North East

Lose yourself in the North East's characterful houses and their glorious gardens, discover atmospheric woodland and rugged coastlines and explore other gems including a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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Cragside House on a spring day. The House is surrounded by green trees and there are some flowers appearing in the Rock Garden that surrounded it.

Place

Cragside

Britain's original smart home which sits at the heart of a grand fantasy garden.

Two visitors walking in the garden by the chapel at Gibside

Place

Gibside

A Georgian landscape garden forged in an industrial past.

The Lower Terrace in Wallington's Walled Garden

Place

Wallington

Discover Wallington, where a historical house meets rolling hills, woodlands and a walled garden.

South lawn at Seaton Delaval Hall in the spring sunshine

Place

Seaton Delaval Hall

A place of great theatricality, drama and mischief

Two children running in the Ormesby Hall garden

Place

Ormesby Hall

Home to the Pennyman family for over 400 years, Ormesby Hall, garden and parkland is a green oasis on the edge of the North York Moors National Park.

The red and white striped tower of Souter Lighthouse and surrounding white buildings in sunshine against a clear blue sky

Place

Souter Lighthouse and The Leas

A historic lighthouse overlooking nature-rich clifftop grasslands, coastal park and rugged coastline.

View of a sunny garden with flower borders, in front of a stone manor house

Place

Crook Hall Gardens

Characterful gardens on the edge of Durham city, set against the backdrop of a medieval hall.

A sunrise photograph of Lindisfarne from Holy Island harbour with a silhouetted figure and a bench in the foreground

Place

Lindisfarne Castle

A castle (that’s not a castle), on an island (that’s not an island).

Purple flowers and white daisies in the foreground with a lawn and Cherryburn museum behind. The sky is blue and the sun is shining.

Place

Cherryburn

Cottage and farmhouse, the birthplace of Thomas Bewick

A view over grassland with low-lying ruins in the middle distance and foreground with blue skies above

Place

Hadrian's Wall and Housesteads Fort

Roman wall running through an often wild landscape

A view of Washington Old Hall on a sunny day, with neatly trimmed hedges visible in front of the hall and a border of orange flowers

Place

Washington Old Hall

Manor house associated with the family of George Washington, first president of the USA

Puffins at Farne Islands, Northumberland

Place

Farne Islands

National Nature Reserve (NNR) and Site of Special Scientific Interest ( SSSI). Home to an internationally significant breeding colony of seabirds and Atlantic grey seals.

Visitors enjoying the paintings in the Central Hall at Wallington

Houses and buildings in the North East

Laburnum arch at Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland

Dog-friendly places in the North East

Visitors admiring the view on their walk along the footpath at Hadrian's Wall and Housesteads Fort, Northumberland

Coast and beaches in the North East

A table full of different types of sponge cake sliced and presented on cake stands ready to eat

Places to eat in the North East

Den building area at Cragside, Northumberland

Adventure awaits: family fun in the North East

Looking for fun and memorable days out with the kids in the North East? Whether you're planning a weekend adventure or a spontaneous day trip, we've got plenty of family-friendly ideas to inspire you. Explore scenic walks, exciting events, hands-on activities, and our top picks for rainy day fun. Don’t miss our guide to the best play parks and hidden gems perfect for little explorers. Start planning your next family outing today.

Summer of play at Standen illustration of children playing

Summer of Play in the North East

Ready for a fun-filled summer? Take part in Summer of Play, sponsored by Starling Bank, and create memories with the whole family. However you choose to play, your adventure starts today.

A family in the South East Gardens at Seaton Delaval Hall Northumberland in late summer

Upcoming events in the North East

There's always something new to see or do at National Trust places near you – join in a host of seasonal events and adventures for all ages. Find out what's on for a memorable time with family and friends.

Pink apple blossom with a deckchair in the background in the Walled Garden

North East in Blossom 2025

Fall in love with blossom throughout the North East this year. This year, North East-based organisations have come together in partnership to celebrate blossom across the region, thanks to a project supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Join us on the journey as the programme blooms at Crook Hall Gardens and in Durham, at National Trust places including Gibside, Washington Old Hall, Seaton Delaval Hall and Ormesby Hall, as well as along the Tyne Derwent Way and across Gateshead, Newcastle and Middlesbrough.

Artist Liz Gre with Lindisfarne Castle in the background.

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Liz Gre at Lindisfarne Castle

Discover Embodied Cacophonies by Liz Gre- a light, sound and sculptural installation that explores the elemental nature of Holy Island and the cacophonies that surround us. The sculpture draws inspiration from weathered raw materials and the elemental nature of Holy Island – such as water, wind, limestone & the stars.

