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.

View towards the ruined Orangery and cowslips in foreground at Gibside, Tyne and Wear

Place

Gibside

A Georgian landscape garden forged in an industrial past.

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

Young family walking to the front lawn in front of Ormesby Hall

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 and white buildings of Souter Lighthouse with its square white Foghorn House topped with two large black horns in the foreground.

Place

Souter Lighthouse and The Leas

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

A wide aerial view over Crook Hall Gardens on a sunny spring day. Trees and shrubs are in full leaf, with colourful flowers in borders between green lawns. The roof of the café can be seen between the gardens and buildings on the edge of the city, with Durham Cathedral just visible in the distance

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).

Cherryburn's farmhouse with spring flowers in front

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

The exterior of Washington Old Hall against clear blue sky. Carved stone eagles top the walls either side of a set of stone steps. Trees in leaf are visible and a pink dog rose is close up in the foreground.

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

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

Family-friendly places in the North East

If you're looking for things to do with the kids we've got your covered this spring. From family walks to events and activities and a jam packed list of recommendations for the Easter holidays. Discover our suggestions for rainy days and our top play parks.

A family on the Easter trail at Beningbrough Hall, North Yorkshire

Easter Egg trails, events and activities

The whole family can enjoy Easter Egg trails in nature these school holidays, and each place you visit offers new challenges as you make your way to the finish line. Test your skills at the egg and spoon obstacle course at Cragside or build an animal den, beat your kids at the sack race and hobby horse race at Gibside or play garden games and create wild art at Seaton Delaval Hall. With chocolate rewards at the end and trails also running at Wallington, Crook Hall Gardens and Souter Lighthouse & The Leas, we’ve got great days out for the whole family every day this Easter.

Two visitors on a winter day walking down the steps in front of Seaton Delaval Hall

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.

Helios, a brightly lit sculpture of the sun displayed at Bath Assembly Rooms, Somerset

Helios at Seaton Delaval Hall

See the sun like never before with Luke Jerram’s Helios at Seaton Delaval Hall. Helios is a brand-new 7-metre diameter sculpture by internationally renowned artist Luke Jerram, who’s previous work includes celestial sculptures of ‘Gaia’ ‘Museum of the Moon’ and ‘Mars’. On display from Wednesday 19 March until Sunday 6 April. Helios has been co-commissioned by National Trust, Cork Midsummer Festival, Liverpool Cathedral, Old Royal Naval College and University College London.

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.

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.

See all events

Event

Easter egg hunt at Gibside

Gibside, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear

This spring, treat the whole family to a world of adventure at Gibside on an Easter trail.

Event

North East in Blossom 2025: Blossom and Blooms walk at Gibside

Gibside, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear

Learn more about blossom and gardening on this self-guided nature walk around Gibside.

Event

Easter egg hunt at Wallington

Wallington, near Morpeth, Northumberland

This spring, treat the whole family to a world of adventure at Wallington on an Easter trail.

Event

Cycle hire at Wallington

Wallington, near Morpeth, Northumberland

Hire a bike and explore the Dragon cycle trail at Wallington from Saturday 5 April.

Event

Easter egg hunt at Seaton Delaval Hall

Seaton Delaval Hall, Seaton Sluice, Northumberland

This spring, treat the whole family to a world of adventure at Seaton Delaval Hall on an Easter trail. Enjoy an egg hunt, trail, seed planting races and more!

Event

Mushroom Sculpt Trail at Washington Old Hall

Washington Old Hall, Washington, Tyne & Wear

Discover a living trail made from fungi, uniquely created by children from Barmston Village Primary School.

Event

Easter trail at Cragside

Cragside, Morpeth, Northumberland

Hop along to Cragside this spring and take part in the family Easter trail. With 10 activity stations to find and a chocolate treat to collect at the end, you're sure to have a cracking time!