Day 1: Travel and Harrogate
Depart North Wales and travel to the spa town of Harrogate, characterised by Victorian and Edwardian buildings that tower above the pavements. Stroll around the tree lined avenues and beautiful gardens or explore the many shopping possibilities. Rest your legs with a cup of tea and a slice of cake at the famous Betty’s Café Tea Rooms before we complete our journey to the north-east for a 4-night stay.
Day 2: Durham – Optional Beamish
Today, the choice of destination is yours!! You can either spend the day in the city of Durham or take an optional full day visit to Beamish: The Living Museum of the North.
After breakfast we travel to the old university city of Durham, where you can spend the day at leisure. It’s a captivating city with winding cobbled streets, a prominent peninsula crowned with the dramatic Durham Cathedral and Castle UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering one of the most stunning city panoramas in Europe.
Alternatively, take the option of visiting Beamish: The Living Museum of the North (admission extra). It is a world-famous open-air museum which tells the story of the north-east of England in the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods. Get up-close to a recreated Northeast history from 1820 all the way to the 1950s.
Meet knowledgeable volunteers and staff who are decked out in exceptional, historical costume. Travel by tram or old-fashioned bus from the Edwardian Town and Pit Village, complete with original drift mine to at Home Farm and Pockerley Old Hall. You’ll find many a unique item in the open stores – donated by the public to best reflect their stories and experiences. Why not have a quick tipple at the Sun Inn Pub or try some traditional sweets at the Jubilee Sweet Shop?
Day 3: Alnwick & Lindisfarne - Optional Alnwick Castle
This morning, we travel to the market town of Alnwick, once the administrative centre for the whole of Northumberland. Alnwick itself is a bustling medieval market town, with twisting cobbled streets and an eclectic collection of shops. Spend some time in the town or alternatively, take an optional visit to Alnwick Castle (admission extra).
The castle has dominated the town since 1096 when construction began to control and protect the border. It has numerous defences such as a 2-metre-thick wall and a 7-metre-deep moat. It is the second largest inhabited castle in England, second only to Windsor Castle, and has been home to the Percy family for over 700 years. More recently, it has been a filming location for some of the Harry Potter movies, Downton Abbey and countless other TV shows and films.
Afterwards, we make the scenic journey to Lindisfarne, or Holy Island. This is known as ‘the Jewel of the Northumberland Coast’ and is only accessible across a causeway. The island is home to the ruins of Lindisfarne Priory, a unique castle with a Gertrude Jekyll garden and a colony of grey seals.
Day 4: Newcastle ‘Vera’ Filming Locations Tour
Ann Cleeves’ brilliant and no-nonsense DCI Vera Stanhope played by actress Brenda Blethyn in her trademark mac and hat has attracted a following of fans all over the world in ITV’s best-loved detective drama. Now fans will have the chance to follow in her footsteps on a chauffeured four-hour private guided Vera tour.
During the Vera tour, you will get to visit more than 15 actual locations from the very first to the last season of Vera.
The tour will focus on Newcastle’s city centre including filming at the medieval castle which gave this vibrant city its name and the beautiful Quayside with its seven bridges crossing the River Tyne.
Continue downriver to explore film locations with a stop at the first Police Headquarters, the former fishing port of North Shields and the picturesque Victorian seaside towns and beaches of Tynemouth, Cullercoats and Whitley Bay.
Day 5: York and Home
We depart Newcastle after breakfast and travel to York. Encircled by city walls, York is one of England’s most historical cities and is dominated by its 1383-year-old Minster. Explore York’s twisting passageways known as the “Shambles” or visit the Railway Museum or Jorvik Centre. A good way of seeing the city is on a boat cruise on the River Ouse.
After a few hours at leisure, we complete our journey home to North Wales.