10 Fun Things to do with Kids in the North East
The North East is a fabulous place to visit as a family with endless activities to suit all ages. Whatever the weather there’s always something going on with plenty of adventures available to keep your little ones engaged. We’ve put together a list of just a few of our favourite things to do with kids in the North East.
Bats & Pizza
Head north to Keilder for an unforgettable Family Bat & Pizza night. After making, and eating, your own pizza you’ll head off to explore the wildlife as the sun sets, listening out for owls and seeing if you can spot a deer. Then it’s back to your campfire for toasted marshmallows and hot chocolate, before setting out on a Bat Safari with your bat detectors in hand!
Go Ape
Take on the Treetop challenge at Go Ape at Matfen Hall and swing through the tree on a high ropes course with super-fast and super-high zip wires, with 5 loops of exciting challenges and stunning treetop views. Refuel afterwards by popping over to the nearby picturesque village of Matfen for an explore and a bite to eat.
Coasteering
Explore the coves, cliffs and sandy beaches of the North East coastline on an unforgettable coasteering adventure. Fun for all levels of adventurer you’ll enjoy cliff jumps, cave exploration, and cove discovery in a stunning location. Led by our team of enthusiastic and experienced outdoor instructors this activity is suitable for kids aged 8 and over.
Broomstick Training
Follow in the footsteps of Harry Potter by joining a broomstick training session in the grounds of Alnwick Castle. Be guided through basic broomstick skills including cornering, manoeuvring, accelerating and braking. Don’t forget your camera for some memorable snaps to impress your friends. A must for all young witches and wizards!
Treasure Trails
A fantastic way to explore the area and find hidden spots away from the usual tourist attractions. There are several Treasure Trails now available for the North East covering lots of different locations. The trails are all designed to spark young, and old, imaginations with detective trails, secret spy missions, and treasure trails. You can also search for trails that are dog, pushchair, or wheelchair friendly to make sure the day out is suitable for everyone.
Explore the wetlands
The fabulous Washington Wetland Centre is a fun day out for nature lovers of all ages, whatever the weather. Explore the wetlands and meet otters, flamingos, cranes, and rare wildfowl. There’s a cafe for a rest stop, as well as regular animal feeds, talks, and other activities.
Climb aboard HMS Trincomalee
Visit the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Hartlepool and experience life at sea over 200 years ago. As well as Europe’s oldest floating warship there’s also a Horrible Histories Pirate exhibition, an adventure play ship, and a Georgian-themed coffee shop.
Go down to the farm
Whitehouse Farm Centre offers families a fun-filled, farm-tastic day out! Everything is very hands on with opportunities to feed, hold, and stroke a wide variety of animals. There are also two adventure playgrounds, go-karts, pedal tractors, trampolines, tractor rides, and much more. There are daily activities and experiences, as well as extra events during school holidays.
Gorge Walking
Once you’re fitted out with a wetsuit, harness and helmet, your incredible gorge walking adventure begins. Starting with a big splash you’ll then follow our instructors as they guide you down the river navigating twists and turns, plunging into crystal clear pools, and sliding down natural rock chutes. If you’re looking for an even bigger challenge you can also try our canyoning adventure.
Make science fun
One for budding scientists, Life Science Centre, in the centre of Newcastle is a fabulous day out and an opportunity to learn some amazing things about science. With the biggest planetarium in the north, a Space Zone where you can view a replica of the International Space Station, Making Studios where you can get creative, live theatre shows, and a play zone for under 7s, it’s a memorable and immersive experience. Don’t miss the Wow zone where you can bend beams of light, discover what sound looks like, and operate the 6-metre-tall ‘Big Machine’!
Our other adventures
If you still have some energy then check out our other fun family days out and make the most of your amazing holiday in the North East.
