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 nestled among the towering trees.

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.

A path through the woods at Wallington surrounded by snowdrops

Place

Wallington

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

North front of Seaton Delaval Hall in winter snow

Place

Seaton Delaval Hall

A place of great theatricality, drama and mischief

Ormesby Hall & stables in January taken from entrance pathway

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

Grey seals on the 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

Visitors having lunch in the café at Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland

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.

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.

Sycamore Tree in a dip in Hadrian's Wall

Article

Heartwood

Artist Shona Branigan's commemorative artworks created from a disc of the trunk of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree.Heartwood captures the essence of the tree and the impression it left on those who connected with it.

Artist Liz Gre with Lindisfarne Castle in the background.

Article

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

Article

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

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 with bikes on a trail around Wallington

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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.

Puffins on the Farne Islands, 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.

Visitors helping to plant snowdrops at Wallington.

Article

Supporter groups in the North East

Meet like-minded individuals in the North East by joining a supporter group near you. Enjoy a programme of talks and trips while supporting special places.

See all events

Event

Tuesday health walk at Gibside

Gibside, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear

A gentle guided stroll at Gibside.

Event

History of Durham city walk

Crook Hall Gardens, Durham

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

Event

North East in Blossom 2025: 'The care and cultivation of apples' talk

Crook Hall Gardens, Durham

Learn all about growing apples at Crook Hall Gardens.

Event

Crook Hall Gardens tour: history and literary links

Crook Hall Gardens, Durham

Step into Crook Hall Gardens' past on a guided tour.

Event

Wednesday health walk at Gibside

Gibside, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear

Explore Gibside on a free guided walk.

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

Archaeology documentation

Seaton Delaval Hall, Seaton Sluice, Northumberland

Visit the Mahogany Room off the Entrance Hall to see our Conservation Team at work, cleaning, documenting and safely storing archaeological finds from the Curtain Rises project.

Event

Coffee afternoon by the sea with Age Concern Tyneside South

Souter Lighthouse and The Leas, Whitburn, Tyne & Wear

Join Age Concern Tyneside South at Whitburn Coastal Conservation Centre for a dementia-friendly coffee afternoon.

Explore an area nearby

A family in the garden in spring surrounded by daffodils at Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire

Where will you visit next?

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

Plan a visit