Best Days out near Redworth Hall hotel, nr Durham / Darlington

[Childoftheseventies]

Hi last minute change of holiday plan (long story involving our dog and her gammy leg and hubby nursing her better) means me, 7yo son and 4yo daughter are staying there for four days next week. Loads to do within an hours radius, but which are best? Beamish is a definite, but other days free so far. Also, I'd like for us to go to Newcastle for a day but don't want to drive into the centre. Can anyone recommend a park and ride or an easily accessed train station? Thanks in advance for any ideas!

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Hi, if you want to go to Newcastle, you can get the train from Durham which has limited car parking, or you could go to a metro station and get the metro train. I usually use Heworth Metro as parking tends to be ok there. Darlington also has trains running to Newcastle but not sure what parking is like.

There is an open top bus tour in Newcastle and the discovery museum is good (and free).

My DS is not quite 3 and likes farm type stuff, Adventure Valley in Durham is ok, but we prefer Tweddle Animal Farm at Blackhall. Not sure if your DCs might be too old for it!

South Shields beach is lovely on a nice day (not too many of those about at the moment!) the park has a boating lake and a miniature train as well as 2 well equipped play areas. There is a funfair, but I tend to avoid it.

DS also likes the Weardale Railway, best to check timetables and running days, it's all staffed by volunteers so doesn't run all of the time.

Hope that is of some help, and hopefully you'll have a great time.

Crook Hall in Durham

In Newcastle itself then the Centre for Life. The Discovery Museum and the Great North Museum are both great and free entry. Bring a change of clothes for hte dicovery museum as they have a big river thing for littlies to play with! Seven Stories is a museum of literature for children and currently has a Julia Donaldson exhibition, it also does story time and crafts.

Gibside is a National Trust place not too far and is fabulous too.

Archers Farm - best ice cream for miles - there is a lovely little cafe, a small playground and a country walk that is only about a mile I think, so not too far for little ones. Not too far from Redworth, might be nice to pop there for an hour or so.

Richmond is nice for a walk about if the weathers nice - it's lovely down by the river.

Parking at Darlington station is £11 per day, but the car park is secure.

There is a fantastic day out at the Forbidden Corner in Leyburn, about an hour away. It is a folly that someone built in the grounds of their house. You get given a map and you have to see how many of the features you can find on your way round - some of them are amazing.

HTH

Beamish Open Air museum is lovely. You pay to get in but you can spend all the day there. Definitely worth a visit.

There's also Beamish Wild Adventure Park which I've never been to but it looks great.

Not sure whether Centre for Life in Newcastle is really worth the entrance fee. It is a very interesting museum but, imo, expensive for a family trip; I don't think you'd get a full day out of it.

Hall Hill Farm is nice.