Cullercoats Beach

What it’s like

A sheltered bay for a paddle or a swim, plus a decent play area right by the sand, and it costs nothing to get in.

This is a proper little bay, sheltered enough for swimming rather than just paddling, with a play area big enough to keep kids busy before or after they get in the water. It's free to turn up, there's no booking, and the beach itself is open all day if you fancy an early one before the crowds arrive.

The play area is the bit worth saving for last if you've got a child who'd otherwise want to leave the water. There's toilets and first aid on site too, which matters more than it sounds like when you're two hours into a sandy afternoon with a toddler.

Cullercoats metro station is right there on the yellow line, so you can skip the parking altogether if you're coming from Newcastle. If you do drive, there's parking in the centre of the village behind the northern end of the beach. For food, you're not stuck with an ice cream van as the only option, there are pubs and places to eat in the centre of Cullercoats a short walk from the sand.

It's an outdoor spot with no shelter beyond what the bay itself gives you, so a grey sky day still means a grey sky day. But the sheltered water is the whole point here, it's calmer than a lot of the open beaches nearby, which makes it a more relaxed choice if you've got younger kids who aren't strong swimmers yet.

Facilities

Need to know

Parking

In the centre of Cullercoats behind the northern end of the beach

Food

Pubs and places to eat in the centre of Cullercoats

Getting there by bus or train

Tyne and Wear metro yellow line with frequent services to Newcastle Central at Cullercoats station

• Wheelchair accessible, and toilets and first aid are on site
• Picnic area available if you'd rather bring your own food
• Open all day, every day, so an early start avoids the busiest hours

Plan your visit

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