Visit one of South Tyneside's picturesque villages and towns where you will find leafy lanes, beautiful countryside, some of the best pubs in the area and quaint shops. All are just a few minutes drive away and some can be reached by footpaths, bridle paths and cycle ways.

East and West Boldon lies on the fringes of South Tyneside and have retained their village character despite straddling a main road between the cities of Sunderland and Newcastle. Boldon also has a state of the art cinema complex, and a variety of popular pubs and restaurants.
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An attractive village on the outskirts of South Shields. Elegant older houses rub shoulders with some impressive modern homes and the residents enjoy countryside views, a typical village pond, exclusive boutiques and stylish places to eat as well as cosy country-style pubs.
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A busy riverside town with an attractive marina and Riverside Park. Carr Ellison Park, beautifully renovated thanks to a Heritage Lottery Grant, provides a green oasis and the perfect spot to sit and enjoy the floral displays. The spirit of the town's great shipbuilding past lives on through Hebburn's links with Lord Mountbatten and the famous warship, HMS Kelly. The splendid Riverside Park, which is beautifully landscaped, provides cyclists, walkers and joggers with pleasant paths and cycleways along the Tyne all the way to Gateshead and beyond. It is a terrific place for a picnic or just simply to relax.
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Jarrow was once famous around the world as a great ship-building town, until the closure of the Palmer's shipyard in the 1930's. It is also remembered for the Jarrow Marchers who left the town to make their way to London in the 'Crusade for Jobs' in 1936. Much further back in time the monastery in Jarrow was the centre of religious learning in the country and it was here that the Venerable Bede spent his life teaching and writing. Bede's World is dedicated to the celebration of his life.
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Has reference dates as far back as 1074, when the settlement was granted to monks. Monkton was predominantly an agricultural village made up of a number of farmsteads, outbuildings and labourers cottages. There were four main farms, one of which was Grange Farm - reckoned to be the longest-inhabited building in South Tyneside, having been occupied since 1539. Monkton Village was granted conservation status in 1975 and has retained much of its rural character. In the heart of Jarrow the village has become a training ground for up-and-coming athletes at the excellent Monkton Stadium, having nurtured Olympic athletes such as Steve Cram and David Sharpe.
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A bustling town centre, with a lively shopping area and popular markets. A quaint eighteenth century traditional town hall stands in the square, surrounded by the newly refurbished high street, with shops, stores and restaurants offering great choice and value for money. On the South side stands the Church of St Hilda, which dates back to 1790 although there has been a church on that spot since 647 A.D. A lively nightlife, with wine bars and friendly pubs can be experienced at South Tyneside.
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A peaceful village in the heart of South Shields. Tree-lined with an array of handsome houses, Westoe was well known to the young Catherine Cookson and provided a scenic setting for several of her books. Westoe Village was also the birth place of acclaimed actress Dame Flora Robson and author Elinor Brent-Dyer of the Chalet School books fame. The house where Sir William Fox, three times New Zealand's Prime Minister was born is now a charming Hotel.
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Whitburn has retained its village character, with a lovely main street, a parish church and cricket ground of sheer delight. Whitburn Village has famous literary links with Lewis Carroll and he is believed to have had his inspiration for Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass while on holiday here. A statue of the great man stands in the local library.
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