American heading to Newcastle and Edinburgh (and maybe York)

[americaninboston]

Hello mumsnet!! I'm an American heading to the UK with my spouse and 4 year old son this summer. (I posted back in the fall, and ya'll were SO helpful in figuring out our plans!)

We're flying in and out of Edinburgh and have 7 nights in August. We're not renting a car, so everything will be via public transit. I'm currently thinking either:

1. 5 nights in Newcastle (with day trips to the coast / castles) + 2 nights in Edinburgh (I don't think we can afford more re: the Fringe Festival)
2. or 3 nights Newcastle, 2 nights York, 2 nights Edinburgh

I'd rather not move around too much, but is 5 nights in Newcastle too much? (We'll definitely be heading to Tynemouth, Bamburgh, and/or Alnwick)

And - do you have any recommendations for hotels or apartment rentals in Newcastle, York, or Edinburgh?

I’ve explained why. The OP said she isn’t set on the itinerary, seems to have been hoping to spend more time in Edinburgh but swayed by cost and isn’t keen on York due to crowds.

Thank you all for this! I think we've decided on:

4 nights Newcastle - The first day we'll be jetlagged and probably won't do much, then a day in the city going to a few museums, a day in Tynemouth or elsewhere on the coast, and a day at either Beamish or Alnwick Castle.

3 nights Edinburgh - I was able to find something we can afford for 3 nights woohoo! We're actually really excited about the festival and will hopefully go to some of the kid-friendly shows. DH also loves British comedy and is excited to see some Taskmaster alums. And we're excited to see everything else in Edinburgh, too!

I think you have made a good choice. You will get a better feel for the two cities and can plan other trips in the future if you enjoy the UK. So many people head for London but it really isn’t representative of the UK.

Unless I wanted to see a show or visit the museums I have no urge to head in to our capital city. There are so many places in the UK that are overrated because of the tourist trade, the same as every country around the globe. I’ve always loved exploring the real country rather than the one presented to tourists.

Glad you found something in Edinburgh. I would 100% choose Beamish over Alnwick. You might need to plan ahead, sometimes there are coach companies that do tours so that’s worth checking out.

Be sure to visit Greyfriars Bobby in Edinburgh and take a stick for him to the graveyard. The Pipers Rest is good for Scottish fayre and a fun back story but again, in August I would book in advance.

Northumberland is lovely but inaccessible without a car really, York is public transport friendly.

Sounds great! Hope you have an amazing time.

I love Newcastle. With a four year old I would look at the seven stories book museum, discovery museum and centre for life. You can visit Edinburgh, York and Durham on the train for day trips from Newcastle. If you can go first class to Edinburgh it’s worth it on LNER. Then you can do the coast and holy island too!

Beamish is so good! Honestly you will love it (hopefully!!)

You have a 4 year old and I think if they are happy the holiday will be a success so I would factor in a couple of things that are child orientated.
South Shields is great for kids. The metro goes there from newcastle, it’s not far at all. There is the most wonderful sandy beach there with dunes and it’s huge.
Right next to the beach there is a small fairground, with ice cream and candy floss and lots of rides! Great fish and chips too.
There is a foot ferry that goes across the Tyne to North Shields, a great promenade walk that leads to Tynemouth Priory, even if you don’t walk all the way the views are fantastic and lots to see on the river, big boats small boats, birds etc.
Beamish is great for children so they will definitely enjoy that too.
Have a great time.

When DD was little we once spent a whole day just riding the trams in Beamish (it was raining) she had never been so happy. Don’t skip going, youll love it.

2 nights in York - The National Railway Museum and York Castle Museum are a must, your 4 year old son will love them both.

Enjoy x

I am biased because I live in the NE but you can easily spend 5 days in Newcastle and surrounds. With a 4 year old I'd suggest Tynemouth, the Life Centre (excellent interactive science museum, very child friendly), Seven Stories (children's literature museum), Gibside (Georgian gardens with excellent play grounds for kids), Hadrian's Wall, Beamish (outdoor folk history museum). If you go to Alnwick you can easily spend 2 days at the Castle - one in the amazing gardens and one in the castle (the broomstick flying lessons are great fun - you may recognise some of the locations from Harry Potter). Durham Cathedral and Castle are a World Heritage site and a short trip on the train from Newcastle, the castle is a University college and the students do the entertaining tour. Don't go to Durham on a Sunday if you want to see the Cathedral without going to a service, unlike other cathedrals Durham are very snooty about tourists.

Beamish museum would be top of my list of things to do on your trip. There’s no other place like it in my opinion. I first went as a child and now go every year. It’s a really huge museum and so much to see and do when you are there. I love it, it’s my favourite place to go visit. Your son will love it, a ride on the tram, animals at the 2 farms, a trip to the Victorian dentist and the sweetie shop.
Alnwick is a lovely historic town with pretty independent shops, the castle is a good day out, also check out Alnwick gardens & lilidorei.
If I had to choose between Alnwick or Beamish though, Beamish would win hands down :-)
I like York too, the railway museum is worth a look if you like trains (it’s at the train station). Also there is an underground museum in York that is worth a look.
Newcastle is a fabulous city and the people who live there are so friendly and welcoming.
Edinburgh is also lovely, it’s a beautiful city to walk around with lots to see. Scotland is fabulous.
I live not far from bamburgh, very lucky to live in a beautiful part of the world. I really hope you enjoy your trip and you are coming to a fabulous part of the UK.

