Alan's Art Gallery

Alan's Art Gallery sits in Whitley Bay, a seaside town that's seen better days but retains a certain charm if you squint hard enough. It's a small independent space - the kind of place where someone's genuine passion for art matters more than marble floors and gift shop strategy.

What you get depends entirely on what Alan's currently showing. This isn't a vast contemporary space or a grand Victorian institution. It's intimate, personal, the sort of gallery where you can actually have a conversation with whoever's running the place. Work tends toward accessible rather than aggressively experimental, which means families won't feel lost and kids won't spend the whole time asking "but is it actually art?"

You're probably looking at thirty minutes to an hour here - enough time to have a proper look without it feeling like an obligation. It's free admission, which removes any guilt about leaving after twenty minutes if the current exhibition doesn't grab you.

If you're staying at Parkdean Resorts Whitley Bay Holiday Park just up the road, this works as a rainy-day option or a gentle cultural break between beach visits. Old Hartley Caravan and Motorhome Club is slightly further but still within spitting distance. Neither requires you to commit to a full day or book tickets weeks ahead.

It's worth a go if you're in the area, particularly if you've got an interest in local artists. But don't plan a trip around it alone - treat it as a nice addition to a seaside weekend, not the main event.