Guides to Whitley Bay
In-depth guides to the best places to eat, drink, explore, and enjoy in Whitley Bay. Written by locals, backed by research.
Latest Guides
Best Sunday Lunch in Whitley Bay
Local Museums and Archives Near Whitley Bay
Historic Trades and Crafts of Whitley Bay and Cullercoats
Allotments and Community Gardens in Whitley Bay
Volunteer Groups in Whitley Bay
Whitley Bay at War: The Coast Defences
Food & Drink
Best Sunday Lunch in Whitley Bay
The Beehive's legendary roasts, seafront dining at Spanish City, and a gastropub dating to 1839 -- where to find the best Sunday lunch in Whitley Bay.
Best Ice Cream in Whitley Bay
Di Meo's award-winning gelato, The Venetian's classic ices, and Cones at Longsands -- where to find the best ice cream in and around Whitley Bay.
Best Brunch in Whitley Bay
Park View cafes, Spanish City elegance, and a family bistro with cocktails -- the best brunch spots in Whitley Bay.
Quiz Nights in Whitley Bay
At least four Whitley Bay pubs run regular quiz nights. Here's which night, which pub, and what to expect.
Best Chinese & Thai Restaurants in Whitley Bay
Chengs, Oriental Garden, and Bangkok Palace -- the best Chinese and Thai food in Whitley Bay.
Best Cocktail Bars in Whitley Bay
Al Bear, Little Lobo, and The Lough Ran — Park View has become a proper cocktail strip. Here are the best spots.
Best Butchers in Whitley Bay
Nicholson's (since 1914), M I Dickson, and Darlings in Cullercoats — the best butchers in Whitley Bay.
Best Indian Restaurants in Whitley Bay
Shikara, Takdir, and Shampan — the best Indian restaurants in Whitley Bay.
Best Italian Restaurants in Whitley Bay
Pranzo, La Casetta, Davanti Whitley Lodge, and Project — the best Italian restaurants in Whitley Bay.
Best Pizza in Whitley Bay
Project Pizza, Pizza Rebels, and Pranzo — the best pizza in Whitley Bay.
Best Beer Gardens in Whitley Bay
The Beacon, Delaval Arms, and Spanish City Plaza — beer gardens in Whitley Bay.
Best Bakeries in Whitley Bay
PureKnead sourdough and artisan bakers on Park View — bakeries in Whitley Bay.
Best Takeaways in Whitley Bay
Fish and chips, Indian, Chinese, and pizza — the best takeaways in Whitley Bay for delivery and collection.
Best Breakfast in Whitley Bay
From bao buns at 7am to brunch on Park View and elegant pastries in the Spanish City dome — the best breakfast spots in Whitley Bay.
Best Fish and Chips in Whitley Bay
From the award-winning Trenchers at Spanish City to traditional seaside chippies — the best fish and chips in Whitley Bay.
Best Cafes in Whitley Bay
From Valerie's Tearoom in the Spanish City dome to specialty coffee on Park View — the best cafes in Whitley Bay.
Best Pubs in Whitley Bay
Micropubs, seafront locals, and a cafe that turns into a craft bar at night — the best pubs in Whitley Bay.
Best Restaurants in Whitley Bay
From fine dining in the Spanish City dome to Mexican street food and wood-fired pizza on Park View — where to eat in Whitley Bay.
Family & Children
Best After-School Clubs in Whitley Bay
Performing arts, wraparound care, holiday sports camps, swimming, and soft play -- the best after-school clubs and activities for children in Whitley Bay.
Summer Holiday Activities in Whitley Bay: The Complete Guide for Families
Beach days, rockpooling, free holiday activities, swimming, and the library reading challenge -- everything you need to fill six weeks of summer in Whitley Bay.
Best Soft Play Centres Near Whitley Bay
Acorn and Oak, The Treehouse, Runamokka, and Waves — Whitley Bay has more soft play options than you might think.
Baby & Toddler Groups in Whitley Bay
Family hubs, library rhyme time, Hartbeeps, and baby swimming — toddler groups in Whitley Bay.
Birthday Party Venues in Whitley Bay
Ice rink, Waves, Spanish City, and soft play — birthday party venues in Whitley Bay.
Best Playgrounds in Whitley Bay
The Links water park, beach play, and Waves — best play spots in Whitley Bay.
Sports & Fitness
Yoga in Whitley Bay
Heated pods, community studios, and seafront sessions — the best yoga classes in Whitley Bay.
