Family Short Breaks at Sea: What to Know Before Trying a Mini Cruise

This post is as advert published in October 2026. Any shares / edits beyond this date have not been asked or paid for. 

School holidays come around quickly, and finding something that suits every member of the family isn’t always easy. Theme parks can be exhausting, hotels can be pricey and the thought of another long drive can dampen anyone’s enthusiasm. A mini cruise offers a different kind of break, one that combines travel and accommodation in a single package.

For families curious about the idea, 3 night cruises are among the easiest ways to try it. They fit neatly into a long weekend or half term, they don’t demand much planning and they offer a taste of life at sea without a week’s commitment. Here’s what families should know before deciding.

Our Friends in the North : The Thatcher Years Review (Newcastle Theatre Royal)

 Ad - we were provided with press tickets for this performance in October 2026. 

📆 Mon 19 - Sat 24 Oct 2026

🫶 Audio described and captioned performance with pre-show touch tour on Sat 24 Oct at 2:30pm
⌚ 2 hrs including interval
🎫 Standard tickets available from £23 🎫 £10 18-30s tickets available (with membership)
✅ Contains strong language, flashing lights, injury detail, scenes of a sexual nature, use of slurs and offensive language, adult themes, strobes and loud noises.

🎟️Book: https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on/our-friends-in-the-north/

Where to Watch a Fireworks Display in North East England (2026)

Please remember times and events can change (especially as the weather does). Always double-check event details with venues direct before heading out.

Many of these events may be cancelled or postponed due to the current storm so definitely check with them direct.

The Ultimate Guide to Christmas Markets in North East England 2026

I can't believe how quickly Christmas Market season has come around. As usual, I'm sharing my guide to the region's best Christmas Markets.

If you know of any other Christmas Markets in our region, please email the details to sam@northeastfamilyfun.co.uk You must include a website / FB event link to be considered for this post. 

Dog Friendly Days Out for Autumn

🐶 Dogs are welcome at Spilman’s Pumpkin Festival where you’ll find lots of fun activities (including pumpkin slingshot) and a pumpkin patch. Selected dates across October.

🐶 Dogs can join you for a walk around the grounds at Beamish Museum. We love an autumn walk here! You can stop for refreshments with your dog in the Sun Inn Pub, Drovers Tavern or Cafe at the Museum Entrance.

What's On for Kids & Teen - October (+ Half Term) | North East England

This post contains adverts and affiliate links. Always check t&cs direct with venue when booking events and deals and check details with attractions direct before heading out as info can change. You can do this by clicking the blue links in the post. 

If you're looking for more ideas for days out, why not join our FREE days out Facebook group here. 

Please note, Half Term dates do vary depending on your county/school so make sure you double check before booking or planning everything. 

One Night in Pisa

This post was published in September 2026. We paid for this break ourselves. Always check with venues direct for the most up to date info before heading out. 

During a recent trip to Tuscany, we had a morning return flight from Pisa. We were staying in a fairly remote area and would have needed to hire an (expensive) driver for our transfer to the airport in the early hours which we didn't really want to do so instead, decided to travel to Pisa by train the day before our flight and spent the evening here.