Northumberland / Newcastle help and recommendations

[OtraCosaMariposa]

We're going to be in Amble next week in a holiday cottage. This is all very last minute as we should have been going to Fuerteventura but Thomas Cook had other ideas.... Anyway. We're looking forward to a week in a part of the world we've only visited brielfly before.

Looking for recommendations of things to do with kids aged 12 -16, both in good weather and bad. We did Alnwick Castle last time we were in the area so probably won't return there (although eldest child is desperate to go back to the amazing Barter Books). Any top tips for things to see in Newcastle? Also hidden gems of coffee shops, pubs for lunch etc greatly appreciated! DD and I also love a mooch around a nice craft shop or charity shop....

The Halloween events at Alnwick Garden are always good www.alnwickgarden.com/families/halloween/
Waves Leisure Centre has flumes and lots of Half term activities with large inflatables etc..... my.northtyneside.gov.uk/category/261/waves plus Halloween pool parties! Prudhoe waterworld is a little nearer to Amble and also has a decent flume, wave pool and inflatables www.activenorthumberland.org.uk/Centres/Prudhoe-Water-World.aspx
Puffin cruise www.puffincruises.co.uk
Woodhorn Museum museumsnorthumberland.org.uk/woodhorn-museum/

Beamish - adults and children alike love it in our family!

I love Bamburgh Castle, with a walk on the beach and long lunch at the Victoria Hotel. If you wrap up there is enough inside time to do it even if the weather is vile (voice of experience).

Cragside too .... take your coats.

Theres the observatory at kielder for star gazing, or mountain biking (and bike hire). The centre for life in Newcastle is fantastic for a range of ages, lots of interactive experiments. The stack has decent places to eat where everyone can chose what they fancy (the sushi place is fab). The little pocket of places to eat around ouseburn is good, not sure if seven stories is a bit young for your lot but if they are book worms its the place to be. You could try the pilgrims way over to Lindisfarne if you want to feel mud between your toes. There's trampolines in cramlington which isn't far from amble. Hadrian's wall has all kinds of things to see. You'll just wish you were staying for longer, a week won't be enough!

Do you have national trust membership Wallington Hall , Cragside, Gibside are gorgeous and have things for children to do over the holidays. There are lovely beaches duridge bay , Alnmouth , seaton sluice , tynemouth. Jesmond dene is a nice river walk with a pets corner and little park, if the weathers bad the centre for life Is really good in Newcastle lots of science based stuff , Seven stories is fab it's based on books and has craft activities if the weather us good a trip to morpeth is nice and they hire rowing boats on the river. Belsay hall is an english heritage property with gardens.

As DH is from Northumberland, and DD is in Newcastle we spend a lot of time there. I have compiled a list of places to visit because this question comes up a lot on MN.

Northumberland Attractions
Towns
Morpeth, Alnwick, Hexham, Corbridge, Berwick upon Tweed, Rothbury, Warkworth

Castles
Alnwick Castle and gardens, Aydon Castle, Chillingham, Warkworth, Belsay, Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh, Lindisfarne

Stately homes
Cragside, Wallington, Seaton Delaval, Belsay Hall & Castle

Other Attractions
Holy Island, Hadrian's Wall - Housesteads, Vindolanda and Chesters, Corbridge Roman Town, Howick gardens, Woodhorn museum, Farne Islands, Grace Darling museum, Brinkburn Priory, Warkworth hermitage, Hauxley nature reserve, Kielder, Ingram Valley, Coquet Island, Coquet Valley, Ford and Etal

Beaches
Druridge bay, Alnmouth, Embleton, Seahouses, Bamburgh, Newbiggin, Cresswell, Holy Island, Cocklawburn, Beadnell, Low Newton, Longhoughton, Boulmer, Warkworth, Seaton Sluice

Children
Whitehouse farm centre, Kirkley hall zoological gardens, Heatherslaw light railway, Eshott Heugh animal park, Northumberlandia

Places to eat:
Lal Khazana in Shilbottle
Ephesus in Morpeth
The Cook and Barker in Newton on the Moor
The Running Fox in Felton
Barluga in Morpeth - I haven't been in the one in Newcastle
Scotts of Alnmouth

Most of the pubs in the area do good food as well, but the above places are the ones that spring immediately to mind. We are just beginning to get to know Newcastle as DD has only just moved there.

Have a great week. We love Northumberland.

Newcastle Food-

Pizza- Dat Bar or Pizza Punks or Cals Own (Jesmond)
Indian Food- Dabbawal or Thali Tray (Ouseburn)
Greek- Kafe Neon
Italian- Zucchini Pasta Bar
Malaysian- Chilli Padi

Pub Food- The Punch Bowl (Jesmond)

Cafes- Olive and Bean, Flat Caps, Tea Sutra, Quilliam Brothers.

I will make a note of your suggestions hiptobesquare

thank you all! Is the Centre for Life better than the Discovery Centre? Our youngest is 11 so really we're looking for older kids/teens.

We do have national trust, so will be checking those places out too.

I think The Centre for Life is pants but that may be because whenever I go something big is closed and you still pay full price. Have you done The Great North Museum, it's excellent?

If you come to Hexham Spook Night is fun.

Berwick is good for a mooch around and it too has an excellent swimming pool.

We love an afternoon at Tynemouth. I get beaten at the dinosaur crazy golf, have a walk, some nice shops to mooch about and plenty of places to eat. Still not been to the excellent Riley Fish Shack but I hear it's wonderful.

If you all like fresh air perhaps join Hidden Northumberland on Facebook for inspiration.

Plenty of places about that do clay pigeon shooting, high ropes (Matfen Hall), etc.

Discovery museum is free and very good. Centre for Life is good when there’s something on.

White House Farm is very good but wondering if your 16 year old would still like it. Beamish would be better. Lots to do there.

Definitely go to Holy Island (take note of the tides as every year people think they race across and get stuck).

Barter Books in Alnwick worth a browse.

Or there’s Mog on the Tyne - a cafe that has loads of cats. Need to book a time as it’s very popular.

Newcastle Keep is good to go round too, the kids can run along the High level bridge afterwards.

Beamish is in County Durham - a bit of a trek from Amble.