Northumberland is one of the great secrets of holidaying in England. Historic and vibrant you will find plenty activities to fill your days and nights.

Hadrians Wall

Hadrians Wall

Northumberland

You will never be short of stunning sights and unforgettable days out when you visit us.

Of course, there's the world famous Hadrians' Wall, Roman Britains biggest building project that still dominates the county's landscape almost 2,000 years after it was constructed. American newspaper USA Today described the wall as "better than Stonehenge".

We have a rich and proud history that we still love to celebrate. There are signs of ancient civilisation in the mysterious cup and ring stone carvings that dot the county, early Christianity was nurtured at the Holy Island of Lindisfarne off the Northumberland Coast and Northumberland was often at the centre of various disputes between England and Scotland.

If you are a lover of gardens and grand stately homes, then Northumberland has plenty to offer. Of course you will have heard of The Alnwick Garden, the finest contemporary garden in the UK, but other equally delightful gardens can be found at Howick Hall and Cragside Estate to name but a few.

If you are unlucky enough to have timed your visit to Northumberland during one of the few rainy days, there are plenty of all weather attractions to enthral you. Woodhorn Museum is home to a fascinating exhibition on the mining heritage of Northumberland as well as ever changing interactive exhibitions. Museums and galleries can also be found within many of our great castles and along Hadrian's Wall.

And last but by no means least, there is the Northumberland countryside, home to some of our greatest landscapes. However, these are not just pretty landscapes, they are landscapes that are perfect for outdoor activities, with everything from walking and cycling, to fishing and wildlife watching.

Windows Arcade, Newcastle

Shopping in the Central Arcade, Newcastle

Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle is a vibrant, friendly city, with a heritage spanning the past 2,000 years. Situated in the north east of England, on the banks of the River Tyne and surrounded by the scenic beauty of Northumbria. An ideal place from which to tour the heritage coastline, with its unspoiled sandy beaches and sand dunes, or explore inland where you will find Hadrian's Wall and many castles dotted across the landscape.

Today's visitor will find Newcastle brimming with attractions old and new, a few of the highlights are; Earl Greys ' Monument, St. Nicholas Cathedral, the Castle Keep, Bessie Surtees' House, and Blackfriars. If you feel like a break from sightseeing take time for a stroll in the beautiful Jesmond Dean Park, in the heart of the city.

Newcastle can boast three large shopping centres, many fascinating museums as well as cinemas, theatres presenting a vast range of entertainment, sport and leisure centres, art-centres and a rich variety of clubs. restaurants, bistros and coffee shops catering for all tastes, pubs and bars all selling the local brew Newcastle Brown Ale and everything else you could wish for.

Durham City

Durham Cathedral

Durham City

The city can trace its history back a thousand years, to the arrival of a religious community seeking a permanent resting place for the body of St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne. As a shrine for their saint, they built first a wooden, then a stone church, on top of a rocky hill, protected on three sides by the River Wear.

Durham is a compact city yet offers a wide range of facilities. A wide range of shops and restaurants co-exist happily with the Victorian Market. Much of Durham’s shopping area is closed to traffic, making for a more relaxed atmosphere. Take time to sit in the cobbled Market Place and enjoy some of the street entertainment, particularly during July and August. The monthly Farmers’ Market is a welcome new addition to the events calendar. Here you will find fresh local specialities to take back home. In the Spring and Summer, stunning floral displays adorn the City for which Durham regularly wins prizes.

Yet within minutes, it is possible to escape the bustle of this thriving market town by taking one of the many paths that lead down to the riverbanks. Watch the river for rowers from one of the university teams, or take the ‘Prince Bishop’ river cruiser for a gentle trip along the river with stunning views.

Killingworth Old Village

Field House is located in the picturesque village of Old Killingworth, just a few miles from the beautiful Northumbrian coastline of Whitley Bay, Tynemouth and Seaton Sluice and within easy reach of the vibrant city centre of Newcastle upon Tyne with its shopping, bars , art galleries and museums

The first documentary reference to Killingworth dates from 1242 when it was held by Roger de Merlay III. There were 9 taxpayers there in 1296, 8 in 1312, and 16 tenements are listed with the names of the owners or occupiers in a detailed survey of the whole township carried out in 1373. In the mid 19th century Killingworth was still a long, 2-row village with two or three farms on the north side of the street, strung out to the west of the junction of the Backworth road with that to Long Benton. A terrace of possible miners' cottages had also been added by that time. Despite recent development it is still today identifiable as an early settlement, with a number of listed, 18th and 19th century, stone-built structures.

Killingworth Common Fields, enclosed in 1793, show evidence of medieval ridge and furrow cultivation features.

Killingworth Moor, at that time unenclosed, was used to hold race meetings in conjunction with the Town Moor until 1794, after which the meetings were moved to Gosforth (in 1882).

During the industrial age beginning in the late 18th century Killingworth became an important coalmining centre. A number of pits sprang up in the area opened along with brick and tile works, quarries and a saw mill. The collieries were was served by wagonways , one of the earliest of which served Killingworth colliery and possibly Bewick Pit, with its southern terminus at 'Killingworth Staithes', Wallsend where there were at least four coal drops.

The later history of Killingworth is mainly as a residential district, although other sites of cultural heritage importance are recorded there, including a World War Two period supply depot.