Skate Parks Near Whitley Bay
Panama Skatepark on the seafront is one of the best in the North East. Here's what else is nearby.
Meditation in Whitley Bay
Mindfulness centres, guided sessions, and free online groups — meditation options in Whitley Bay.
Running & Cycling in Whitley Bay
Seafront promenade, Whitley Bay parkrun, coastal cycling to St Mary's, and local running clubs — your guide to staying active.
Best Personal Trainers in Whitley Bay
From private studios to gym-floor PTs — the best personal trainers in Whitley Bay and the coast.
Best Gyms in Whitley Bay
From the council leisure centre at Waves to 24/7 access at Snap Fitness and CrossFit on Roxburgh Terrace — every gym in Whitley Bay compared.
Swimming in Whitley Bay
Waves leisure centre with its wave machine and slides, sea swimming at the beach, and the Panama Swimming Club — every way to swim in Whitley Bay.
Parks & Nature
Photography Spots in Whitley Bay
From St Mary's Lighthouse at sunrise to the Spanish City dome at dusk, here are the best spots for photography in and around Whitley Bay.
Best Walks from Whitley Bay
Four coastal walks from Whitley Bay — from the seafront promenade to Tynemouth to the tidal causeway at St Mary's Lighthouse.
Health & Wellbeing
Best Care Homes in Whitley Bay
Four CQC Good-rated care homes along the coast, offering residential, nursing, and dementia care for older people and their families.
Best Vets in Whitley Bay
Four veterinary practices serving Whitley Bay and the coast — from independent surgeries to the local Vets for Pets.
Best Physiotherapists in Whitley Bay
Private clinics and NHS options for physiotherapy in Whitley Bay — sports injuries, back pain, and rehabilitation.
Best Opticians in Whitley Bay
Independent and high street opticians in Whitley Bay — eye tests, glasses, and contact lenses.
Best Counsellors & Therapists in Whitley Bay
Private therapists, NHS Talking Therapies, and specialist counselling services in Whitley Bay and North Tyneside.
Best Dentists in Whitley Bay
Four dental practices in Whitley Bay — from long-established family practices to NHS clinics. Addresses, phone numbers, and tips for finding availability.
Schools & Education
Find a Tutor in Whitley Bay
Kumon, The Learning Tree, piano and guitar tutors, and online platforms -- your guide to finding private tuition in Whitley Bay.
School Holidays: North Tyneside Term Dates 2025-2027
Every half term, holiday, and INSET day for North Tyneside schools in 2025-26 and 2026-27. What Whitley Bay parents need to know.
Best Nurseries in Whitley Bay
Nurseries and childcare in Whitley Bay — Ofsted ratings, funded places, and what to look for.
Best Schools in Whitley Bay
Whitley Bay High School (Outstanding), four first schools, and what parents need to know about North Tyneside's three-tier system.
Services
Best Financial Advisers in Whitley Bay
Independent and restricted financial advisers serving Whitley Bay — pensions, investments, and mortgage advice.
Best Cleaners in Whitley Bay
Domestic cleaning, end-of-tenancy, and exterior specialists serving Whitley Bay — independent and franchise options.
Best Accountants in Whitley Bay
Chartered accountants and tax specialists in Whitley Bay — from established firms on Park View to MTD-ready practices.
Shopping
Best Solicitors in Whitley Bay
From a specialist elderly client solicitor at the Linskill Centre to family-run practices on Park View, here are the best solicitors in Whitley Bay.
Best Electricians in Whitley Bay
NICEIC-approved contractors, solar PV specialists, and 24/7 emergency cover -- the best electricians in Whitley Bay.
Best Plumbers in Whitley Bay
From a time-served tradesman with 30 years of experience to five-star rated Gas Safe engineers -- the best plumbers in Whitley Bay.
Best Estate Agents in Whitley Bay
Five estate agents cover Whitley Bay and the coast. Here's who does what -- from a firm established in 1897 to modern independents.
Heritage & History
Historic Trades and Crafts of Whitley Bay and Cullercoats
Coal mining, salt panning, the Cullercoats fishwives, and the Victorian entertainment industry -- the trades that shaped Whitley Bay before the seaside resort arrived.
Whitley Bay at War: The Coast Defences
Coastal guns, anti-invasion beach obstacles, searchlight batteries, the wartime role of St Mary's Lighthouse, evacuees, and rationing on the coast -- Whitley Bay in the Second World War.
