Don't miss Beamish , the North of England Open Air Museum, near Chester-le-Street, a little to the north of Durham. A fabulous day out amid reconstructed buildings from around the northeast. It's directly connected by bus services from Durham city. About £15 for a day pass, cheaper if you can get someone from County Durham to pay for you.
Take any bus to Chester-le-Street, then the 28, 28A, or The Lime, all towards Stanley.
Visit the iconic and huge Angel of the North statue, Gateshead.
Located at the intersection of the A1 and A167, or reached by bus services 21, X1 or X41.
Go shopping at Gateshead's Metro Centre Mall, one of the largest shopping malls in Europe.
Located on the A1, West of Newcastle, or reached by changing trains at Newcastle, buses in Gateshead or by direct X23/X24/43/44 bus 43/44 every fifteen minutes from the bus station. Every 20 minutes on Sundays and every 30 minutes in the evening.
Visit Newcastle upon Tyne - the throbbing heart of the North East, with excellent shopping, clubbing and art.
Due to expensive parking and heavy traffic, it's best to get to Newcastle by train journey time 11 minutes. The last train back is at 2245 2150 on Saturdays or 2140 on Sundays, but there is a 21 bus from Pilgrim Street at 2310. Night buses run from Newcastle, Gateshead and Chester-le-Street to Durham on route N21 on Friday and Saturday nights, until 3am. On Sunday - Thursday nights, the N21 night bus only goes to Chester-le-Street and you are advised to take the bus to Chester-le-Street, and thence take a taxi to Durham. A taxi from Newcastle might cost £30, whereas a taxi from Chester-le-Street costs around £10, and the night bus fare is £3 to Chester, £4 to Durham. One can also queue up to an hour for a taxi in Central Newcastle on a busy night, whereas from Chester-le-Street, taxis are plentiful. If you're out for an all-nighter, you might be better off taking the first train of the day south, which leaves at around 0430 except Sunday mornings.
Visit The Bowes Museum in nearby Barnard Castle around 30km South-West.
Best to only attempt this one if you have access to a car, though infrequent services do operate between Bishop Auckland easily reached by buses 5/5A, 21 and X24 and the museum itself.
Visit High Force, an impressive waterfall around 40km South-West.
Only accessible by car.
Visit Locomotion in Shildon, if you're a train buff around 20km South.
Use the A167 then the A689 and follow signs to Shildon. By bus use services 6 or 21 to Bishop Auckland and frequent connecting services to Shildon. Of course, if you're a train buff, you won't mind taking the slightly longer train journey to Darlington and changing to a Bishop Auckland train.
Visit Whitby, a pretty North Yorkshire harbour town around 100km South-East.
In Summer use the daily direct X60 Arriva service, or take the train changing at Darlington and Middlesbrough. The railway line between Middlesbrough and Whitby is one of the most picturesque in the country and is probably worth the extra hour journey time.
Visit Escomb Saxon Church, near Bishop Auckland where worship has been held since the 6th Century. around 20km South-West
Best reached by car, though services 85, 85A and 86 run between Bishop Auckland and Escomb.
