Can anyone help with special holiday ideas for my elderly parents?

[ActonBell]

Dad has a big birthday coming up, has mobility issues and is losing his sight. He and mum want to go away close to home (NE UK) for a few days to mark the occasion. They are looking for:
-accessible catered accommodation (pub/hotel/b&b)
-things to do within a short walk of where they are staying. Nothing spectacular but a few independent shops, an art gallery something like that.
-preferably near the coast, where some part of the beach is accessible

They are looking in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham at the moment and finding it difficult, so I am stepping in to help. Has anyone stayed anywhere in this area that they’d recommend?

Thank you!

Hopeful bump

Whitby?

What kind of budget do you have in mind? There's the Grand Hotel in Tynemouth that might suit them?

Alnwick? We got married there and elderly relatives stayed at the White Swan. Could easily get to the castle and gardens ans barter books

Thanks. We’re looking at Alnwick and the Grand Hotel is a great recommendation. Thank you.

This is a lovely B&B: www.thebandbdirectory.co.uk/bed_breakfast/north_east/northumberland/3870 though not on the coast

Alnwick is overrated in my view - go further north, it's nicer.

Thank you - that looks lovely.

This may be a little further than they want to travel OP, but might be useful for another time.

We used to take MIL for 3 or 4 day breaks at Warner Leisure Hotels. We've been to Bodelwydden near Llandudno, Alvaston in Cheshire and - the nearest to you _ Nidd Hall in N Yorkshire, near Harrogate.

The core market for these country house hotels is elderly people, and so accessibility is great, the staff are really friendly and helpful, and there's enough to do around the place for a few days. The food is really nice if very traditional.

It suited MIL down to the ground as she wasn't very mobile but loved chatting and people-watching. We'd join in the quiz in the afternoon and she enjoyed watching the ballroom dancing hour although not fit enough to take part.

Now, the bit I must admit I didn't enjoy was the entertainment. Many people love the sort of musical acts and comedians they have available in the evening however it really wasn't my cup of tea. In fact I endured it. But we weren't there for me .. so it would depend what sort of thing your parents like.

I'm not knocking it, just my opinion. What they do, they do really well and it ticked the boxes for us when we wanted to take her on a short holiday.

Thanks @highlandcoo - that’s a fab idea. I’ll definitely look into it.