Good choice OP. I’d opt for Beamish over Alnwick if you can only do one of them.

Kids shows are great at the festival. Pack/dress in layers for Edinburgh in August though. It can feel like four seasons in one day. Avoid umbrellas if it rains - they’re a complete PITA in the city centre, bring a rain jacket instead. With a bit of luck you’re visiting Edinburgh during the week - I love the festival season but it really is rammed at the weekends.

so why stay feckin miles away in bloody Newcastle

She specifically asked me about where to stay in Newcastle.

Sounds great OP. Hopefully this won't be your only trip to the UK, so if you like it, you can come back again and see some of the other places?

You could probably fly to Manchester and get the train to York, which would make a great base because as well as the city, you'd have the North York Moors including getting the steam train from Pickering to Whitby on the coast for fish and chips and the English sea side experience. Also the Royal Armouries in Leeds which is a short train ride away and one of our big national museums. Lots of other places in Yorkshire for great family days out, history, culture etc too.

Haven't read the full thread but there are definitely options for visiting places by bus from Newcastle. You can definitely bus to Alnwick from the city centre and in Alnwick your 5 yo would love Lillidorei and the Alnwick garden (take swimwear if its warm as there are water features that children play in). You can also bus to Beamish which is a full day out so thats 2 full days already.
You can easily get to Whitley Bay/Tynemouth on the bus or metro but you could also go to South Shields as well, I was there today it has a boating lake, miniature train ride in the park, and a full fun fair with ghost train, rollercoasters etc and a massive and very clean beach. We also visited Arbeia Roman fort there which is free and has a museum on site.
Newcastle city centre has 2 free museums which would be great for a 5 year old, Hancock is more natural history and Discovery more science. Both lots of hands on exhibits. Centre for Life you psy for but its worth it, it has shows and you could easily be there 4 hrs. It has a new dinosaur exhibit that looks great. There are also 2 free art galleries, the Laing in the city centre and the Baltic on the Gateshead side of the quayside. Both have play areas and crafts on for children. There is also Seven Stories centre for children's books which is in the Ouseburn, it's further down the quayside but a really cute area with independent shops and places to eat. There is also a little farm there which is free entry and has pigs, goats etc.
You could also visit Newcastle Castle, its not huge but it is right in the city and the old castle walls can be seen through the city centre.
That's before you've looked at doing anything like going to the theatre, cinema, indoor entertainment like bowling or mini golf if weather is dreadful. Loads of choice for that in Newcastle (you could also easily bus to the Metro centre which has clip n climb, escape room, bowling, soft play etc).
Segedunum is another roman fort and museum in Wallsend which is where the last bit of Hadrians wall is, you could get off the metro on way to or from Tynemouth to check that out.
You would not be bored basing yourself in Newcastle however I would try and see York too because it's a beautiful place, very compact but worth visiting. Can get insanely busy so I'd book ahead for Jorvik etc.
There's a great page on Facebook called North East Family Fun she shares lots of info on days out and is honest and her posts will contain travel info, ticket prices etc. Have a great time, you will get a warm welcome up here!

Do you know about the Brit Rail pass?

https://www.britrail.com/

Nice one for cutting off the first (relevant) part of my sentence 😂

Get over it, the OP has made her plan now

This is sooooo helpful - thank you!

If you do decide to include York @americaninboston be aware that it gets very busy with hen/stag dos over the weekends. (As well as the usual influx of tourists!). It's a beautiful city but can be horribly busy.

You can hire car seats from car companies.

I would spend more time in York - the science bit of the railway museum and there is a magician tour which is really good.

Beamish is a must see but it’s a long day out and won’t manage it all in a day so choose wisely.

I would definitely book your Edinburgh accommodation ASAP, as it gets very busy and expensive in August.

I think 5 nights in Newcastle would be too long, even for a base; you’d be better splitting your time and staying a couple of nights in York, which is much nicer than Newcastle.

Would you not consider hiring a car? Day trips to coasts and castles are not always easy by public transport and trains can be very expensive and not very efficient in connections etc unlike other European countries.

Love Newcastle! My daughter is there at University and we love going up to visit.
Have recently stayed at both the Maldron Hotel and the Premier Inn in the city centre. Neither were great, apart from the location, so still searching for a decent hotel for future trips. Anyone with recommendations, please let it be known 😀. £80-100 pn for a double room kind of budget.
To really explore the coastal region, Hadrians Wall etc., you really want a car, even if it's only for a couple of days, you won't regret it!

The Hilton on the Gateshead side of the quayside might suit you, it's still very central and everyone I know who has stayed there has been happy with it. Now the Dakota and Gotham have opened there is a bit more competition so Malmaison and Hotel Du Vin might drop their prices a bit.