Master wood engraver Chris Daunt working

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Chris Daunt at Cherryburn

The Art and Craft of Wood Engraving is a new exhibition by master engraver Chris Daunt, displaying a cross-section of Chris' work, produced across decades of wood engraving. All of Chris' engravings are hand printed on a beautiful 19th century Albion Press in limited editions.

Visitors discover New Borders by Chantal Herbert & Dami Fawehinmi, winners of the NE Emerging Artist Award I Seaton Delaval Hall I Northumberland

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The North East Emerging Artist Award

See the proposals from the eight artists shortlisted from 2024's submissions from 14 May - 22 June in the Stables and vote for your favourite. Established in 2021, the award is inspired by Seaton Delaval Hall’s long-standing tradition of supporting the arts and encouraging emerging talent. It is open to artists from all artforms who are in or from the North East and aims is to showcase site-specific contemporary art in a historic context.

A close up of pink and white apple blossom in full bloom, flowering in clusters with young green leaves between.

Blossom at the Great North Museum: Hancock

Follow the dawn to dusk cycle of a Japanese cherry blossom tree at Great North Museum: Hancock. This captivating visual experience was created by NOVAK, a Newcastle-based creative studio, and features a soundscape created by Digital Voice for Communities, who work to empower communities through digital media, in collaboration with the pupils of Riverside Primary Academy. The exhibition also includes poetry created by Lotte Dijkstra, a PhD researcher at Newcastle University, in collaboration with local school children.

Travel by train, bus, bike or on foot for a sustainable day out in the North East

Two visitors explore the cycle trails on bikes at Kingston Lacy, Dorset

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Places you can visit in the North East without a car

Whether you’re looking to travel by train, bus, bike or foot, there are many places in the North East that you can visit without a car - here's the info to help you plan a car-free day out.

From coastguard lookouts and fishermen's cottages to somewhere cosy inland, with an open fire you and your dog can warm yourselves in front of after a long walk, there are some unforgettable places to stay in the North East.

The area surrounding Lookout Cottage, Northumberland

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Northumberland and the North East

Discover our places to stay across Northumberland. Whether you're a nature lover searching for somewhere you can spot coastal wildlife, or a history fan looking to explore Roman ruins, these cottages are the perfect base for your adventures.

A staff member in a room with a stone fireplace and antique wooden chairs, talks to a family, who are holding clipboards with activity sheets

Volunteering in the North East

Join the volunteers who help look after the many interesting places in the North East, and ensure visitors have a great day there – from Cragside to Souter Lighthouse and Seaton Delaval Hall.

West End Refugee Service (WERS) volunteering with rangers at Wallington, Northumberland

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Supporter groups in the North East

Find out about supporter groups based in the North East. You can support the places you love by volunteering or enjoying a programme of trips and talks.

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Event

PhotoClub Exhibition 2025 at Washington Old Hall

Washington Old Hall, Washington, Tyne & Wear

Enjoy photos of local National Trust places taken by PhotoClub, an inclusive family group based at Newcastle City Library.

Event

North East in Blossom 2025: Creative Arts Student Exhibition

Crook Hall Gardens, Durham

Encounter creative responses to Blossom around Crook Hall Gardens, designed by students from the University of Sunderland.

Event

Tuesday health walk at Gibside

Gibside, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear

A gentle guided stroll at Gibside.

Event

Guided walk at Wallington: River Walk

Wallington, near Morpeth, Northumberland

Join our knowledgeable volunteers for a walk through the formal gardens and along the River Wansbeck, discovering more about how this special place has changed over the years.

Event

History of Durham city walk

Crook Hall Gardens, Durham

A guided walk from Crook Hall Gardens delving into the history of Durham.

Event

Guided walk at Wallington: Coombe Hill Walk

Wallington, near Morpeth, Northumberland

Join a volunteer led guided walk exploring farmland on the Wallington estate

Event

Tuesday health walk

Souter Lighthouse and The Leas, Whitburn, Tyne & Wear

A gentle guided stroll. Free.

Event

North East Emerging Artist Award: Shortlisted Artists' Proposals

Seaton Delaval Hall, Seaton Sluice, Northumberland

See the proposals from the eight artists shortlisted from 2024’s submissions. Play curator for the day and vote for your favourite proposal. Three finalists will be chosen to realise their proposals for next year's exhibition.

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A family playing on the lawn in summer at Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk

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Discover lots of gardens, historic houses, days out at the coast and more.

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