Light House Arts space

The Light House Arts is Whitley Bay's answer to those rainy afternoons when you've exhausted the beach and the arcade's lost its appeal. It's a proper contemporary arts space - galleries, studios, workshops - housed in what was once a Victorian building that's been given a thorough modern overhaul.

Inside you'll find rotating exhibitions, which means what's on depends entirely when you visit. Could be local painters, could be installation work, could be photography. The building itself is pleasant enough to wander round, though I'll be honest - a couple of hours maximum unless there's something genuinely gripping on the walls. Families with teenagers interested in art won't feel out of place, but younger kids might find it a bit thin if they're expecting hands-on activities.

Admission details aren't entirely clear from their website (which is frustratingly sparse), so ring ahead before dragging everyone into town. Whitley Bay itself is walkable - about twenty minutes from the seafront - which makes it a decent pocket-sized cultural break between beach time and fish and chips.

If you're staying at Parkdean Resorts Whitley Bay or Old Hartley Campsite, the Light House works as a rainy-day alternative rather than a headline draw. Worth an hour's browse if you're already in the area, but don't bank on it being the holiday's defining moment.