George Stephenson's Birthplace: Visit the former stone miners cottage where this renowned railway engineer was born, which is furnished to reflect domestic living in 1781, the year of his birth. This is a National Trust Property. 1 mile

Newburn Activity Centre with gym, children's facilities including a creche/play area, climbing wall and badminton/tennis/football courts as well as water sports activities. Cycles can also be hired from the Centre. Less than a mile

Golf: enthusiasts are catered for with the championship 18 hole golf courses nearby at the Close House Country House Hotel. 1 mile

Metro Centre: over 300 specialist retail outlets, cinemas and restaurants. 5 miles

Newcastle/Gateshead cities featuring: the extraordinary music and arts venue at The Sage in Gateshead, the ‘Millennium Eye' footbridge and other famous bridges, the Theatre Royal, Eldon Square shopping centre, restaurants, cinemas etc. 6 miles

And along the A69: Hexham: a bustling market town dominated by its magnificent abbey, sitting in the heart of ‘Hadrian's Wall Country' only 15 miles to the west along the A69 and Corbridge with the Roman site of Corstopitum. 12 miles

Tynemouth: with an interesting flea market held on the platforms of the former station, Blue Flag beach favoured by surfers, Blue Reef Aquarium and wonderful Toy Museum. 16 miles

Beamish Museum: the North of England's Open Air Museum which brings the past to life. 19 miles

Durham City: with, (according to Bill Bryson, Chancellor of Durham University), the best cathedral in the world, castle and picturesque riverside walk. 20 miles

Northumberland up the A1: with its beautiful coastline and the many historic castles and houses worth visiting including Dunstanbrough approached along an unforgettable walk from Craster, home of the kipper, Alnwick with a fantastic second hand book store housed in the former station and Alnwick Castle, setting for Harry Potter films and featuring the attractive gardens designed by the Duchess of Northumberland, including the largest tree house in the country, and at Rothbury, Cragside, the home of Lord Armstrong - one of the North East's great Victorians - and the first house in the world lit by hydro-electricity. Keep going to visit Bamborough with its castle and museum dedicated to Grace Darling and the holy island of Lindisfarne. Approx. 38 miles

Parallel to the A69 the Military Road runs alongside the Roman Wall and the sites of Vindolanda and the Roman Army Museum, Chesters and Housesteads