Life Health & Fitness

Life Health & Fitness sits in Stanley and functions as your standard leisure centre - gym equipment, studio classes, swimming pool, that sort of thing. It's the kind of place locals rely on, not somewhere you'd plan a day trip around, but useful to know if you're staying at one of the nearby parks and fancy a proper workout or a swim without leaving town.

The gym side caters to people serious about their training - free weights, machines, cardio kit - while the pool makes it a reasonable shout if you've got kids who want to burn off energy. Studio classes run regularly too, though you'll want to ring ahead to check what's on when you visit. The changing facilities are fine. Nothing fancy, but clean and functional.

If you're based at Beamish Holiday Park or the posher Beamish Glamping site nearby, Life is worth knowing about. It's less than ten minutes' drive and beats using your holiday park's basic gym equipment. The museum and open-air attractions at Beamish itself are the real draw in the area, but having a proper sports facility close by means you're not limited to just outdoor activities if the weather turns. Go midweek mornings if you want fewer crowds. Day passes are available, though costs weren't confirmed when I checked - call first to check current pricing and opening hours.