Washington
Washington Old Hall · Photo: PJMarriott
Flamingos, ducks and woodland hides fill the morning at the wetland centre, followed by a short look round the 17th-century house linked to George Washington's ancestors. Finish by climbing the grassy hill to the Greek-temple folly that watches over Wearside.
Wildlife · 10:00–13:00 (3h)
Family trails and hides, flamingos, then lunch at the waterside cafe.
An indoor and outdoor wildlife park in Washington Village.
Photo: wwt.org.uk
Historic House · 13:15–14:30 (1h15m)
Compact NT manor house and formal gardens; quick and gentle.
A small 17th-century manor house built on the site of the medieval home of George Washington's ancestors, with period rooms and formal gardens. A gentle, compact National Trust visit that pairs neatly with WWT Washington.
Photo: PJMarriott
Landmark · 14:45–15:45 (1h)
Short steep climb to the monument for big views; best for 3+.
A Greek-temple style folly crowning a steep grassy hill, visible for miles around, with big views across Wearside. A short sharp climb makes it a free leg-stretcher; on occasional NT open days you can also go up inside one of the columns.
Photo: Graham Hogg
North EastCorbridge / Chollerford
A flatter, younger-child-friendly take on Hadrian's Wall: walk down a real Roman high street and see the Corbridge Lion, then head up the North Tyne to a cavalry fort in parkland with a bath house, a museum of carved stones and a coffee house.
Corbridge Roman Town - Hadrian's Wall → Chesters Roman Fort and Museum - Hadrian's Wall
North EastStockton-on-Tees
Walk through a recreated Victorian street of shops inside Preston Hall and let the children loose in the parkland play areas. In the afternoon, cross the Tees to an RSPB reserve with a glass-fronted visitor centre, wild play area and level paths between hides.
Preston Park and Museum → RSPB Saltholme
North EastRedcar / Saltburn-by-the-Sea
A free museum in a grand 1710 building with a school-holiday owl centre next door, a free lift to the top of Redcar's seafront tower, and then Saltburn's Victorian pier and Britain's oldest water-balanced cliff lift for a short, cheap ride.
Kirkleatham Museum → Redcar Beacon → Saltburn Pier → Saltburn Cliff Tramway
