# Stanley Staycation Guide — Where to Stay & What to Do > Plan your trip to Stanley — hotels, campsites, things to do and travel tips. Source: https://staycation.co.uk/stanley (Staycation.co.uk). Cite the source page, not this text version. Things to do in Stanley, County Durham Photo © [Richard Stacey](https://maps.google.com/maps/contrib/103605413426248418824), [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/maps/contrib/103605413426248418824) [Guide](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley) [🏨 Hotels](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/hotels) [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/cottages) [⛺ Camping](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/camping) [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/attractions) [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/restaurants) Stanley has enough accommodation to serve as a base for exploring County Durham, with eight hotels and guest houses ranging from the highly-rated South Causey Inn and The Punch Bowl down to straightforward town-centre options. Several of these places also serve food, which means you could reasonably settle in and eat without leaving your hotel, though the town itself has a modest restaurant scene built around a few standalone spots and some venues in civic buildings. The attractions here cluster around children's activities and riding. Louisa Lagoon Adventure Play is the main draw, rated 4.3 from over 500 reviews, while Pockerley Riding School offers lessons and is highly rated at 4.9. Forest of Light at Beamish Hall is listed separately and suggests there may be more to explore in the immediate area. For eating, Dough and Desserts and PACT House both rate well above 4.7, while Thrive Kitchen at the Louisa Centre sits alongside the play area, making it practical for families staying the day. This is a working town rather than a tourist resort, and the venue mix suggests it functions as a stopping point or a base for activity-focused visits—particularly if you're looking for somewhere to stay while accessing riding lessons or children's play facilities. Beyond the specific venues listed, you would need to explore what else the town and surrounding area offer once you arrive. ## Where to stay in Stanley(8) [All hotels in Stanley →](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/hotels) [★★★★4 star Beamish Hall Hotel BW Premier Collection Beamish, Stanley from £119/night](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/hotels/beamish-hall-hotel-bw-premier-collection) [Black Horse Beamish Red Row, Stanley](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/hotels/black-horse-beamish) [Hayeswood Lodge Luxury Accommodation Common Lane, Stanley](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/hotels/hayeswood-lodge-luxury-accommodation) [Hotel 52 Stanley Joicey Square, Stanley](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/hotels/hotel-52-stanley) [Oak Tree Inn Front Street, Stanley](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/hotels/oak-tree-inn) [South Causey Inn Beamish Burn Road, Stanley](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/hotels/south-causey-inn) [Tayside Hotel Mill Street, Stanley](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/hotels/tayside-hotel) [The Punch Bowl Ousterley Terrace, Stanley](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/hotels/the-punch-bowl) ## Things to Do in Stanley(3) [All attractions in Stanley →](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/attractions) [Louisa Lagoon Adventure Play ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/attractions/louisa-lagoon-adventure-play) [Forest of Light at Beamish Hall ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/attractions/forest-of-light-at-beamish-hall) [Beamish Open Air Museum ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/attractions/beamish-open-air-museum) [Krazy Kingdom ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/attractions/krazy-kingdom) [Dream Big Role Play Centre ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/attractions/dream-big-role-play-centre) [Pockerley Riding School ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/attractions/pockerley-riding-school) [Holmside Park ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/attractions/holmside-park) [Tanfield Railway ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/attractions/tanfield-railway) ## Where to Eat in Stanley(12) [All restaurants in Stanley →](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/restaurants) About eating out in Stanley Stanley has 12 restaurants and places to eat, with 11 of them rated on Google and an average score of 4.4 out of 5. Six of these venues hold a 5 food hygiene rating. The town offers a good range of dining options, from casual cafés to restaurants serving different cuisines. Thrive Kitchen @ The Louisa Centre scores 4.3 out of 5 from 525 reviews. Dough and Desserts and PACT House both rate 4.7 out of 5, with 131 and 127 reviews respectively. The Green Pelican Coffee House has 4.6 out of 5 from 110 reviews, while Delilah's Kitchen by Shamrock scores 4.5 out of 5 from 84 reviews. Rangos reaches 4.6 out of 5 from 66 reviews. Stanley is well-placed for exploring County Durham, with nearby towns including Darlington, Hartlepool, Bishop Auckland, Seaham, Chester-le-Street, Consett, Barnard Castle and Newton Aycliffe, each with their own dining options. If you're staying in the area, South Causey Inn, Beamish Hall Hotel BW Premier Collection and Black Horse Beamish all offer accommodation in or near Stanley. [THE WHITE ROOM MUSIC CAFE ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/restaurants/the-white-room-music-cafe) [Dough and Desserts ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/restaurants/dough-and-desserts) [Rangos ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/restaurants/rangos) [Stanley Rodillians Rufc Clubhouse ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/restaurants/stanley-rodillians-rufc-clubhouse) [Thrive Kitchen @ The Louisa Centre ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/restaurants/thrive-kitchen-the-louisa-centre) [McDonald's ⭐ 