Browse Tag by SR6

Posts on our bed and breakfast accommodation blog about Sunderland, SR6.

Freebies, Places to Visit

Free Entry to National Trust

Home > Tyne & Wear

Next weekend several North East National Trust properties can be visited for free upon production of the voucher below.

The free weekend offer is national but not all National Trust properties are participating in the free weekend offer.

The National Trust Logo

The properties near to us where the voucher is accepted are…

Cherryburn, Station Bank, Stocksfield, NE43 7DD.
Cottage and farmhouse, the birthplace of Thomas Bewick.

Thomas Bewick is perhaps Northumberland’s greatest artist.

A wood engraver and naturalist who revolutionised print art in Georgian England.

Discover his tiny birthplace cottage and farmyard with glorious views over the Tyne Valley, plus a traditional 19th-century farmhouse, the later home of the Bewick family, with an unrivalled collection of his work and an exhibition about his life.

Follow Bewick’s wood blocks on their journey to the print room, where regular Sunday afternoon demonstrations bring alive this intricate craft, or explore the delightful cottage gardens, farmyard and paddock walk, perfect for picnicking or playing with the kids.

Full National Trust property information can be found here Cherryburn, Stocksfield, NE43 7DD (opens in a new window).

Cragside, Rothbury, Morpeth, NE65 7PX.
Extraordinary Victorian house, gardens and woodland – the wonder of its age.

Enter the world of Lord Armstrong – Victorian inventor, innovator and landscape genius.

Cragside house was truly a wonder of its age.

Discover the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity.

It is crammed full of ingenious gadgets – most of them still working.

The gardens are incredible.

One of the largest rock gardens in Europe leads down to the Iron Bridge, which in turn leads to the formal garden.

Children will love our adventure play area and exploring Nelly’s Labyrinth, a network of paths and tunnels cut out of a vast area of rhododendron forest.

Full National Trust property information can be found here Cragside, Rothbury, Morpeth, NE65 7PX (opens in a new window).

George Stephenson’s Birthplace, Wylam, NE41 8BP.
Birthplace of the world-famous railway engineer.

Discover the humble birthplace of great railway pioneer, George Stephenson, whose entire family lived in just one room.

Our costumed guide tells the story of how challenging life was for mining families, like George’s, that once crammed into this now charming little stone cottage, nestled in a pretty garden near the River Tyne.

Full National Trust property information can be found here George Stephenson’s Birthplace, Wylam, NE41 8BP (opens in a new window).

Gibside, Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, NE16 6BG.
Stunning 18th-century landscape garden and haven for nature.

A taste of the country on the edge of the city.

Discover fine Derwent Valley views, winding paths and refreshing open spaces while exploring our elegant buildings and ruins.

Gibside is a Georgian ‘grand design’ on a spectacular scale.

The vision of coal baron George Bowes, the Palladian chapel is an architectural masterpiece, the stable block is a vibrant learning and discovery centre, and the once grand hall is now a dramatic shell.

Gibside is also a haven for wildlife with red kites often circling in the skies above.

After centuries of decline, we’re restoring Gibside for people and nature.

Come for events every weekend, escape along the avenue for miles of tranquil walks and picnic spots or enjoy family fun at our adventure play area and woodland play trail.

Food also runs through Gibside’s veins, whether in our bustling walled garden, café, local farm shop or twice monthly farmers market.

Full National Trust property information can be found here Gibside, Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, NE16 6BG (opens in a new window).

Holy Jesus Hospital, City Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2AS.
An extraordinary mix of architecture from over seven centuries.

The Holy Jesus Hospital survives amid 1960’s city-centre developments, displaying features from all periods of its 700-year existence.

The National Trust’s Inner City Project is now based here, working to provide opportunities for inner-city dwellers to gain access to and enjoy the countryside on their doorstep.

Full National Trust property information can be found here Holy Jesus Hospital, City Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2AS (opens in a new window).

Lindisfarne Castle, Lindisfarne aka Holy Island, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2SH.
Romantic 16th-century castle with spectacular views.

Location has always been the main attraction for the owners and occupiers of Lindisfarne Castle.

From a former fort to the holiday home of a wealthy Edwardian bachelor seeking a quiet retreat from London, the idyllic location of the Castle has intrigued and inspired for centuries.

The renovation by Arts and Crafts architect Edwin Lutyens both hides and emphasises the old fort, all the while overlooking Gertrude Jekyll’s enchanting walled garden and the unexpected grandeur of the Lime Kilns, an imposing and striking reminder of Lindisfarne’s industrial past.

Full National Trust property information can be found here Lindisfarne Castle, Holy Island, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2SH (opens in a new window).

Ormesby Hall, Ladgate Lane, near Middlesbrough, TS3 0SR.
The Pennyman family’s intimate 18th-century mansion.

Home of the Pennyman family for nearly 400 years, this classic Georgian mansion, with its Victorian kitchen and laundry, attractive gardens and estate walks, provides lively resources for local schools and community groups, and a unique venue for wedding ceremonies and corporate events.

Experience the spirit of the intimate home of Colonel Jim Pennyman, the last of the Pennyman line, and his arts-loving wife Ruth, as well as the stylish legacy of the 18th-century character ‘Wicked’ Sir James Pennyman – so named because of his extravagant lifestyle and his gambling with the family fortune.

Full National Trust property information can be found here Ormesby Hall, Ladgate Lane, near Middlesbrough, TS3 0SR (opens in a new window).

Souter Lighthouse and The Leas, Coast Road, Sunderland, SR6 7NH.
A marvel of its age.

Souter is a special place all year round and was the first lighthouse in the world designed and built to be powered by electricity.

Opened in 1871, decommissioned in 1988, the National Trust acquired it and opened it to the public in 1990.

Souter remains an iconic beacon, hooped in red and white and standing proud on the coastline midway between the River Tyne and the River Wear.

The Leas is a two and a half mile stretch of magnesian limestone cliffs, wave-cut foreshore and coastal grassland.

The cliffs and rock stacks of Marsden Bay are home to nesting Kittiwakes, Fulmar, Cormorants, Shags and Guillemots.

Full National Trust property information can be found here Souter Lighthouse and The Leas, Coast Road, Sunderland, SR6 7NH (opens in a new window).

Wallington, Cambo, near Morpeth, NE61 4AR.
Magnificent estate where politics and play came together in the heart of Northumberland.

Discover Wallington, much-loved home to generations of the unconventional Trevelyan family.

Visit the impressive, yet friendly house, and explore the history of Northumberland in the huge pre-Raphaelite paintings around the remarkable Central Hall.

Be inspired by the beautiful furniture, family paintings and treasured collections.

The Trevelyans loved being outdoors and close to nature and the house is surrounded by an informal landscape of lawns, lakes, woodland, parkland and farmland, just waiting to be explored.

There is even a beautiful walled garden hidden in the woods, a colourful haven of tranquillity in all seasons.

Full National Trust property information can be found here Wallington, Cambo, near Morpeth, NE61 4AR (opens in a new window).

Washington Old Hall, The Avenue, Washington, NE38 7LE.
Manor house associated with the family of George Washington, first president of the USA.

At the heart of historic Washington village this picturesque stone manor house and its gardens provide a tranquil oasis, reflecting gentry life following the turbulence of the English Civil War.

The building incorporates parts of the original medieval home of George Washington’s direct ancestors, and it is from here that the family took their surname of ‘Washington’.

Much used and loved by local schools and community groups, including a hugely supportive Friends organisation, the Old Hall is also popular with couples wanting intimate wedding ceremonies and companies organising corporate events.

Full National Trust property information can be found here Washington Old Hall, The Avenue, