Christmas in NE England-what to do?

[SuperSange]

I'm from the NE, but live in Norfolk and have for many years. We (me, DH and our son who'll be 8) are going up to visit my family for 5 days-ish from 17-21st December. I'd like to take DS to see Santa (for what will probably be the last time, as he's suspicious) while we're up there, but I don't know where is good to go near Newcastle/Whitley Bay/Northumberland. I've seen Belsay Hall and Alnwick Gardens, but wondered if there's anywhere good that I'm missing. I'm out of touch with what's there for kids. Thank you!

Afternoon tea and Santa visit at Matfen Hall was lovely last year. I was looking to book this year but didn’t see it yet on the website when I last looked. The afternoon tea was amazing.

Ice skating

Christmas at Beamish Museum is great. It's all decorated out and there's a Santa's grotto. It's a full day.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/gibside/features/christmas-at-gibside This looks lovely!
Raby Castle is amazing, but a bit further in to the west.

Beamish do lots of special things at Christmas. Gibside do lights. Fenwick's windows, and Santa.

Beamish!

Walk on the beach at Craster in the freezing cold then have a cosy pub lunch.

Fenwicks window.

Tanfield Railway do a Christmas thing but I think you might be a bit late to book.

The Santa at Beamish is brilliant. The best one I've been to!

Don't know if it's open over Christmas but Cragside is a fabulous place.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cragside
Possibly too far south but we went to the navy museum at Hartlepool for the first time recently and were very impressed.
www.nmrn.org.uk/visit-us/hartlepool

Panto at the Theatre Royal is always lovely but book early as you can.

The Snowman at the Sage. They show the film with live music from the Royal Northern Sinfonia. It’s brilliant for adults and kids. I may have cried when I went. 😉

This instagramer does often has some good ideas instagram.com/northeastfamilyfun?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
South Causy Inn often do things for Christmas for kids.

We're booked to see Santa at White House Farm near Morpeth and we're also going to Beamish Hall Forest of Light. And we'll do a Panto.

www.whitehousefarmcentre.co.uk/events/santas-enchanted-elf-journey-pre-book-only-2022/

www.beamish-hall.co.uk/forest-of-light/

Newcastle Racecourse usually have a Winter Wonderland thing on and Hardwick Hall usually do Santa too.

Some great ideas here; thank you! I looked at Beamish but couldn't see anything about a Santa. I'm off to search some of those-thank you!

Beamish haven't added their Christmas events to the website yet. Beamish, Whitehouse Farm and Kielder are the best Santa events but they do get booked up quickly. If you wanted a day out in Newcastle you could do Fenwick's window, ice skating at Life followed by panto at either the Theatre Royal or Tyne Theatre or The Snowman at The Sage.

Beamish is advertising ‘Christmas at Beamish’ from November onwards but has only released its evening slots (all gone) so far. From memory, you only pay extra for the Santa visit and the rest is just general entry so you can book a morning slot from two months ahead or turn up in the afternoon and queue if it’s busy.

Ushaw in Durham do a lovely evening trail with lights and the cost is okay too.