North East England stretches from Northumberland to North Yorkshire, offering visitors a real contrast to the capital. This is the land of no-nonsense locals, wild landscapes, and weather to make your teeth chatter year-round. While its past was industrial, its present is enticing, with factories recast as galleries in cities like Newcastle-upon-Tyne and former coal mining towns like Beamish reborn as open-air museums. To step back further in time, there are countless history-related things to do with Alnwick Castle, Durham Cathedral, and Hadrian’s Wall all in the mix.
The summer months bring milder weather, although rain is normal up here year-round. Summer highlights include free open-air concerts at seaside South Shields (near Newcastle-upon-Tyne) that are part of the annual South Tyneside Festival. Winter visitors can look forward to York’s Viking Festival in February and the Durham Christmas Market, a big three-day affair with stalls at Palace Green and around the cloisters of Durham Cathedral.
Fast trains from London to Newcastle-upon-Tyne take just over three hours, while to York takes around two hours. Once there, trains link up the big cities, although services can be complicated and unreliable away from the urban centers. The car is the way to go if you want to cover more ground as you explore. Hire options are available at Newcastle International Airport and the city train station.
Harry Potter fans will be tempted Northeast with two history-steeped film locations, minus the London crowds. Durham Cathedral and Alnwick Castle breathed life into the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the first two Harry Potter films. Wannabe witches can try broomstick lessons at Alnwick Castle, and there’s even Potter-themed accommodation nearby if you want to linger. Check out the Hog’s Head Inn in Alnwick to sleep inside your favorite storybook.
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Rugged but robustly beautiful, the Northeast coast has plenty of gems. For explorers, Scarborough and Whitby make good bases to stay. For sights, Bamburgh Castle offers history and a sandy beach, while the holy island of Lindisfarne is made more mystical by tricky access, reachable only at low tide.
...MoreIndustrial origins aside, Northeast England is famous for notable cities like Durham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and York; the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Durham Cathedral and Hadrian’s Wall; and for the countryside that covers Northumberland National Park and part of the Pennines. Tweed-colored moorland and relentless dales make up the appeal.
...MoreMany visitors to England leave time for London and sights in the south. But the Northeast is well worth a visit to see a side of the country undiscovered by international buzz. Viking history, Roman and Norman heritage, and Harry Potter filming sites are big draws, along with hiking on the coast.
...MoreNorthumberland covers most of the region, along with the smaller counties of Durham, Tyne and Wear, and North Yorkshire. While there’s no regional capital, urban life “up north” is all about Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a city now synonymous with raucous nights out and art galleries. Other Northeast cities include York, Durham, and Hartlepool.
...MoreNo. Manchester is a Northwest city, and this geography matters to proud Northerners. Sitting east of Liverpool and west of Sheffield, Manchester is the Northwest’s major city. It’s a popular weekend break destination for Brits and visitors abroad, with a thriving art and culture scene and a reputation for world-class soccer.
...MoreNo, Northern England isn’t part of the official six Celtic nations: Brittany (France), Cornwall, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Scotland, and Wales. However, parts of Northwest England bear traces of Celtic culture. For example, the county of Cumbria is believed to have had its own Celtic language once.
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