all making worthwhile stops.

The Northumberland National Park in the west of the region is the least visited national park in England – vast areas of moorland, the Cheviot Hills and the upper reaches of the North Tyne giving genuinely remote van country. The Dark Sky Park designation here covers 1400 square kilometres and is the largest such area in England.

Overnight options across the North East are varied and generally good value – the region attracts fewer visitors than the Lake District or Yorkshire, which means better availability at most sites. The coast in particular has well-placed stopovers from which Hadrian’s Wall, the Farne Islands and the Northumberland landscape are all accessible within a day.