The town has beaches, ruins, local businesses, markets and a festival (Image: Tom McAtee via Getty Images)
If you’re a seasoned traveller, you may well have already explored some of the most picturesque coastal towns the UK has to offer.
But if you’ve enjoyed destinations such as Bamburgh and Seahouses, the North East has yet more to discover.
A town was recently named the most charming seaside destination by Lonely Planet magazine, situated approximately nine miles from Newcastle.
For an ideal day out in Tynemouth, begin at Tynemouth Priory and Castle, where you’ll discover ruins stretching back to the 7th century, dramatically positioned on a headland overlooking the North Sea.
Here, visitors can stroll through the old gun batteries, explore a 15th-century chapel – the Percy Chantry – and much more, reports Chronicle Live.
Tynemouth boasts multiple sandy beaches (Image: The_Chickenwing via Getty Images)
From there, go down the Priory’s steps to reach King Edward’s Bay, a wonderfully sheltered cove that makes for a superb beach retreat. Those wishing to relax are advised to arrive early, as it becomes particularly busy throughout the summer months.
Feeling peckish? Locals and visitors alike recommend nearby establishments Riley’s Fish Shack for a casual bite and Longsands Fish Kitchen for a more leisurely sit-down meal.
For those seeking swimming and surfing, Longsands Beach offers a mile of broad, pristine sand, described by TripAdvisor reviewers as “clean, wide and quiet with lovely sand.”
At weekends, be sure to visit Tynemouth Market, nestled within the former Victorian metro station beneath a stunning glass canopy. Visitors can discover “anything from clothes, books, bric-a-brac, records, antiques”, and much more, according to one reviewer.
Mouth of Tyne Festival takes place yearly in July, at Tynemouth Priory (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
Additionally, each July sees Tynemouth become livelier during the Mouth of the Tyne Festival – a free event featuring an open-air concert at the town’s most picturesque location beside the 7th-century Priory ruins.
Shopping enthusiasts should explore Front Street, home to independent boutiques, coffee houses and traditional pubs, while allowing sufficient time to browse the Green Ginger Arcade, an eccentric destination for presents with a diner offering authentic 1950s atmosphere.
For those seeking more active attractions, there’s Hadrian’s Cycleway, a 174-mile coast-to-coast route beginning in Tynemouth, as well as Tynemouth Park’s 18-hole dinosaur-themed crazy golf course.
Beyond visitor feedback, Tynemouth has enjoyed prominence for decades across literature, television and more.
Children’s writer Robert Westall situated multiple prize-winning novels here, the cult ’80s programme Supergran was predominantly shot on its streets, Hayao Miyazaki once created a brief manga entitled A Trip to Tynemouth, while the BBC utilised the town as a principal location for Home Front.
You can get to Tynemouth from London in 3 hours and 20 minutes by train and 5 to 6 hours by car. From Manchester, both trains and car rides take less than three hours, while from Edinburgh, both take around two hours.
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