Newbiggin by the Sea Sports Centre

The Sports Centre sits right on Newbiggin-by-the-Sea's seafront, a functional leisure facility that punches above its weight for a small coastal town. Inside you'll find a swimming pool, gym kit, and various activity studios - the kind of place locals actually use rather than somewhere that feels built purely for tourists.

It's genuinely useful if you're staying at Church Point or Sandy Bay holiday parks nearby and the weather turns grim. Kids can burn off energy in the pool when the beach gets too windy, and there's enough here to occupy a rainy afternoon without feeling like you're settling. The gym side appeals to anyone trying to stay active during a week away, though it's not flashy.

What this isn't is a destination in itself. You don't travel to Northumberland to spend time indoors at a sports centre when there's a decent coastline on your doorstep. But as part of a holiday park stay - especially at Parkdean's Church Point which is barely half a mile away - it's a practical option worth knowing about.

Bring a towel and phone ahead to check current opening hours and whether day passes are available. Pricing isn't listed online, so you'll need to ring. Allow two hours maximum for most visits. The real appeal here is convenience rather than experience.