What to do in summer hols?

[Kathsmum]

Its a long time and i wondered if others out there had some good ideas for activities, particularly inexpensive ones!

I live in Northumberland and would like to recommend Alnmouth beach as you can park really close and pop back to car easily.

Not exactly cheap unless you go regularly then its only £25 a year is the Alnwick Gardens. Bring spare clothes for you and kids as you'll have great fun in the fountains on a warm day.

Saltwell Park in Gateshead is good - loads of space to run around and plenty to look at, plus nice play area.
Beach at blyth not the prettiest but has play area, fish and chip shop and ice cream parlour.
Plessey woods nice for picnics.
Wallington hall.
www.kidsnewcastle.co.uk is a nice site.

Second Saltwell Park, lovely place.

Leazes Park.

Pet's Corner in Jesmond, nice and shady in parts, also Jesmond Dene.

Free children's entertainment at:
Gosforth Central Park 26/07/09 and 09/08/09
Exhibition Park 19/07/09
Jesmond Dene 19/07/09 and 16/08/09
Paddy Freeman's Park 16/08/09.

Pet's corner due to close in august for a year for major refurbishments. It'll be a shame not to have it for a while but will be worth it when it's done. It is looking a bit shabby.

Oh, I didn't know that!

Bill Quay Farm....it's a community farm, not as good as the other farms you pay for, but for free it is excellent. We often pop over for an hour and if the weather is nice have a picnic! The cafe is also goo, and not too expensive and all the veg is grown on the farm!! It's at Bill Quay, near Heworth (Pelaw)

second pets' corner, bill quay farm.

Rising sun country park - ok park for bigger kids, reasonable cafe, nice gentle walks and wildlife to see

whitley park donwn by whitley bay sea front - good park for younger and older kids

check out stephenson railway museum

victoria tunnel - a massive old coal tunnel running under the centre of newcastle has recently opened - you can go down it. fully booked until aygust though- we will be visiting

discovery museum and recently done out hancock museum are both free

plessey woods
holywell dene

alnwick gardens and alnmouth are some of our favourites

ridley park in blyth - park swimming costumes and change of clothes - huge interactive water area

There's loads of stuff in "the little pages" if you can get a copy.

Ridley Park is my personal favourite, especially the water part - lots of fountains and showers.

Tynemouth Beach is nice too, good cafe and shallow water with nice clean sands.

Cragside good for walks with good playparks and trimtrails.

Oh, and Seahouses - get a boat round the Farne Isles, see puffins and seals.

Or Holy Island.

Seven Stories good for a rainy day.