Blyth Bandstand

The bandstand at Blyth sits right on the seafront, a proper Victorian structure that's seen better days but still commands the stretch of beach with a certain faded grandeur. It's the sort of thing you'd walk past without thinking twice, until you realise it's actually quite photogenic when the light's right - especially on those rare golden afternoons when the North Sea decides to behave itself.

You're not going to spend hours here, to be honest. It's a quick stop rather than a destination in its own right - maybe twenty minutes of wandering around, taking pictures if you're that way inclined, and reading the information board if there is one. The bandstand itself isn't accessible for actual performances these days, so you're really just looking at it from the outside. Kids won't complain, but they won't be thrilled either unless you've got a beach ball and a bit of energy to burn on the adjacent sand.

It works best as part of a broader seafront wander from Whitley Bay. Throw it in with a proper beach day, some fish and chips, maybe a walk along the coastal path. The nearby Parkdean Resorts sites - Sandy Bay Holiday Park and Church Point Holiday Park, both just a few miles inland - make decent bases if you're planning a longer Northumberland break. On a quiet weekday morning you might actually have the place to yourself, which is when it's worth visiting.