Washington

Washington takes its name from the family that gave the United States its first president, a fact that still surprises visitors passing through this Tyne and Wear town. It's a practical sort of place, built around the New Town planning of the twentieth century, with good road links via the A1(M) making it an easy base for exploring the wider North East rather than a destination people linger over for its own sights.

Most people staying in Washington are here for convenience. The hotels cluster around the motorway and business parks, with names like Premier Inn Newcastle Washington, Holiday Inn Washington, and both Travelodge branches sitting right on the A1(M), one facing northbound and one southbound. For something with more character, the Mercure Newcastle George Washington Hotel Golf and Spa adds a golf course and spa to the mix, while the Campanile Washington Newcastle Upon Tyne offers another straightforward option for an overnight stop.

Taken together, Washington suits travellers who want a comfortable, well-connected place to rest between destinations, with enough choice at mealtimes to eat well every night of a stay, even if the sightseeing itself happens elsewhere in the region.