15 Child Friendly Weekend Break Ideas in North East England

A question that pops up in our North East Days Out group time and time again is people looking for a one or two night break in the North East with kids. 

Usually to celebrate a special anniversary or birthday. I thought I would put my top recommendations in this post featuring places which offer one or two night stays and are brilliant for families with kids alongside a few places to visit nearby.

Family room at Seaton Lane Inn 

Please make sure you double check family facilities when booking, especially if the hotel has a pool as often children can only use swimming pools at specific set times. If you have any questions about any of the places mentioned, please contact the venues direct as they will have the most accurate and up to date information. 

1 - Holiday Inn Newcastle - Gosforth Park 

Holiday Inn Gosforth Park is located in Seaton Burn which connects the A1 and the A19 and it's a brilliant location for exploring the North East by car. The hotel feels nice and modern and family rooms are available. Kids under under 12 stay, play and eat for free when accompanied by a paying adult and rooms can work out to be very good value. 

A big selling point of this hotel is that it has a swimming pool and mini spa which is free for guests to use (do check opening hours for residents before booking if this is important to you). 

The hotel offers free parking and there is a lot to see and do in the immediate area including Northumberlandia, Morpeth, Whitehouse Farm and Plessey Woods plus you are just half an hour's drive straight up the A1 to places like Alnwick Garden and Alnwick Castle. 

Find out more here.

2 - Hogs Head Alnwick 

The Hogs Head Inn is part of the Inn Collection Group and a few of their hotels feature in this post as we love them. We have stayed in a few over the years and find them to be of good quality and very reasonable. 

The Hogs Head Inn is just across from Alnwick Garden and Alnwick Castle and an ideal place to stay if you are visiting the area. The pub has a beer garden with an outdoor area too. 

Find out more here.  

PS - if you sign up to Top Cash Back using my (ad) referral link here, you can earn up to 10% FREE cashback on stays here. 

3 - Beamish Park Hotel 

Beamish Park Hotel offers family rooms at a super reasonable price. All rooms have been recently refurbished. The hotel restaurant here serves one of my favourite ever Sunday lunches and they have a lovely heated terrace for guests to enjoy. 

Nearby guests can enjoy attractions such as Beamish (discounted tickets available if you stay), Tanfield Railway and Gibside. 

Find out more here. 

4 - Seaton Lane Inn 

How beautiful is this breakfast room? We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Seaton Lane Inn in Seaham a few years ago (you can read about it here) and would highly recommend. 

Located in Seaham, it is perfect for visiting Seaham & Blast Beach and looking for sea glass. The Fun Shack is close by as well as Karting North East, Penshaw Monument/Herrington Country Park and Hetton Lyons Country Park. 

Find out more here. 

PS - if you sign up to Top Cash Back using my (ad) referral link here, you can earn up to 10% FREE cashback on stays here. 

5 - Bamburgh Castle Inn

Located in the heart of Seahouses, the Bamburgh Castle Inn is a brilliant location for visiting the Farne Islands, Seahouses, Bamburgh Castle, the Northumberland Coast and Alnwick. 

Find out more here. 

PS - if you sign up to Top Cash Back using my (ad) referral link here, you can earn up to 10% FREE cashback on stays here.

 

6 - Village Hotel Newcastle 

The Village Hotel is another popular choice with families. They have a lovely swimming pool and small spa on site as well as a pub and Starbucks. Rooms are nice and modern. There is a bus stop outside of the hotel and it is very easy to reach Newcastle City Centre and all of the attractions there by both car and public transport.

Other attractions close by include Silverlink Retail Park, Royal Quays (with bowling / mini golf etc...), the North Tyneside Coast and Stephenson Railway Museum. 

Find out more here.  I highly recommend signing up to their newsletter as they often send deals out from as little as £19 per room. 

