What to Do at the North East Coast When It Rains

Our top rainy-day attractions on the coast

The Word
A state-of-the-art cultural venue in South Shields, The Word hosts activities for all the family and you can easily spend more than a few hours here. Children will love StoryWorld (an immersive space for storytelling with projections and sound effects), and FabLab a creative space for budding product designers and entrepreneurs to test out ideas and bring them to life. The Word is also home to interactive touch tables, a gaming zone, telescopes and a terrace with views of the River Tyne.
45 Market Place, South Shields NE33 1JF
0191 427 1818
theworduk.org
Alnwick Playhouse
Every day Alnwick Playhouse welcomes hundreds of people through its doors for live performances, cinema screenings, café lunches and drinks in the bar. Its live programme of shows includes drama, dance and live music.
Bondgate Without, Alnwick NE66 1PQ
01665 660550
alnwickplayhouse.co.uk
Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery
At this award-winning museum, visitors are immersed in 10,000 years of history. Two floors house a permanent collection of artefacts, documents, photographs and audio-visual content and on the third, gallery floor are exhibitions which change throughout the year, and events for the whole family.
14 Bailiffgate, Alnwick NE66 1LX
01665 605847
bailiffgatemuseum.co.uk

Tynemouth Aquarium
On Longsands beachfront, dive into the ocean whatever the weather. You’ll meet charming sea creatures (from the common clown fish to polka dot stingray and the blacktip reef shark) as well as some adorable harbour seals. Tynemouth Aquarium has its own seal hospital where they rescue, rehabilitate and (when possible) release the seals back into the ocean. Learn about local sea life around historic St Mary’s island and visit the Mississippi River exhibition, where you can see some of the fun and unique animals that call the mighty river home.
Grand Parade, Tynemouth NE30 4JF
0191 258 1031
tynemouthaquarium.co.uk
Whitley Bay Ice Rink
Whether you think of yourself as the next Torvill or Dean, or simply fancy some fun with your family and friends on the ice, Whitley Bay Ice Rink is a great place to escape bad weather. Anyone of any level and ability is welcome to the public skating sessions here and no pre-booking is required.
Hillheads Road, Whitley Bay NE25 8HP
0191 291 1000
whitleybayicerink.co.uk
Hartlepool Art Gallery
International, national and regional artists exhibit their work at Hartlepool Art Gallery, which hosts a programme of events throughout the year. Until August, visitors can see work by emerging artists displayed alongside highlights from the British Museum prints and drawings collection, as well as Hartlepool’s own fine art collection.
Church Street, Hartlepool TS24 7EQ
01429 869706
culturehartlepool.com

Chillingham Castle
Britain’s most haunted historic castle promises a great (potentially spooky) day out on grey summer days. Just 20 minutes from the seaside, there’s a dungeon, state rooms and a torture chamber to discover. See the guns, armour and poison blow-pipes in The Armoury, look out for the 300,000-year-old skull of a Wild Bull, and play kings and queens in the Great Hall.
Chillingham, Alnwick NE66 5NJ
01668 215359
chillingham-castle.com
Captain Cook Birthplace Museum
Only open during the school holidays, this museum tells the story of one of the world’s greatest navigators and mariners and is home to a series of fascinating galleries and temporary exhibitions. Find Cook-related collections including household items and a speculative reconstruction of Cook’s birthplace cottage. There are a series of interactive displays and temporary travelling exhibitions as well as a cafe and gift shop.
Stewart Park, Middlesbrough TS7 8AT
01642 311211
facebook.com/CaptainCookBirthplaceMuseum
North East Land, Sea and Air Museums
On the former RAF Usworth and Sunderland airport site, the North East Land, Sea and Air Museums hold 100 years of transport history and a cold war Avro Vulcan B2 Bomber – the first Vulcan to go into a private collection. The largest aviation collection in the region, it houses more than 30 important military and civilian aircraft and a wide collection of aero engines, and is home to military vehicles, buses, fire engines and lorries.
Old Washington Road, Sunderland SR5 3HZ
0191 519 0662
nelsam.org.uk

Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
Home to a collection of the works by LS Lowry (who spent a lot of time in Sunderland) and – arguably the most popular exhibit – Wallace the Lion, Sunderland Museum explores the city’s shipbuilding, coal mining, glass making and pottery heritage across four floors. Take a peek inside the tropical glass rotunda where more than 2,000 plants thrive. The Winter Gardens are also home to the resident Koi Carp and offer a bird’s eye view of Mowbray Park.
Burdon Road, Sunderland SR1 1PP
0191 561 2323
sunderlandculture.org.uk
Laser Quest
The North East’s premier laser tag centre. Great fun for all the family, each player is kitted out with a futuristic Laser Quest body pack and each game is carried out in a battlezone with catwalks, mazes, swirling fog and music and flashing lights. Up to 20 players can compete in any session, but solo games are available too and the players’ scores are displayed on screens at the end of each game.
30–32 John Street, Sunderland SR1 1JG
0330 1222205
lqsunderland.co.uk