Everything You Can Do Right Now
Support your local retailers
We’re all about shopping local so now you can shop in person, don’t forget to pay a visit to your small, local retailers.
Gat a blissful beauty treatment
Fed up of pampering yourself at home? It’s finally time to get someone else to do it for you. From today, you can head to the beauty salon for your regular treatments. Want some more TLC? Find our top picks for serene spa days here.
Outdoor pints and prosecco are here
It’s time to hit to the terrace for alfresco drinking and dining. From today, the outdoor bars and restaurants of the North East and Yorkshire are ready to welcome you and get back to business. We have our eyes on these hotspots for drinking, but make sure you book well in advance.
Browse the best local art
Art galleries are now also allowed to open. Don’t forget to visit your local art gallery or artist when you get the chance, to discover what they have been up to over lockdown.
We’re really passionate about supporting local businesses, and some of our favourite artists include Lucy Pittaway, Lucy Penswick, or take a look at Emily Ward's work. She transformed her paintings into jigsaws, with views of local landmarks, to provide lockdown entertainment.
Visit outdoor attractions
You can now visit many outdoor attractions which have reopened, including our favourite local zoos, for a family fun weekend.
From the petting barn with a new one-way system in place, to driving around in the Jurassic Jeeps, Whitehouse Farm have been working hard to provide you with a fun family day out. Re-opening from today, don’t forget to book your tickets in advance. Or you could head to Northumberland College Zoo with any little ones who are excited to explore again. From Saturday 17th April, you can book tickets to see all the animals, birds and reptiles – from porcupines to meerkats.
Just outside Kildale village in North Yorkshire, Julie Little and The Little Alpaca Company are reopening for you to visit her alpacas. She offers the chance to meet the herd or go on an alpaca walk. Her farm is in a stunning location near North Yorkshire National Park, close to Captain Cook’s Monument.
You can also now visit Yorkshire Wildlife Park. Be aware they’ve now moved to Hurst Lane in Auckley, where you can visit their 400 animals (70 different species). They work exceptionally hard to help the conservation of endangered species, so many animals you will see are either endangered or threatened.
Go to a drive-in cinema
We’ve got so much for you to see and do highlighted in our What’s On guide for the best of everything to book this spring. Highlights include a guided tour of Kielder Observatory to gaze at the stars, a day out at Raby Castle exploring the walled garden and deer park, and for an evening activity, drive-in cinemas have also reopened today. You can visit Daisy Dukes Drive in Cinemas at Sheffield, Tyneside and Teesside for a sing-a-long to Bohemian Rhapsody, Grease or The Greatest Showman – a definite feelgood trip out for friends and family.
