Gateshead

Most visitors base themselves along the Quayside, where hotels like the Leonardo Hotel Newcastle Quayside and the Delta Hotels Newcastle Gateshead by Marriott put you within easy reach of both Gateshead and Newcastle across the river. There's a good spread of other options too, from the Embassy Hotel and Hotel Express through to smaller finds such as Eslington Villa or Michelangelos - Rooms Restaurant & Bar. Those wanting more space or a self-catering base often head towards Beamish, where a cluster of cottages, including Drover's Den, Forest Sherman and the Whispering Pines Spa, sit within Beamish Holiday Park, alongside separate options like Burn View, Haven in the Burn and Lapwing Cottage. For campers, Stampley Moss Farm is the choice locally.

Eating out in Gateshead is broad rather than niche, with well over a hundred restaurants and cafes across the borough. You'll find familiar names such as Ask Italian alongside more local spots like Baltic Kitchen and Beckleberrys, plus casual options for coffee or a quick bite built around the retail areas and the Quayside itself. It's the kind of place where you can eat well without needing to plan too far ahead.