Beamish, Open Air Museum
Welcome to Beamish, The North of England Open Air Museum, where the past comes to life. Beamish is unique. We're no ordinary museum but a living, working experience of life as it was in the Great North in the early 1800s and 1900s.

Alnwick Garden
The Alnwick Garden is an innovative, imaginative and modern garden. It inspires, educates and captures the imagination of young and old alike.

Vindolanda
Vindolanda and the Roman Army Museum bring history alive. Vindolanda is a fascinating Roman fort and civilian settlement lying just to the south of Hadrian's Wall. The Roman Army Museum, situated beside one of the best preserved sections of the Wall, offers a captivating insight into the garrisons of Hadrian's Wall.

Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall is the most important monument built by the Romans in Britain. It is the best known frontier in the entire Roman Empire and stands as a reminder of past glories of one of the world's greatest civilisations. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1987, Hadrian's Wall ranks alongside the Taj Mahal and other treasures of the great wonders of the world.

Wallington Estate
The Wallington Estate was laid out in the 18th century by Sir Walter Blackett, helped by William Joyce, Thomas Wright and Lancelot ' Capability ' Brown, who went to school in the estate village. Original formality underlies the ' natural ' landscape in which walks offer a variety of lawns, shrubberies, lakes and woodland enlivened with buildings, sculpture and water features. In a sheltered valley beyond the China Pond is the beautiful walled garden with its collection of plants, and the abundant conservatory. Longer estate walks encompass wooded valleys and high moorland. This is Northumberland ' s Middle March, the land of the border rivers.

Souter Lighthouse
Boldly painted in red and white hoops, Souter Lighthouse opened in 1871 and was the first to use alternating electric current, the most advanced lighthouse technology of its day. The engine room, light tower and keeper ' s living quarters are all on view, and there is a video, model and information display. A ground-floor closed-circuit TV shows views from the top for those unable to climb. The Compass Room contains hands-on exhibits for all visitors, covering storms at sea, communication from ship to shore, pirates and smugglers, lighthouse life, lighting the seas and shipwreck. Immediately to the north is The Leas, 2½ miles of beach, cliff and grassland with spectacular views, flora and fauna.

Other highlights....

Dunstanburgh Castle is a magnificent ruin, dominating a lonely stretch of Northumberland' s beautiful coastline.

The Farne Islands lie two to three miles off the Northumberland coast midway between the fishing village of Seahouses and the magnificent Castle of Bamburgh. As well as being the most famous Sea Bird Sanctuary in the British Isles they also have a large colony of Atlantic or Grey Seals. Join us on one of our many year-round trips and explore this most wonderous of British archipelagoes on one of our fleet of seagoing motor vessels. (All our passenger carrying boats are skippered and equipped to meet the exacting licensing standards of the 'Marine Safety Agency'.) Holy Island (Lindisfarne) is situated off the Northumberland coast in the north east of England, just a few miles south of the border with Scotland. The island is linked to the mainland by a causeway which twice a day is covered by the tide.

Possibly the holiest site of Anglo-Saxon England, Lindisfarne was founded by St. Aidan, an Irish monk, who came from Iona, the centre of Christianity in Scotland. St Aidan converted Northumbria to Christianity at the invitation of it's king, Oswald. St. Aidan founded Lindisfarne Monastery on Holy Island in 635, becoming it's first Abbot and Bishop. The Lindisfarne Gospels, a 7th century illuminated Latin manuscript written here, is now in the British Museum.

Bamburgh Castle is probably the finest castle in England. It is perched on a basalt outcrop on the very edge of the North Sea at Bamburgh, Northumberland. It commands stunning views of the Farne Islands, Holy Island and land'ward to the Cheviot hills.

Gibside,one of the North ' s finest landscapes, much of which is SSSI, a ' forest garden ' currently under restoration and embracing many miles of riverside and forest walks. There are several outstanding buildings, including a Palladian chapel, Column of Liberty, and others awaiting or undergoing restoration. The estate is the former home of the Queen Mother ' s family, the Bowes-Lyons.