3.3](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/restaurants/mcdonald-s) [Stanley Civic Hall & Alun Armstrong Theatre](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/restaurants/stanley-civic-hall-alun-armstrong-theatre) ## Attractions Near Stanley [All attractions in Stanley →](https://staycation.co.uk/attractions) Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Stanley. [2 mi Beamish Open Air Museum Beamish · ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/beamish/attractions/beamish-open-air-museum) [2 mi Krazy Kingdom Annfield Plain · ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/annfield-plain/attractions/krazy-kingdom) [3 mi Dream Big Role Play Centre Durham · ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/durham/attractions/dream-big-role-play-centre) [3 mi Holmside Park Durham · ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/durham/attractions/holmside-park) [3 mi Tanfield Railway Marley Hill · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/marley-hill/attractions/tanfield-railway) [🎟️Sightseeing & Attractions 4 mi Curious About Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne](https://staycation.co.uk/newcastle-upon-tyne/attractions/curious-about-newcastle) [🎟️Sightseeing & Attractions 4 mi Huntfun Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne](https://staycation.co.uk/newcastle-upon-tyne/attractions/huntfun-newcastle-upon-tyne) [4 mi Gibside Gateshead · ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/gateshead/attractions/gibside) ## Camping in Stanley [All campsites in Stanley →](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/camping) [Beamish Holiday Park ⭐ 3.8 · from £32/night](https://staycation.co.uk/beamish/camping/beamish-holiday-park) [West Wood Yurts (Cut Thorn Farm) ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/tyne-wear/camping/west-wood-yurts-cut-thorn-farm) [West Wood Glamping ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/newcastle-upon-tyne/camping/west-wood-glamping) [Stampley Moss Farm ⭐ 4.9 · from £20/night](https://staycation.co.uk/gateshead/camping/stampley-moss-farm) [Derwent Park Caravan and Camping Site ⭐ 4.4 · from £22/night](https://staycation.co.uk/newcastle-upon-tyne/camping/derwent-park-caravan-and-camping-site) [West Hall Glamping ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/durham/camping/west-hall-glamping) [Old Bridge End Certificated Location ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/durham/camping/old-bridge-end-certificated-location) [High Flatts Farm Certificated Site ⭐ 3.7](https://staycation.co.uk/durham/camping/high-flatts-farm-certificated-site) ## Self-Catering Cottages in Stanley [All cottages in Stanley →](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/cottages) [🏡Cottage The Miners Hall Retreat 5 bed · sleeps 12 · from £1,525](https://staycation.co.uk/durham/cottages/the-miners-hall-retreat-syk1128283) [🏡Cottage Stanley Cottage 4 bed · sleeps 8](https://staycation.co.uk/durham/cottages/stanley-cottage-uk45913) [🏡Cottage Causey Arch Cottages 3 cottages · from £413](https://staycation.co.uk/durham/cottages/causey-arch-cottages-gracies-cottage-uk44686) [🏡Cottage Gracey’s Apartment 1 bed · sleeps 2](https://staycation.co.uk/durham/cottages/gracey-s-apartment-ukc8960) [Beamish Holiday Park 5 cottages · from £523](https://staycation.co.uk/gateshead/cottages/beamish-holiday-park-drover-s-den-uk50090) [Bankwell Cottage 3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £432](https://staycation.co.uk/gateshead/cottages/bankwell-cottage-syk1013292) [The Old Sawmill 4 bed · sleeps 10 · from £933](https://staycation.co.uk/durham/cottages/the-old-sawmill-syk1193767) [Bowes Barn 2 bed · sleeps 3 · from £454](https://staycation.co.uk/gateshead/cottages/bowes-barn-syk1038814) ## Common questions about Stanley Where can I stay in Stanley? We list 8 hotels, B&Bs and guest houses in and around Stanley. Prices start from around £119 a night. What is there to do in Stanley? We list 3 attractions and things to do in and around Stanley. Where can I eat in Stanley? We list 12 restaurants, pubs and cafes in and around Stanley. ### 🏨 Find Hotels in Stanley Search hotels, B&Bs and self-catering on Booking.com. [Search Accommodation →](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101762279-15734754?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fsearchresults.en-gb.html%3Fss%3DStanley%252C%2BUnited%2BKingdom) Affiliate link ### Explore Stanley - [🏨 Hotels & B&Bs](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/hotels) - [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/cottages) - [⛺ Campsites & glamping](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/camping) - [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/attractions) - [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/stanley/restaurants) - [🧭 All of the North East](https://staycation.co.uk/regions/north-east) ## Staycation ideas for Stanley [All staycation ideas →](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas) [The Best Last-Minute UK Staycations Six well-connected UK towns and cities worth booking at short notice, chosen for easy travel and a decent spread of accommodation once the school-holiday crowds have thinned.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-last-minute-staycations) [Rainy Day Staycations: Best UK Breaks for Bad Weather When the forecast turns grim, these UK cities and spa towns keep their appeal indoors, with museums, galleries and grand architecture to fill a wet weekend.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/rainy-day-staycations-uk) [The Best Dog-Friendly Staycations in Britain From Cornish coast paths to Lake District fells, these six British destinations offer the open beaches, moors and forests that make a staycation genuinely enjoyable for dogs and their owners alike.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/dog-friendly-staycations) [The Best UK Staycations for Families with Young Kids From New Forest ponies to Cornish rock pools, these six UK destinations combine easy logistics, safe beaches and family-friendly attractions for a stress-free break with young children.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-staycations-for-families)