Check out this post for ideas for a bumper list of things to do in Newcastle: 'What to do in Newcastle with Kids' 


7 - Radisson Blu Durham 

Radisson Blu is a lovely hotel on Durham Riverside ideal for visiting Durham City on foot. You can enjoy riverside walks, visit Durham Cathedral, Odeon Luxe Durham and Durham Botanic Gardens. A little further afield you can visit attractions such as Adventure Valley, Finchale Abbey or Locomotion Shildon. 

Radisson Blu has a swimming pool. 

Find out more here. 

8.- Rockliffe Hall 

If you'd really like to push the boat out, Rockliffe Hall is an excellent choice. You can read our review here. This luxury hotel has so much to offer families including a swimming pool, outdoor adventure playground, tennis, cycling, mini golf, garden games and these fantastic mischmash huts. 

There is lots to do in the area too including Head of Steam Railway Museum and Preston Park / Butterfly World. 

Find out more here. 

9 - Stay Coastal Whitley Bay 

Stay Coastal offer luxury suites and studios in the heart of Whitley Bay and their largest room can sleep up to 6 people. Ideal for a staycation by the sea. Check out this post featuring 25+ things to do in Whitley Bay. You can access Whitley Bay Beach, Pirate Escape, Jam Jar Cinema, Spanish City, Waves Swimming Pool, St Mary's Lighthouse and the North Tyneside Coast on foot. Read our Stay Coastal review here. 

Find out more here. 

10 - Kings Head Inn 

The King's Head Inn sits at the base of Roseberry Topping and is ideal for families who want to set themselves the challenge of climbing to the top (read about our experience of doing just that here). 

Other nearby attractions include Preston Park, Butterfly World, Tees Barrage, Saltburn-by-the-Sea and RSPB Saltholme. 

This hotel is lovely and we really enjoyed our family stay here a few years ago. 

Find out more here. 

PS - if you sign up to Top Cash Back using my (ad) referral link here, you can earn up to 10% FREE cashback on stays here.

11 - Premier Inn 

I am a sucker for a cheap Premier Inn deal and with rooms from £29, they are ideal for families on a budget looking to include a hotel stay close to some top attractions. 

(ad - affiliate links) Check out these Premier Inns across Tyne and Wear and these Premier Inns across Northumberland. 

12 - Maldron Newcastle 

Steve and I recently stayed at the Maldron Hotel in Newcastle City Centre and I was so impressed for the price we paid. There are some very good deals available.

Located in the Bigg Market (don't worry, there is zero noise), the hotel is modern and in a perfect spot for visiting the city's attractions including virtual darts at WonderBar, YuMe World, Mr Mulligans Crazy Golf, Cineworld, Great North Museum, Discovery Museum and Life Science Centre. The hotel is within easy walking distance of Central Station if you'd like to leave the car at home. 

Family and inter-connecting rooms are available and I think this hotel is ideal for a stay with older tweens or teens. 

Find out more here. 

Check out this post for ideas for a bumper list of things to do in Newcastle: 'What to do in Newcastle with Kids' 

13 - Redworth Hall 

I haven't stayed here myself but Redworth Hall in Newton Aycliffe is regularly recommended in our Facebook group as a good option for a one night stay with kids. The hotel has a swimming pool and spa and teen treatments are available from age 13 (check out their 'mum and me' spa package deal). 

Family rooms including dinner, bed and breakfast are available from £149. 

Attractions nearby include Raby Castle, Head of Steam Railway Museum, Kynren and Wynyard Woodland Park. 

Find out more here. 


14 - The Sill 

If you're looking to enjoy a family hike along Hadrian's Wall or visit the Roman Forts here, the Sill is a fab place to stay and reasonably priced too. Facilities include an on-site cafe/restaurant and visitor centre which is packed with walking routes and nearby attractions. It is easy to walk to Sycamore Gap from here.

Find out more here. 

15 - Holy Island 

If you'd like to escape the crowds and experience island life with the family, Holy Island is ideal. Cut off from the mainland twice per day, I bet a stay here is magical. 

There is a family room at Manor House Hotel on Holy Island which looks ideal. 

Activities include family walks, seal and wildlife spotting plus visiting Lindisfarne Castle and Lindisfarne Priory. 

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