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 of a snowy avenue of bare trees leading to a columned chapel covered in snow.

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 brick path between low hedges and topiary coated in light frost with bare winter trees 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 Farmhouse covered in snow, viewed through a hedge

Place

Cherryburn

Cottage and farmhouse, the birthplace of Thomas Bewick

Housesteads Fort under a winter sky and a blanket of snow

Place

Hadrian's Wall and Housesteads Fort

Roman wall running through an often wild landscape

A view of Washington Old Hall and part of its formal garden under a covering of snow, surrounded by bare snow-covered trees. The light is soft and rosy under pink tinged clouds, giving the sandstone of the buildings and garden walls a warm glow. The scene is like a Christmas card.

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.

Snow blankets the ground in winter outside the house at Wallington, Northumberland; a large stone urn on a pedestal and a bare tree stand in the foreground.

Houses and buildings in the North East

Dog-friendly places in the North East

A family exploring the garden at Cragside, 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

Visitors helping to plant snowdrops at Wallington.

Family-friendly places in the North East

As well as lots of fun family adventures and events to be had this winter in the North East, there’s plenty of play areas, wildlife to spot and things to do when it rains. Plan your adventures now.

Visitors in the adventure play area at Gibside

Plan your half term adventures in the North East. From planting another 100,00 snowdrops at Wallington, storytelling sessions at Seaton Delaval Hall to treasure hunts at Gibside and building bird boxes at Washington Old Hall, we've got something for the whole family to enjoy these February holidays.

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.

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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

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.

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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

Feel Good February half term: Once Upon A Trail

Seaton Delaval Hall, Seaton Sluice, Northumberland

We're using every trick in the book this February half term to get your creative juices flowing in our literary trail!

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

Join a treasure hunt at Gibside during February half term

Gibside, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear

Explore Gibside to find Mary Eleanor's secrets about gardening.

Event

February half term: Bird spotter trail

Washington Old Hall, Washington, Tyne & Wear

How many different birds will you see?

Event

Feel Good February half term: For the love of a good book

Seaton Delaval Hall, Seaton Sluice, Northumberland

Let your imaginations run wild in Northumberland this February half term. Enjoy a host of literary adventures including storytelling sessions, poetry stations, cosy reading stops and more across Seaton Delaval Hall.

Event

Walk the Line - Wylam and George Stephenson's Birthplace - February 2025

George Stephenson's Birthplace, near Wylam, Northumberland

Created by Wylam Parish Council with the National Trust, Walk the Line gives a glimpse of Wylam’s industrial past and includes a visit to George Stephenson’s Birthplace.