Northumberland is a big county, so start with the journey you want to make: south-east parks and museums, the Morpeth area, the coast or the Tyne Valley. These places give you free-entry outdoor choices alongside paid farms, estates, castles and indoor play.
Each is a published LNE listing marked verified. Year-round planning still means checking seasonal opening: a castle, house or farm may not open every day, and an indoor element does not make a whole estate weather-proof.
Compare 7 places by town, cost, weather and age
Cost bands are a guide. Free entry can still mean paid parking, exhibitions or activities. Age tags are broad suggestions; check the venue’s exact limits and facilities.
| Place | Town | Entry and extras | Weather | Age guidance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northumberlandia | Cramlington | Free | Outdoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
| Woodhorn Museum | Ashington | Low (£) — guide only; check official prices | Indoors and outdoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
| Druridge Bay Country Park | Morpeth | Free | Outdoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
| Whitehouse Farm Centre | Morpeth | High (£££) — guide only; check official prices | Indoors and outdoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
| Wallington | near Morpeth | High (£££) — guide only; check official prices | Indoors and outdoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
| Bamburgh Castle | Bamburgh | High (£££) — guide only; check official prices | Indoors and outdoors | Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
| Hexham Abbey | Hexham | Free | Indoors and outdoors | Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
Choose a part of Northumberland to explore
South-east Northumberland and Druridge Bay
Parks & gardens |Walks & trails |Nature & wildlifeNorthumberlandia
Cramlington, NE23 8AU
Open accessA free 46-acre country park built around a large human-shaped landform sculpture, with ponds, woodland, wildlife and approximately 6.4km of paths. The ground-level route is accessible, although the landform itself includes slopes of varying gradients. The site is open from dawn until dusk. The listed hours are for the café and toilets. A parking donation is suggested.
- Free entry
- Outdoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
A free-entry outdoor visit near Cramlington. Check the paths and gradients that suit your family, and allow for the suggested parking donation.
Museums & galleriesWoodhorn Museum
Ashington, NE63 9YF
Opens today at 10:00A former colliery exploring Northumberland's mining and social history through original industrial buildings, exhibitions, art and family activities. It sits beside Queen Elizabeth II Country Park and has a café and picnic spaces. Under-18s enter free and an adult ticket normally provides an annual pass. The museum opens every day during Northumberland school holidays.
- Low cost
- Indoor & outdoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
A mining-history and art visit in Ashington with indoor displays and outdoor areas. Children’s free admission does not make the whole family visit free; check adult tickets and any extras.
Parks & gardens |Walks & trails |Nature & wildlife |Beaches & coastDruridge Bay Country Park
Morpeth, NE61 5BX
Hours unavailableThree miles south of Amble, a family-friendly country park with a lake, woodland, play areas, visitor centre and access to the long sandy beach at Druridge Bay. Opening times and prices can change seasonally, so check the official website before travelling.
- Free entry
- Outdoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
A free-entry country park near Red Row, south of Amble, with lake and coastal exploring. Allow for parking and choose a route that fits the weather.
Morpeth countryside and Wallington
Farms & animalsWhitehouse Farm Centre
Morpeth, NE61 6AW
Opens today at 10:00An interactive farm attraction with animal feeding and handling, daily encounters, tractor rides, indoor soft play and outdoor adventure play. Admission includes the principal activities, although animal food is an optional extra. Babies and one-year-olds enter free. Opening days vary by month, with Mondays generally limited to school holidays, and the farm closes for parts of winter. Check the official calendar before travelling.
- Higher cost
- Indoor & outdoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
A paid farm attraction near Morpeth with animals and indoor and outdoor play. Check the opening calendar and optional extras such as animal food.
Parks & gardens |Walks & trails |Nature & wildlifeWallington
near Morpeth, NE61 4AR
Opens today at 10:00A National Trust country estate with a historic house, walled garden, woodland, riverside walks and extensive grounds. Family facilities include adventure and nature play areas, picnic spaces and a café. National Trust members enter free, while admission charges apply to non-members. The house normally opens later and closes earlier than the estate. Opening arrangements vary throughout the year, so check the official website before setting off.
- Higher cost
- Indoor & outdoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
A paid National Trust estate near Cambo, west of Morpeth. Choose a house-and-grounds visit or outdoor exploring according to the day’s opening arrangements and weather.
Bamburgh and the coast
Museums & galleries |Heritage & castlesBamburgh Castle
Bamburgh, NE69 7DF
Opens today at 10:00A spectacular coastal castle with state rooms, collections, grounds and sweeping views across Bamburgh beach and the North Sea. Opening times and prices can change seasonally, so check the official website before travelling.
- Higher cost
- Indoor & outdoor
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
A paid coastal castle visit in Bamburgh. Check access, ticket terms and current open areas before deciding how much of the day to spend here.
Hexham and Prudhoe
Museums & galleries |Heritage & castlesHexham Abbey
Hexham, NE46 3NB
Opens today at 11:30Step inside one of the North East’s most historic churches and discover centuries of local history, beautiful architecture and fascinating stories. The surrounding town and riverside make Hexham Abbey an enjoyable place to combine with a family day out.
- Free entry
- Indoor & outdoor
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
A free-entry historic church in Hexham for a shorter cultural visit. Check services, visitor access and donation information before travelling.
These are hand-picked suggestions rather than every matching result. Follow each activity for opening times, location and practical details.
Explore all activitiesMore ways to plan your day
Plan one part of the county at a time
Cramlington and Ashington are in south-east Northumberland. Druridge Bay is farther north towards Amble, Bamburgh is on the northern coast, and Hexham and Prudhoe are in the Tyne Valley.
Wallington is near Cambo, west of Morpeth; Whitehouse Farm is near Morpeth. Use the individual maps rather than assuming a shared postal town means a short journey. A single main destination usually leaves more time to explore.
Choose a wet-weather plan before you leave
Woodhorn offers indoor displays but also outdoor areas. Prudhoe Soft Play is a session-based indoor choice for younger children. Hexham Abbey is a church visit with services and other uses to respect.
A farm or country estate with an indoor element can still involve walking outdoors. Check what is open and how much sheltered time the visit actually offers before setting off in heavy rain.
Free entry, child concessions and membership are different
Northumberlandia, Druridge Bay Country Park and Hexham Abbey offer free entry, with parking costs or donations to consider. Woodhorn’s child concession is different from free entry for every family member.
National Trust membership can change the cost of Wallington, but it is a paid choice for non-members. Check current tickets for the castle, farm and soft play, including whether a special activity needs a separate booking.
Before you head off
- Check the seasonal calendar as well as the day’s opening hours.
- Allow for parking, donations, refreshments and optional activities.
- Use exact age or height guidance for play sessions; broad toddler tags are only a starting point.
- Ask about path surfaces, gradients and indoor access if your family needs particular arrangements.
Keep exploring
Find free days out across the North East
Browse verified free-entry places by area.
Toddler days out across the region
Choose shorter visits and compare age guidance.
Family days out in County Durham
Compare railway museums, parks and larger paid visits.
Explore the activity finder
Find more Northumberland choices by budget and weather.