Sandy Park - Fun Days Out

HMS Trincomalee is a Royal Navy sailing frigate built shortly after the Napoleonic Wars. She was made in Bombay by the Wadia family of shipwrights, using teak because Britain was short of oak. She is now a museum ship afloat at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Hartlepool.

Her story takes in anti-slavery patrols, service on the North America and West Indies Station, and a spell with the Pacific Squadron. Later she served as a drill ship at Hartlepool, then as the training ship Foudroyant before being restored and renamed Trincomalee. Look out for the figurehead, a carved turbaned man believed to represent a Sri Lankan, named after the port of Trincomalee. It's a good fit for history fans, families with curious children and anyone who likes ships and the sea.

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.

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.

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.

Heugh Battery Museum sits on the Headland at Hartlepool, on a site that has been a military position since the 17th century. It tells the story of the Bombardment of the Hartlepools on 16 December 1914, when the battery's guns fought the German navy in ship-to-shore combat. The museum describes itself as the only First World War battlefield in Britain.

Inside, you'll find a large and varied collection of military artefacts and artillery pieces from throughout history, and friendly volunteers are on hand to explain what you're looking at. Volunteers restored the battery in the early 2000s. Just outside, a plaque on the coastal walkway marks the first soldier killed in action on British soil in the war. Dogs are welcome on a lead.

Tip: Without a car, take the Stagecoach number 7 bus to the final stop at Headland Town Square, then walk a short way to the museum.

Raby Castle is a Grade I listed medieval castle near Staindrop in County Durham, built by the Nevilles between about 1367 and 1390. It has nine towers, a Neville Gateway with grooves still visible from its portcullises, and a large art collection including works by old masters and portraits. It remains a private family home, and the grounds include 200 acres of deer park.

The 18th-century walled gardens are a big draw in their own right. Designer Luciano Giubbilei and Lady Barnard remodelled them, and they came second in the 2025 European Garden Awards. You'll find historic yew hedges, a fig tree brought here in 1786, mazes, a rill, a cut flower garden and a grass amphitheatre with views of the castle. History fans and garden lovers will enjoy both the castle and the grounds.

Tip: Pre-booking tickets online is recommended to get the best price.

Durham Castle is a Norman castle begun in 1072 on orders from William the Conqueror. It stands on a hill above the River Wear, opposite Durham Cathedral, and the two share World Heritage Site status. For centuries it was the seat of the prince-bishops of Durham, who held powers to raise an army, levy taxes and mint their own coins.

Inside, the Great Hall is over 30 metres long and 14 metres high, built in the early 14th century by Bishop Antony Bek. The Norman Chapel is the oldest accessible part of the castle, with six columns topped by carved capitals. Outside, Palace Green links the castle and cathedral and makes an easy place to take in both. It's a good pick for history lovers and anyone who enjoys old buildings with a long story behind them.

Hylton Castle is a distinctive, highly decorative gatehouse-tower in Sunderland, built by the wealthy Sir William Hylton shortly before 1400. It originally held four floors of self-contained family accommodation, and its entrance front displays royal and family heraldry, including Richard II's white hart badge.

The castle and its chapel are Grade I listed and a scheduled monument, and a community organisation maintains the surrounding parkland. Pathways run around the grounds with reasonably good disabled access. If you want to make a longer day of it, English Heritage suggests pairing it with Tynemouth Priory and Castle, St Paul's Monastery in Jarrow or Finchale Priory.

Tip: Car parking is available at the site.