Two Coastal Towns a River Apart That Are Great For Days Out With the Family
Places to eat, sleep, browse and things you won't want to miss in North and South Shields
Eat...
Baristocracy’s roastery is the place to be for delicious coffee (expertly roasted in North Shields) by the cup and bag. Take your knowledge and latté art to the next level with one of their speciality coffee education courses. The Ship’s Cat is always buzzy and serves good food, and on the Fish Quay, bringing together the best of the region’s street food stalls, craft beers and cocktails is Salt Market Social. Whether you’re there for breakfast or one of their famous seafood platters you’ll love Dodgin’s Yard, or head to Lobo Rojo for authentic Mexican street food, and you’re spoilt for a choice of fresh seafood at Seaview Fish & Grill. On South Shields’ seafront, stop by Scoop & Bean for delicious sweet treats or an ice cream. Get your fish and chips from Colmans to walk along the beach with, or head to sister restaurant Colmans Seafood Temple. The award-winning Indian cuisine at Zeera is a hit too.
Sleep...
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing breakaway or are celebrating something special, choose from one of The Grand Hotel Tynemouth’s luxurious rooms (many have sea views). They’re celebrating their 150th birthday. The Sea Hotel has elegant ensuite rooms and overlooks South Marine Park, but if a B&B is more your style, The Clifton is the perfect place to unwind (sip your favourite tipple on the terrace in the sun). For a truly unique stay, book a room in Marsden Grotto, a restaurant-hotel with a fascinating story to tell, built into the cliff base.
Browse...
Head to the Royal Quays Outlet to browse hundreds of your favourite brands at great prices. From fashion and interiors stores to foodie favourites, you can shop ’til you drop here. Plus, there’s also Inflata Nation, an inflatable park with 20,000 square feet of exciting inflatable activities, as well as the Arcade Warehouse, a gaming arcade for all the family. In South Shields, browse a variety of stalls at one of the oldest open-air markets in the North East, and don’t forget South Tyneside is home to one of the most famous brands in the world – J Barbour & Sons.
DON’T MISS
Collingwood Monument – a riverside statue of naval hero Admiral Lord Collingwood with four cannons – overlooks the River Tyne. Discover North Shields’ history in a new light at The Old Low Light, and step back in time at Arbeia South Shields’ Roman Fort where you can see how the gladiators lived. Adrenaline junkies can take to the water with South Shields Surf School. Plenty of family fun awaits at Ocean Beach Pleasure Park (see what you can win in the arcades) and thrill seekers will love their hair-raising rides. Culture vultures won’t want to miss the variety of shows at The Customs House, and don’t miss the state-of-the-art cultural centre that is The Word, the National Centre for the Written Word in South Shields.
Around the corner
History buffs will want to see Segedunum Roman Fort, in Wallsend, the most excavated fort along Hadrian’s Wall. Segedunum, which means ‘strong fort’, was once home to 600 Roman soldiers, stood for 300 years as a defence against barbarian attacks, and there’s a wealth of history to discover here, and loads of activities too.
