What To Do This Weekend
This weekend is set to be another scorcher, so don't waste the sunshine
Let’s Go to the Beach
Sun, sand and sport – what could be better? This Saturday (12th) the Bamburgh Beach Rugby Festival kicks off, marking the lead up to the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, which arrives in the region this August. A free family event, guests can expect taster sessions for all ages, games, challenges, face painting and balloon modelling, all set against the stunning backdrop of Bamburgh Castle.
Food Glorious Food
Keep it light and breezy with a visit to one of our favourite outdoor drinking spots. Pearl at Park Hill in Sheffield is an ultra-modern take on a traditional local, offering a fabulous mix of craft beer, cocktails, natural wine and small plates. Sora in York is another favourite, offering breathtaking views of the city from its vantage point seven floors up. Northumberland has an excellent selection of beer gardens right on the sea, and a trip to The Ship Inn at Low Newton is a summer must. Prefer to relax in the garden? Take your pick from this collection of four easy to make gin cocktails.
What’s New
Sunderland is the place to be for new openings this weekend. Willows is the perfect lunchtime spot, offering a menu of smoothie bowls, sweet treats and focaccia sandwiches. For the health-focused, Sana Soul Food is welcoming its first guests this Friday (11th) and describes its menu as a clean and nutritious take on lunch. Beat the heat with a scoop of something spectacular at MeltingPoint in Leeds, a new small-batch, artisan ice cream parlour, and for the retail obsessed, luxury home fragrance business Caris Green has opened its first bricks and mortar shop in Richmond.
Dive Right In
A refreshing dip is much more enjoyable when the sun shines. If you have little ones with you, Plessey Woods in Northumberland has plenty of shallow spots where they can paddle in the river, and the section of the River Wharfe which runs through the Bolton Abbey Estate is also a good choice for families (both spots also have stepping stones which are always good fun). For a deeper dip, Janet’s Foss near Malham, Summerhill Force in County Durham and Linhope Spout in Northumberland are always top of our list. For more inspiration, take a look at our list of where to go wild swimming in Yorkshire here.
What a Show
From music to theatre, there’s so much to choose from this weekend. The Mouth of the Tyne festival returns to Tynemouth from 10th–13th (tickets are still available online for Thursday and Sunday) with a great lineup planned. Want to stay out of the sun? A great option for kids, Tyne Theatre & Opera House is showing The Princess Proms on Sunday, a magical medley of music from all your favourite Disney movies. Speaking of princesses (or queens), SIX: The Musical is showing at Leeds Grand Theatre until Saturday (12th) and the thrilling Peter James adaptation Picture You Dead is showing at The Alhambra Theatre until Saturday (12th). Planning ahead? Here's what else to look out for this month.
Bring Me Sunshine
With glorious weather like this staying inside would be a crime, so head to an outdoor festival this weekend. Middleton Railway is firing up its engines for the second A Taste of Yorkshire Festival, returning to south Leeds on Saturday and Sunday (12th–13th). The oldest preserved standard gauge railway in the country, festival-goers can expect pies, pizza, cupcakes and fresh local juices and steam train rides will run throughout the day. In the North East, this Saturday (12th) Baltic in Gateshead are hosting their Summer Sizzler event which will include an art car boot fair with more than 50 stalls of local artists, a live DJ, fresh treats from Deep North and workshops to get stuck into.
