Gateshead Rugby Football Club

The rugby ground at Gateshead sits in Stanley, a proper working-class town in Tyne and Wear that doesn't get much tourist fanfare. If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Beamish Holiday Park or Beamish Glamping, both within five miles - and fancy catching a match, it's worth knowing it exists.

Gateshead RFC plays at a modest stadium that serves the local rugby community. Match days have that genuine grassroots feel you won't find at the big Premiership grounds down south. The club draws supporters from across the North East, and the atmosphere is friendly rather than intimidating. Whether you're a serious rugby fan or just curious about how the sport lives outside the elite tier, a Saturday afternoon here beats watching it on telly.

Admission costs vary depending on the fixture, so check the website before you go. Allow a few hours if you're planning to arrive early, grab a pint at the clubhouse, and stay for the full match. The ground itself isn't a tourist attraction in the traditional sense - you're there for the rugby, not the architecture.

It works well as part of a broader visit to the area. Beamish Open Air Museum is closer than you might think, and Stanley itself has some decent shops and pubs if you want to explore before or after a match. For families, it depends on the kids - under-eights will struggle with a 80-minute match, but older children who know the sport will have a proper day out.