Sometimes, all you need is a change of scenery. A morning walk beside the sea, a leisurely coffee at an independent café and an evening spent discovering somewhere new can be enough to make a few days away feel special. Whitley Bay, on the beautiful North East coast of England, offers exactly that kind of escape. With its sweeping sandy beach, striking coastal landmarks, independent food scene and welcoming seaside atmosphere, it is a destination where you can slow down witho

The Real Whitley Bay Starts When Summer Leaves Why the most underrated season might just be the best time to visit the North East coast. There is something about autumn in Whitley Bay that the summer crowds never get to see. The light changes. The beach empties. The sky does things that no photographer could plan for dramatic clouds rolling in off the North Sea, golden afternoon sun catching the waves at angles that make the whole coastline look like a painting. The tourists

One of the best parts of staying at Stay Coastal is stepping outside and realising just how much of Whitley Bay is within easy walking distance. This is a proper seaside town — a two-mile Blue Flag beach, a restored Edwardian entertainment hall, an independent café and pub scene that punches well above its weight, and a coastline that stretches from Cullercoats to St Mary's Lighthouse. Whether you're here for a weekend or a longer stay, here's our local guide to eating, drink

There's a particular kind of magic that settles over Whitley Bay and Tynemouth on the longest day of the year. The sky stays bright until well past 10pm, the beach fills with early risers and late-night wanderers alike, and for one glorious stretch of around 17 hours, the North East coast feels like it's showing off. Summer Solstice — this year falling on Sunday 21st June, with the sun reaching its peak at 9:24am — marks the moment the Earth's tilt gives us the most daylight