Belsay Castle is the centre of an estate that has belonged to the Middleton family since the thirteenth century. They lived in the castle until 1817, and from then until 1962 in Belsay Hall. The castle today is approached through the stunning Quarry gardens, created from the extraction of stone to build the new Hall in 1807.As you emerge from the stone walls and trees, the castle sits down away to your left, and a good view of the various dates and styles of building can be seen. On the far right is the original mid-fifteenth century defensive tower, with its crenellated turrets and machicolation still visible. Joined to this on the left is the new range of 1614, built by Thomas Middleton and his wife, Dorothy. The mullioned and transomed windows of the period graphically demonstrate the changing times. Defence was no longer the primary factor, but light and a certain comfort were now required elements for a residence of this status. The castle was extended further probably in about 1711, and an engraving of 1728 shows the balanced building, fronted by formal gardens. It is interesting to note that the more recent the building, the less that remains of the castle now.

In AD122 the Emperor Hadrian ordered a mighty frontier system to be built across Britain to defend the Roman Empire from the barbarians to the North. Segedunum Roman Fort stood on the banks of the River Tyne, the last outpost of Hadrian's Wall. For almost 300 years Segedunum, which means 'strong fort', was home to 600 Roman soldiers.Today, Segedunum is once again the gateway to this world famous World Heritage site.

The Centre for Life, a unique "science village" in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne, fosters advancement in the life sciences.

The Hancock Museum is the north of England's premier Natural History Museum unravels the secrets of the natural world through sensational galleries and close encounters with reptiles and insects.

BALTIC, the major new international centre for contemporary art, opened on Saturday 13 July 2002. Situated on the South bank of the river Tyne in Gateshead, in the north of England, BALTIC lies right at the heart of the regeneration of Gateshead Quays. Housed in a 1950s grain warehouse (part of the former Baltic Flour Mills), BALTIC is a site for the production, presentation and experience of contemporary art.

Alnwick Castle, 'Windsor of the North', a foreboding medieval castle in Northumberland with stunning State Rooms which contain fine furniture and paintings by Canaletto, Van Dyck and Titian. This Castle has been owned by my family for nearly 700 years and offers much to the visitor, not just in the beauty and history of the castle but in the garden project, the country walks in wonderful scenery, restaurant, shop, museums and a host of other entertainments. Fortunate and privileged in being a location for the Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and the Chamber of Secrets films.

The National Glass Centre is an important and unique venture. Based in an innovative new building, set on the north bank of the River Wear, the National Glass Centre is dedicated to promoting glass in all its uses; in design and technology and as a vehicle for artistic expression.

Re-live the glorious days of the steam railway at the Stephenson Railway Museum. The Museum is home to George Stephenson's 'Billy', a forerunner of the world-famous Rocket, and many other engines from the great age of steam including 'Jackie Milburn', named after the Newcastle United legend. Rides on a real steam train can be taken and the story of coal and electricity's impact on ordinary people's lives can be discovered. Many fun activities for all ages are also held alongside temporary exhibitions.

The Sea Life and Marine Sanctuary is situated in the picturesque setting of Scarborough’s North Bay. The impressive three white pyramids of the Sanctuary overlooks the white sandy beaches of the North Bay, Scarborough’s Castle and Peasholm Park.

The Gatehouse Tynemouth Castle. The promontory forms a defensive site above the river entrance. Robert Mowbray, the son of Robert of Mondrai a norman knight who had fought with William the Conqueror, built the first castle here about 1080.

Wet N Wild claiming to be one of the UK's largest water amusement parks.

Blue Reef Aquarium, From its position overlooking one of the North East’s prettiest beaches, Blue Reef is home to a dazzling variety of creatures. Enjoy close encounters with seals, seahorses, sharks, stingrays, giant octopus, frogs, otters and hundreds of other incredible aquatic creatures. Explore the dazzling beauty of a coral reef and journey through the spectacular tropical ocean display in a transparent underwater tunnel. Over 40 living displays recreate amazing undersea habitats from local waters to exotic seas. Informative, entertaining talks and feeding displays throughout the day.