For Families...

NewcastleGateshead is the UK city in which parents would most like to bring up children, according to a survey by Reader's Digest (2007) and with so much for both young and old to enjoy in NewcastleGateshead, Sunderland, North Tyneside or South Tyneside you can see why. Whatever your interests you can be assured of a great day out with beaches, museums and parks galore to keep everyone happy.

Discovery Museum - Newcastle's largest free museum - is a veritable treasure trove of exhibitions and interactive activities such as their Science Maze which is sure to
delight and educate. Centre for Life is a vibrant and exciting centre for all the family and hosts an ongoing, award-winning, exhibition based on the theme of 'life', offering live science shows, an interactive dome theatre, hands-on displays and family-based laboratory workshops.
Seven Stories, the Centre for Children's Books (Ouseburn, Newcastle) explores and celebrates our rich heritage of British children's books.

Saltwell Park - Voted Britain's best park, this huge public park in Gateshead is home to swans, owls, bats, woodpeckers, ducks and squirrels. Its green fields are perfect for relaxing, kite flying or any other kind of family fun. Leazes Park and Exhibition Park in Newcastle city centre are handy places to let the kids run wild.
As you would expect for a coastal region, North Tyneside has plenty for families to see and do. The summer sun offers the perfect opportunity to head to the award winning beaches with a bucket and spade, to get a suntan and take a dip in the sea. At Royal Quays Wet 'n' Wild Water Park has exhilarating rides and flumes and there is also fun to be had at Star Bowl and the JJB Soccerdome. In Tynemouth the award winning Blue Reef Aquarium provides a fascinating insight into marine life and now boasts a seal cove. Longsands Minigolf overlooks Longsands and the Childhood Memories Toy Museum provides a trip down memory lane with thousand of toys and games from yesteryear.

In South Shields, Sandhaven Beach, offers visitors the opportunity to paddle or plunge into the waves, surfboard over them - or hire a deck chair to sit back and watch it all happen. Walk along the promenade, stop off for a drink or a meal at one of the seafront hotels or pubs, or enjoy an ice cream. Visit one of the seafront parks, with a boating lake, miniature steam railway, play area and an amazing gathering of swans and ducks. See what life was like at Arbeia Roman Fort in South Shields, where kids can have a go at weaving and writing just as the Romans did, dig for nearly-real finds and learn how archaeologists unravel the secrets of the past.

Sunderland features two Blue Flag beaches and spectacular countryside plus an exciting programme of events which really make the city a breath of fresh air. If your family has some excess energy then why not find your water-wings at the Marina and learn a new skill, climb to the top of the Sunderland Wall, get active at SK8 City skating park or get on your bike and travel the C2C, W2W or Bede's Way, all offering off-road cycling taking in some wonderful coast and countryside scenery.

Suggested Itinerary for Families