Cineworld

Newcastle's Cineworld sits bang in the city centre - proper multiplex setup with all the latest releases, IMAX screens, and the standard popcorn-and-Pepsi experience you'd expect. It's a solid option if the North East weather turns grim or you need an evening out that doesn't involve walking around Hadrian's Wall for the hundredth time.

The cinema pulls in everyone from families catching the latest animated fare to couples after a Friday night out. Screens are decent enough, though like most multiplexes it's neither revolutionary nor terrible. You'll want to book ahead during school holidays and weekends - turning up on spec often means queueing at the ticket desk.

If you're basing yourself at Beamish Holiday Park, just six miles south, this makes for a proper rainy-day backup plan. The park itself keeps kids occupied, but Cineworld gives you that indoor entertainment option when the clouds roll in. Ticket prices are standard multiplex rates - nothing shocking, nothing bargain basement either - and the usual suspects are served up: popcorn at silly money, nachos that sit under heat lamps.

Allow a solid three hours door-to-door if you're factoring in parking and queuing. The location's handy for the city, but honestly, on a decent day you'd rather be elsewhere in the region. Save it for when conditions are rough or you've genuinely exhausted the outdoor options.