What to do and see in North East England, England: The Best Visitor Centers

Reached between the tides via a short causeway, St. Mary's has all the fascination of a miniature, part-time island. The Lighthouse, completed in 1898 on a hazardous coast for shipping, remained operational until 1984 when it was superseded by modern navigational techniques. Since then the Lighthouse and former keepers' cottages have been operated as a visitor centre by North Tyneside Council. The surrounding Nature Reserve contains an area of rockpools, clifftop grassland, a beach and newly created wetland habitats.Wherever possible we are open seven days a week between May and September, and during weekends and school holidays in the winter. However, it is not possible for us to open on some days because of tidal conditions. The stated opening times can also be subject to variations on occasion due to weather affecting the times of the tide.

Acres of accessible countryside, miles of quiet rural roads, an abundance of wildlife and one of the best places in the UK to enjoy the night sky are just some of the reasons why you should make the North Pennines AONB a place to discover and explore. Situated amidst stunning woodland in Teesdale, next to Low and High Force waterfalls, and surrounded by rolling fields boasting some of the best hay meadows in England, Bowlees Visitor Centre has all you need to make your visit to the North Pennines a memorable one. Outdoor enthusiasts can make the most of the vast expanse of unspoilt land and sky by exploring on foot or wheels, or by simply sitting back and soaking up the scenery. We have booklets for self-guided walks, bike rides and nature-spotting, so you can explore at your leisure. At Bowlees Visitor Centre, children can get to grips with nature through a range of hands-on events - inside and out - that focus on learning, living and most importantly, laughing.

Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre reopened to the public on Saturday 24th June 2017 following a 2 year closure for the creation of an exciting new visitor centre. The new eco-friendly, straw bale building has been largely constructed by a dedicated team of volunteers. The centre includes a 2km circular walk, wildlife watching hides, cafe, toilets, disabled access paths around almost half of the reserve and baby changing facilities. There is also a classroom that can be hired for private use for events, meetings and educational visits. An exclusive wildlife area can be accessed from the classroom for use by school groups.

Low Barns is a valuable wetland reserve and one of County Durham’s most important wildlife sites, located adjacent to the River Wear. The reserve has become important for wildlife due to the wide range of habitats including wet woodland, grassland, open water and river side, which are home to many different types of birds, mammals, plants and insects. However, Low Barns has not always been a haven for local wildlife. Originally farmland, the site underwent sand and gravel extraction until 1964 when the area was given to Durham Wildlife Trust and restored as a nature reserve. In 2003 a redundant sewage treatment works on the site was replaced with a new reed bed habitat and a boardwalk which enabled public access with minimal disturbance to wildlife. The site’s flat terrain and large accessible bird hides make it an ideal place to visit for everyone. For upcoming events check our website. Parking is free for DWT members and £2.50 for non-members.

Rainton Meadows is just one of 35 nature reserves owned and managed by Durham Wildlife Trust. The visitor centre and children's WildPlay area area open seven days a week from 10am – 4.00pm. The centre has a range of facilities including toilets, a classroom, meeting rooms and a fantastic coffee shop. There is an excellent network of accessible pathways linking viewing areas that look across the lakes and wetlands, with areas of grassland and woodland completing the habitats on site. Rainton Meadows has developed into a significant area for wildlife over the last 20 years. The wetlands and grasslands support a wide range of birds and over 200 species have been recorded. Waders such as redshank, oystercatcher, lapwing are regularly seen and also more unusual species such as little ringed plover. All five species of UK owl can be seen at different times of the year and there are good numbers of warblers, finches, tits and farmland birds. Stoat, weasel, brown hare and roe deer are regularly seen and the wetlands attract numerous dragonflies and damselflies. Butterfly numbers are also high, particularly grassland species.

In line with government and Public Health England advice regarding the Covid-19 and following the current guidelines set by Durham University, the Visitor Centre is now closed until further notice. Stay in touch on Twitter or Facebook. Housed in a refurbished 19th century almshouse, Durham's World Heritage Site Visitor Centre is a free facility open seven days a week with staff available to provide advice and information about Durham and its heritage. The Visitor Centre provides visitors with an overview of the World Heritage Site, including information about what it means to be a World Heritage Site, what makes Durham significant, and what there is to see and do in Durham.

The Word, National Centre for the Written Word is South Tyneside's state-of-the-art cultural venue which has a lot to offer! The building is brimming with exciting new experiences, activities and facilities for people of all ages to engage and enjoy. From the Digital Media Wall, to the FabLab - there is also an impressive, immersive storytelling experience in StoryWorld which hosts regular events over school holidays as well as interactive touch-tables, telescopes, Kids' Activity Area, Creative Play Area and a Gaming Zone. There is also a Shop/Visitor Information Centre and a Café. The building is home to 70,000 books as well as OpenZone, who provide digital learning and ICT to schools during term time. At its core The Word celebrates the written word in all its forms through a rolling programme of events, exhibitions and workshops and it also aims to become a home for north-east writers.