Springhouse Country Park - Fun Days Out

Hall Hill Farm is an award-winning farm attraction near Tow Law in County Durham. It has been open to the public since 1981 and is still a working farm, run by the family who have farmed here since 1925. The land covers 290 hectares of grassland, woodland and crops, and the farm is home to over a thousand sheep.

Visitors can meet llamas, wallabies, Highland cattle, pigs, donkeys, ponies, chicks, lambs and rabbits, and there are friendly rabbits to handle. Admission includes a tractor and trailer ride. You can also play wonky donkey crazy golf and watch puppet shows, with a barrel train and mini jeeps as extras. The farm also takes school and group visits, and offers birthday parties and an Adopt an Animal scheme.

Tip: Tickets can be bought in advance online, and the farm can be phoned on 01388 731333 for help with pre-booking.

Beamish is a living, open-air museum on a 350-acre site in County Durham, telling the story of everyday life in the North East. Original, moved and replica buildings are staffed by costumed engagers, with live demonstrations and hands-on activities. Trams and buses carry you between the different areas.

You can explore the 1900s Town, the 1950s Town and the 1820s Pockerley Old Hall with its gardens, and the 1900s Pit Village. There are old-fashioned shops and eateries to try along the way, including a pub, a bakery and a sweet shop. Some areas or exhibits may be closed at times, so check the museum's website before you go.

Most exhibits are indoors, but you will be outside moving between them, so dress for the weather and wear comfy shoes. It was named Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025.

Tip: Book your pass online before you visit for faster entry, and download the map to your phone or pick one up at the Entrance Building.

Vindolanda was a Roman auxiliary fort just south of Hadrian's Wall, near the village of Bardon Mill in Northumberland. It was occupied from roughly 85 AD to 370 AD and is one of Europe's most important Roman archaeological sites, with live excavations taking place every year. It is also the home of the Vindolanda Writing Tablets, wooden leaf-tablets that were the oldest surviving handwritten documents in Britain when they were found.

On site you can explore the fort and its museum, and see artefacts and films that bring the Roman frontier to life. Guided tours of the fort give an overview of the site and its archaeological highlights. The Trust also runs the Roman Army Museum, based at the site of Magna Roman Fort beside a sweeping stretch of the Wall, and a single Saver Ticket covers both sites. It suits anyone who likes history and wants to see archaeology still being uncovered.

Tip: Combine it with the Roman Army Museum on one Saver Ticket, and check the tour timetable for the guided fort tours.

Aydon Castle is a fortified medieval manor house near Corbridge in Northumberland, and is thought to be one of the least-altered examples in England. Begun in the late 13th century, it was progressively turned into a miniature castle as Anglo-Scottish border warfare grew fiercer, and was attacked at least three times by Scots raiders.

Inside, you can explore the hall, chambers and other rooms, and look out for original fireplaces and a garderobe toilet. You can also climb up to the battlements, then have a picnic in the walled orchard. The castle is less than a mile from the Hadrian's Wall Trail and a short drive from Corbridge Roman Town and Chesters Roman Fort. It is closed for winter, so check it has reopened before you plan a visit.

Tip: English Heritage lists it as closed for winter, so check it has reopened before you travel.

Durham Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral and part of the Durham Castle and Cathedral World Heritage Site. A substantial part of the building was completed between 1093 and 1133, and it is a significant example of Romanesque architecture. The nave ceiling is the earliest surviving example of a pointed rib vault. Inside you will find the shrines of the Anglo-Saxon saints Cuthbert and Bede, with St Cuthbert's Shrine just behind the High Altar.

There is plenty to do beyond looking around. You can join a one-hour guided tour, climb the 325 spiral steps of the Central Tower for views over the city, or visit the museum, which covers 2000 years of the North East's history, culture and faith. The museum also has a 1.7m high LEGO model of the cathedral. Harry Potter fans can seek out the filming locations, and there are family activities, a café and a shop. Riverbank and woodland trails around the cathedral can be downloaded.

Tip: There is no parking at or near the cathedral, so use the Park and Ride or the Cathedral Bus into Durham. The tower is stairs only.

Prudhoe Castle is a ruined medieval castle on the south bank of the River Tyne in Northumberland, now looked after by English Heritage. It sits on a ridge above the river and guarded an important crossing. You approach past a mill pond, through the 14th-century barbican and over the inner ditch to the formidable gatehouse.

Inside, the outer ward holds the remains of several buildings, including the Great Hall, and a manor house built in the early 19th century that houses a visitor's shop and exhibition rooms. Beyond it, the inner ward is dominated by the 12th-century keep, and the gatehouse has an atmospheric chapel. The castle withstood a Scottish attack in the 1170s, and the Umfraville and Percy families held it for centuries. It suits history fans and anyone who likes exploring castle ruins with a good story behind them.

Tip: Check the English Heritage website before you go, as access to the inner ward and chapel is limited to certain days. There is free parking a short walk from the entrance, along a slope with cobbles and loose gravel.

Washington Old Hall is a stone manor house in the heart of Washington village, cared for by the National Trust. It includes parts of the medieval home of George Washington's direct ancestors, and the family took its surname from here. The ground floor shows a 17th-century home, with carved oak furniture and a collection of Delft ware. Upstairs, the Tenement Room recreates the home of the Bone family, with an audio interview bringing back memories of life in the hall.

Outside, the gardens include a wildflower mead, a parterre inspired by an apothecary and a young orchard of English heritage apples. The nuttery is full of insects, birds and pond life, and there's a small play area with a wooden castle. Bring a picnic for the benches or lawn, then follow the short village walk past Holy Trinity Church, where members of the Washington family are buried.

Tip: Free parking is available on The Avenue, right beside the property.