Places of interest

I’ve always enjoyed visiting museums, galleries, castles, stately homes, and all manner of interesting places. We recently moved to Northumberland and I thought I’d make a list of places I’d like to visit here ad check them off as I get to them: Some will be large, others will be small; some grand, others simple; some very close to home, and others a little distance from us. I have visited some of these places before, but it was a very long time ago, ad I’d like to take my own children to them now.

The list will row as I find out about different places, but if you know of somewhere you think I really should visit in Northumberland, please let me know by leaving a comment below (preferably with a link to some info about it, please!) – I’d love to know your recommendations.

CASTLES, STATELY HOMES AND OTHER GRAND BUILDINGS:

• Alnwick Castle – visited October 2013
• Bamburgh Castle
• Chillingham Castle
• Cragside, Morpeth

MUSEUMS AND ART GALLERIES:

• Bailiffgate Museum, Alnwick
• Beamish – visited August 2014
• Bede’s World, Jarrow
• Discovery Museum, Newcastle – visited August 2014
• Fusiliers Museum, Alnwick Castle – visited October 2013
• Great North Museum Hancock and Planetarium, Newcastle – visited February 2014
• North Charlton Farm – The Armstrong’s Household and Farming Museum, near Alnwick
• Vindolanda Roman Army Museum, Hexham
• Watch House Museum, Seaton Sluice
• Woodhorn Museum, Ashington – visited July 2014

ZOOS, AQUARIUMS, FARMS, PARKS AND GARDENS:

• Alnwick Garden, Alnwick Castle – visited August 2014
• Bluereef Aquarium, Tynemouth
• Kielder Forest and Water Park, Horsley
• Kirkley Hall Zoo, Ponteland – visited August 2014
• Sanctuary Wildlife Care Centre, Ulgham
• Washington Wetlands, Tyne and Wear
• Whitehouse Farm Centre, Morpeth

WOODLANDS AND WALKS:

• Bothal Woods, Bothal
• Plessey Woods Country Park, near Bedlington

OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST:

• Blyth Battery, Blyth – visited May 2014
• Farne Islands, near Seahouses
• Holy Island (Lindisfarne)
• Rocky Island, Seaton Sluice – visited March 2014
• St Mary’s Island and Lighthouse, Whitley Bay – visited March 2014
• Waves Leisure Pool, Whitley Bay – visited April 2014