Going for a week in a cottage with the wife and kids soon, none of us have ever been in this area but it appealed because of beaches and ruins and is only just over two hours drive from home.
What’s good in the area?
I can recommend a visit to Cragside, Bamburgh Castle and a boat trip to the Farne Islands from Seahouses.
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Also
Alnwick Castle and gardens (book in advance)
Holy Island (check the tide times)
Hadrian’s Wall (Chesters, Housesteads and Vindolanda are all doable in a day)
Any of the castles, bays, beaches and fishing villages, tbh.
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Nothing. It’s shite. I’d stay at home and not mention it to anybody else. I certainly wouldn’t be going around telling people it’s the most beautiful corner of England or anything like that. 
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Oh, and if you’re up for a walk, then Tynemouth to St Mary’s lighthouse is a lovely stretch, passing Whitley Bay and Monkseaton on the way.
Oh, and Kielder water too for bird watching and star gazing.
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Alnmouth is really nice- we stayed there for a few days, lovely beach, nice walks along the river, nice places to eat (but pricey).
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Warkworth Castle and Belsay Hall & Castle are both great.
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Although you’re not travelling far, Northumberlandia – the Lady of the North – makes a good pitstop.
Barter Books (second hand bookshop in a disused railway station ((@Konichiwa_Bitches)) in Alnwick is well worth your time
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This does look very up my street, and I am looking for things to explore in the unexplored north east!
Seconding Barter Books, just a cool shop to wander around in and see what odd book-curios they have out.
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Depends what you’re after.
City - the Toon is mint, loads of stuff to do there, your man guntrip is good for that. But the Baltic, the quayside, grainger market etc.
Coast - take your pick tbh. Bamburgh, Seahouses, Farnes, Alnmouth, Amble, Druridge Bay, and my personal favourite, the bit between Low Newton and Craster.
Towns - not loads of them but Alnwick is lovely. Hexham ain’t bad either. Bamburgh has some lovely shops (the butchers is great) and Seahouses is your arcade/fish and chips/seaside tat spot if you’re in the north of the county.
Roman Walls - your boy Hadrian left one, so Vindolanda and the areas around Once Brewed are great for a walk.
Hills - i love the Cheviots. Feels really wild. Ingram is a lovely wee spot and a good base for walks out from.
Holy Islands - got one of them too, well worth a visit, but check tides!
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All of the above is of interest (goes for all the contributions so far) so thanks all so far.
We’re there with kids of 9 and 6, the northern part of Northumberland (just inland from the Holy Isle); anything that’s been a hit with kids would be good to know about (Alnwick gardens and castle look good).
Also if there’s any specific food recommendations they would be very welcome too.
Alnwick Castle was Hogwarts in the first movie although it’s probably best to not talk about that.
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We liked Pilgrims Coffee House on Holy Island, and Morwick ice cream parlour was always a favourite (it’s a long shed, with cows in a field at one end, and the ice cream at the other…)
I’m a vegetarian, so haven’t had this personally, but the crab soup at the Jolly Fisherman in Craster is meant to be amazing.
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Didn’t realise this when it was recommended to us previously - does it lean heavily into that, or is it still of interest even if nobody’s into Harry Potter? None of us have seen the films, and it’s only me who read the first few books, the kids have been very resistant to it for some reason and my wife avoided it entirely. We all like a nosey round a good ruined castle but this one looks a bit well kept!
There are broomstick flying lessons in the courtyard for kids, and the gift shop goes heavy on it, but other than that, not really. The gardens are brilliant for kids though - they’ll love that part.
I don’t know how old your kids are, but mine absolutely loved the Beamish museum (I liked it too).
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If you go to Alnwick gardens pay the extra for Lillidori, it is the largest outdoor play area in Europe, our kids loved it last summer - most of it big enough for adults as well
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Have you been? Did you have fun?