The old town hall is another place which has really lost its sparkle over the last couple of years…read more It used to be a place where I'd go with my parents as a kiddie, savaloy in hand, I'd chase the pigeons then buy some mishapen sweets from the market. Now the market is virtually non-existent and S Shields is fast becoming a ghost town, I find the whole place quite sad and tend to avoid the place unless needs must. I doubt it will ever be restored to its former glory. Still the place has some good memories for me and it is one of last remaining bit of Auld South Shields.

Rather fine large Town Hall in the centre of the town. It hosts a number of events throughout the…read moreyear. The building also includes a small coffee shop & a lift is available to the upper reaches of the building. U3A meet here from Bishop Auckland one a month whilst Bishop Auckland Town Hall is being renovated.

Standing at 75 meters tall, it is the largest sculpture of an angel in the world. The Angel of the…read moreNorth is a very impressive sculpture in Gateshead. You can get to the Angel via bus, the 21 Angel bus service between Brandon and Durham stops here, and also goes via Newcastle city centre and Gateshead Interchange, do be advised it is pretty much in the middle of nowhere and there are no food/drink or even toilet facilities nearby, so do plan ahead. The Angel is such a beautiful structure, it is actually viewed by approximately 33 million people a year, due to people passing on the A1 and East Coast Mainline, but it really is much better up close and in person when physically visiting the statue. The field it is located in is an ideal place for a picnic with a great review, especially when the weather is nice. 4*

I passed this humongous statute while travelling in the car from south shields and unfortunately…read moredidn't have time to stop and get out to fully appreciate it and I would've loved to because I am a fan of Anthony Gormley's work but its huge and its impressive and slightly out the way but I'm glad I saw it and managed to get a quick snap!

This building is even more stunning on the inside as some pictures will show. It has a modern area…read moreto the front entrance but you step back in time in the actual town hall. Beautiful stained glass windows & enormous paintings adorn the walls. Truly on par with Durham's cathedral & history links. If you come to durham then give this place a visit as well as the cathedral. Highly recommended.

Durham Town hall is one of thoseplaces that looks really small from the inside, but actually it is…read moreMASSIVE!! Recently refurbished, the original main entrance has been closed off and the entrance is now through the building next door. In the entrance hall are the famous belongings of 'The Count' he was a polish count who after travelling the world retured to Durham. His house is still standing by the riverside. Meetings and different kinds of fairs are often held here so it's a very useful building! the interior is a little dated, but to me, it just all adds to the authenticity of the place!

While Durham isn't on the tourist radar for most, the Durham Cathedral is most definitely worth a…read moredetour for those visiting northern England. The cathedral and castle sit perched atop the city along the river. We took the somewhat steep riverside route up to the cathedral, and while it was quite a bit of a hike, the views along the river were fabulous. After exiting, we went via the city streets, which was also a treat as we were able to admire the unique city architecture and cobblestone streets. The cathedral is alongside the university campus, with the adjacent castle being part of the school. There is no fee to visit the cathedral, but there is a suggested donation, with optional paid tours. There's also a gift shop and a place to grab food (architecture is amazing here). Durham Cathedral was used for filming scenes for Harry Potter movies and Avengers Endgame. The cloisters and main cathedral chambers are very picturesque. I'd recommend a visit to the city of Durham and its cathedral if you find yourself looking for things to do in Northern England.

We visited Durham Cathedral in September 2024 on our way from York up to Bamburgh. I had wanted to…read moreexplore Durham as it is another ancient city with Saxon, Viking and Norman history. We chose not to visit the castle, due to time, but that gave us more time at the Cathedral. It was well worth it. We took the self-guided audio tour and it was excellent. It was a relatively busy day - all the new students were moving in - but it didn't feel too crowded. There are many interesting points of interest inside this magnificent building, of course St Cuthbert and The Venerable Bead are the hilights for me. There are lots of beautiful stained glass windows, of course the stunning rose window. There is a great looking cafe, but we did not have time to stop and eat. It looks like a great option for refreshments after a few hours on your feet. We parked at the Riverwalk Mall parking lot and walked over the Framwelgate Bridge to Market Square. Its a short but moderately steep walk up the top of the hill where the castle and cathedral are. Well worth exploring.

Real nice theatre, been a few times to see bands & comedians. Close free parking, plenty of places…read moreto eat nearby. Love it!

I went here to see Jimmy Carr, a reasonable sized theatre,…read morewith a small foyer, and bar. Drinks were slightly over priced but not too bad when compared to the price of some venues. You can't take alcoholic drinks out of the bar tho only bottles of water or coke. Seats were reasonably comfy and most had a reasonable view of the stage even those at the back of the balcony and in the limited view area

Lovely old Victorian station now used for the modern metro line. Hosts a Market on Saturdays and…read moreSundays and has restaurant, cafe, newsagent and hair dressers too.

This is a National Trust property and was the home of Thomas Bewick who was an artist and engraver…read more There are There are lots of his work here and a chance to try it for yourself Sometimes they have printing demonstations on to show you how it used to be done There are also farmyard animals and they have live music once a month If you are an artist or have a love of nature that it is worth a trip up

This National Trust property, once home to Thomas Bewick, artist and engraver, has limited opening…read morehours and is currently only open for booked groups in the winter. It's a compact site but it does have free parking, children's toy corner and quiz, refreshments and some farmyard animals as well as the cottage itself. There's an exhibition of Bewick's life and works and occasional printing demonstrations. I visited here in the summer with children and my mother and we all enjoyed it though it's not a place where you'd spend all day. There are some lovely countryside views and pleasant walks nearby. The staff were knowledgeable and unobtrusive. It's not too expensive to visit compared to other NT properties in the region but it doesn't have as broad an appeal and it's not a place I'd visit regularly - limited attraction. Well maintaimed and atmospgeric, though.