Day Trips From Newcastle: Coast, Castles and Hadrian's Wall Without a Car

The easiest day trips from Newcastle without a car are the coast by Metro, with Tynemouth and Whitley Bay both on the line, Durham Cathedral a short train ride south, Beamish on the Go North East 28 or 29 bus, and Housesteads Roman Fort on Hadrian's Wall via the year-round AD122 bus from Hexham. Further north, Bamburgh Castle and The Alnwick Garden are worth the longer journey, but check dates first: Alnwick Castle has closed for winter and does not reopen until March 2027. Several of these places give a discount if you arrive by public transport, which we have flagged below.

Tynemouth

Tynemouth is the classic first trip, straight out on the Metro. The station itself hosts Tynemouth Markets every Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 3.30pm, with stalls and street food, and dogs are welcome. From there it is a short walk to the priory headland and Longsands beach. We have a full Tynemouth guide for planning a whole day.

Whitley Bay and Spanish City

A few stops further up the coast on the Metro, Whitley Bay is home to Spanish City, the dome originally completed in 1910 and reopened after a restoration that brought back its historic features. Inside there is Trenchers for fish and chips (eat in or takeaway), the 1910 Restaurant, Valerie's Tearoom and a Champagne Bar, plus afternoon tea. Book Trenchers by phone between 11am and 8pm if you are going at the weekend. Cullercoats, between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay, is also on the Metro if you want to walk the coast between the two.

Durham Cathedral

Durham Cathedral is free to enter, with a suggested £5 donation towards its conservation. It opens Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 4.30pm and on Sundays from noon to 4pm. Occasional services and funerals close it to visitors for part of the day, so check the cathedral website on the morning you go. The tower climb is ticketed separately.

Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

Beamish in County Durham is reachable on Go North East buses 28 and 29 from Newcastle city centre via Gateshead. Show any Go North East bus ticket and you get 25% off a standard individual admission. Admission is an Unlimited Pass, which lets you come back as often as you like for a year. Opening hours shorten in winter: 10am to 4pm daily from 24 October to 1 November, Wednesday to Sunday only from 2 to 20 November, then daily from 21 November to 31 December except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. In January 2027 it opens on selected weekends only. In the 1950s Town, Middleton's does takeaway fish and chips, and the Grand Cinema screens The Polar Express on Saturday 21 November. Times are on the Beamish website.

Housesteads Roman Fort, Hadrian's Wall

Housesteads is Britain's most complete Roman fort, on the Whin Sill ridge with sections of Hadrian's Wall running either side. Take the train to Hexham, then the AD122 bus, which runs all year between Hexham and Haltwhistle and also stops at Chesters Roman Fort. Show your AD122 ticket on arrival for 20% off a walk-up ticket. The fort is open daily from 10am to 5pm, last entry 4.30pm. The visitor centre is currently closed, but there is a coffee cart and toilets in the car park and at the fort, and it is an uphill walk from the car park to the fort. Full details are on English Heritage.

Bamburgh Castle

Bamburgh Castle on the Northumberland coast is open every day from 10am to 5pm, with last admission at 4pm, but its site lists it closed from 9 to 13 November. It is also running a Christmas programme this year. This is the longest trip on the list, so plan your connections on Travel North East before you set off.

Alnwick

Alnwick Castle has closed for the winter and reopens in March 2027, so skip it for now. The Alnwick Garden next door has Winter Lights returning and Father Christmas in the Lilidorei grotto for Christmas 2026, along with food, drink and wreath-making workshops. Check the garden's opening times page for dates before you book.

Good to know

Up to three children aged 11 and under travel free on the Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare-paying adult, every day, which makes the coast the cheapest family day out. Beamish and Housesteads both reward you for leaving the car, so keep your bus ticket. Winter hours are shorter almost everywhere and last entry is often an hour before closing. For things to do in the city on the days you stay put, see our What's On listings, and for a base see hotels.

FAQs

What is the best day trip from Newcastle by Metro?

Tynemouth, for the weekend market inside the station, the priory and Longsands beach. Whitley Bay and Spanish City are a few stops further on the same line.

How do I get to Hadrian's Wall from Newcastle without a car?

Take the train to Hexham, then the AD122 bus, which runs all year to Housesteads and Chesters Roman Fort. Show your bus ticket at Housesteads for 20% off a walk-up ticket.

Is Alnwick Castle open in winter?

No. Alnwick Castle has closed for the winter and reopens in March 2027. The Alnwick Garden next door runs Winter Lights and a Father Christmas grotto over Christmas 2026.

Can you get to Beamish by bus from Newcastle?

Yes. Go North East services 28 and 29 run from Newcastle city centre, and showing a Go North East bus ticket gets 25% off a standard individual admission.