Victorian Whitley Bay: Architecture of a Seaside Resort
How the railway created a resort from nothing -- the Spanish City dome, the Rex Hotel, Edwardian promenades, cinemas, and the seafront terraces that gave Whitley Bay its character.
Heritage Walking Trail: Whitley Bay
A 3-mile walking trail through the story of Whitley Bay -- from the Spanish City dome and Edwardian seafront to the Panama Dip, Watts Slope, St Mary's Lighthouse, and the places where a fishing village became Tyneside's playground.
Whitley Bay: The Rise and Fall of the Seaside Resort
From a fishing village of 300 people to Tyneside's playground, through golden-age ballrooms and revolving beach chalets to boarded-up hotels -- and back again. The story of Whitley Bay.
History of Whitley Bay
From a coastal village of 300 people to a Victorian seaside resort, through Spanish City's golden age to twenty-first century regeneration -- the history of Whitley Bay.
Spanish City: From Pleasure Palace to Modern Revival
The Toreadors concert party, the Empress Ballroom, the funfair, Dire Straits, and the 2018 restoration -- the full story of Whitley Bay's most iconic building.
The Lost Lidos and Swimming History of Whitley Bay
Table Rocks tidal pool, the Tynemouth Outdoor Pool, sea bathing on the North Sea coast, and the Panama Swimming Club -- the swimming history of Whitley Bay.
The Oldest Pubs in Whitley Bay
From a 1688 farmhouse in Monkseaton to a Victorian pub that hosted Lindisfarne — the oldest pubs in Whitley Bay.
Famous People from Whitley Bay
Kate Adie, the Guinness toucan artist, and the writer behind Porridge — famous people from Whitley Bay.
Community
Local Museums and Archives Near Whitley Bay
St Mary's Lighthouse, the Stephenson Railway Museum, Segedunum Roman Fort, and Newcastle's free galleries -- a guide to the museums and heritage sites within easy reach of Whitley Bay.
Allotments and Community Gardens in Whitley Bay
A community allotment and orchard, council plots at West Monkseaton, and a three-year waiting list. Here is how to get growing in Whitley Bay.
Volunteer Groups in Whitley Bay
From the Big Local community cafe and shop to parkrun, scouts, and Age UK befriending, here is how to volunteer in Whitley Bay.
Charity Shops in Whitley Bay
Seven charity shops along Park View, Park Avenue, and Whitley Road -- from St Oswald's Books & Bridal to the YMCA furniture shop.
A Rainy Day in Whitley Bay
Ice rink, Waves slides, the Playhouse, and Spanish City — rainy day activities in Whitley Bay.
Best Wedding Venues in and Around Whitley Bay
Spanish City's rooftop ceremonies, St Mary's Inn, Seaton Delaval Hall, and more — the best wedding venues near Whitley Bay.
Politics in Whitley Bay: Who Represents You
Your MP, elected mayor, and ward councillors — a factual guide to political representation in Whitley Bay.
Council Services in Whitley Bay
Bins, council tax, reporting issues, and libraries — your guide to North Tyneside Council services in Whitley Bay.
Churches in Whitley Bay
From a Grade II listed Victorian church to Monkseaton Methodist — churches and places of worship in Whitley Bay.
Best Hotels & B&Bs in Whitley Bay
From the seafront Premier Inn to Victorian guest houses — where to stay in Whitley Bay.
Weekend in Whitley Bay — 48-Hour Itinerary
Coffee on Park View, Spanish City for lunch, St Mary's Lighthouse, Dog & Rabbit for craft beers. Your 48-hour plan for Whitley Bay.
Best Streets to Live on in Whitley Bay
From The Links seafront to Park Avenue's Edwardian villas — the most desirable residential streets in Whitley Bay.
Free Things to Do in Whitley Bay
Blue Flag beach, St Mary's Lighthouse at low tide, the seafront promenade, Panama Skatepark, and the annual carnival — the best free days out in Whitley Bay.
Dog-Friendly Whitley Bay
Seasonal beach rules, year-round coastal walks, and dog-friendly pubs and cafes — everything you need for a day out in Whitley Bay with your dog.
Things to Do in Whitley Bay: The Complete Guide
Spanish City, a Blue Flag beach, St Mary's Lighthouse, indie shops on Park View, and the best skatepark on the coast — everything worth doing in Whitley Bay.