Northumberland - rainy day activities

[HolidaysQueen]

We're off to Northumberland later this week for a wedding and then staying in a cottage in Beadnell (near Seahouses, Alnwick). We have a 5 month old DS and given the weather are trying to find out about wet weather activities in the area.

What would you recommend? We're into pretty much anything (historic buildings, walks, boat trips, farms etc.) and don't mind travelling in the car to get to places as DS is fairly easygoing.

Also, are there any facilities like swimming pools, or other things we can do with our DS that aren't necessarily 'touristy'? The week is just about spending time as a family rather than having a big holiday so normal everyday things would work well.

Thank you!!! Looking forward to it but want to make sure we have plenty to do so we aren't just stuck in the cottage!

[Katw3kitts]

Oh dear ... make sure you take your wellies !

The beaches are fantastic, and so whenever we go up there thats what we do. Seeing as the forecast is poor, Alnwick offers a good range of shops, cinema and swimming pool. Barter Books is great if you are into reading. Of course there is the castle and the gardens. I think there is also a soft play there too.

Bamburgh castle is worth seeing along with the Grace Darling museum. The Farne islands are popular, but that depends on the weather.

Cragside in Rothbury is a National Trust house with lovely grounds, but I'm not sure how affected Rothbury is by the flooding.

Hope you have a lovely time.

[Lilymaid]

Plenty of historic places to visit:
Alnwick Castle and Gardens (well worth going round these provided it isn't bucketing down - in which case visit Barter Books down the road),Bamburgh Castle and Cragside House and Gardens are probably the best, but there are plenty of others.
Great walks along the coastline - Seahouses to Bamburgh and back along the lovely sandy beach (check tide times
Craster up to Dunstanburgh Castle on coastal path.
Holy Island (Lindisfarne) is worth a visit - check those tide times again.
Inland, there is a little railway at Heatherslaw and good walking country in the Cheviots near Wooler and the Simonside hills near Rothbury.
Alnwick has a small swimming pool.
Have a lovely time whatever the weather.

[Chequers]

Beamish

[HolidaysQueen]

raincoats are out and ready to pack
thank you! we're really looking forward to it and these ideas should all help

[elliott]

can't really add to these great suggestions but can't resist since I'm 'local'.
beamish is great but a good hour or more drive away and better with older kids imo. with a 5 month old you can pretty much please yourself
Berwick is quite a nice town for a day trip, all the indoor suggestions made below are great, especially barter books where you can browse and have a coffee (if lo is asleep!)

[Clayhead]

We stayed in Beadnell this year!

Can't think of anything more to say than others have here. It's a fantastic place.

Would recommend lunch at The Ship, Low Newton by Sea.

[bigTillyMint]

there's a soft play in Alnwick that saved our bacon on a very wet day!

[lilymolly]

beamish is at least a hours/hour half drive from alnwick btw and is great but is mostly outdoors.
Low newton by the sea is a fabulous beach.
Alnwick castle/gardens is good I think

if your dc is only 5months I would stick with adult activities