Away from the sand, sea and family attractions you'll discover quaint villages and bustling riverside towns all with their own character and individuality.
Soak up the atmosphere, peace and tranquillity, as you wander leafy lanes then lunch at a cosy village pub.
East and West Boldon
East and West Boldon on the fringes of South Tyneside have retained their village character.
There are several friendly pubs noted for their wholesome food as well as some excellent independent shops.
A multi-plex cinema and restaurants can also be found at Boldon Colliery.
Hebburn
Hebburn is located on the banks of the Tyne and has a new marina and an attractive riverside park.
The elevated position of Riverside Park provides excellent views of the Tyne, there are cycleways to the coast and onto Newcastle as well as a piece of public art entitled Flash @ Hebburn.
Close to the town centre is a green oasis, Carr Ellison Park which was renovated with help from Heritage Lottery Funding.
Jarrow
Jarrow was once famous as a great ship-building town and it was also the centre of religious learning as it was here that the Venerable Bede spent his life teaching and writing.
Today the town has a museum, Bede's World, dedicated to the Father of English History. The town is also at the heart of the region's transport links thanks to the Tyne Tunnel and the new Tyne Tunnel 2, due to open in 2011.
Worth a stop is the Tyne pedestrian and cycle tunnels, which at the time of opening in 1951 housed the longest single-rise escalators in the world and they are still in operation today.
South Shields
South Shields has a bustling town centre and a beautiful and lively seafront with several seaside attractions.
The heart of the town is King Street, a pedestianised shopping area with a variety of high street stores. The newest retail location is Waterloo Square, an attractive development housing Desire by Debenhams, Next, Bhs and River Island.
A big attraction in South Shields is the popular open-air market where savvy shoppers can pick up some real bargains.
There's plenty of choice too when it comes to wining and dining and Ocean Road in particular is well known for its array of Indian restaurants as well as the seaside favourite fish and chips.
Whitburn
Whitburn is a lovely coastal village with a main street, parish church, park, impressive architecture and cricket ground.
There are a small number of independent stores as well as pubs, seafood deli and a cafe/tea room.
Cleadon
Cleadon is an attractive village on the rural outskirts of South Shields and Sunderland.
Elegant character houses rub shoulders with some impressive modern properties and residents enjoy countryside views, a village pond, exclusive boutiques, stylish places to eat as well as cosy country-style pubs.
Nearby Cleadon Hills is a great place to take in the great outdoors.
Westoe
Westoe is a peaceful tree-lined village close to South Shields town centre.
The village is home to one of the leading marine colleges in the UK and attracts students from around the world.
On the outskirts of the village are a range of shops and pubs and the Metro is just a short walk.
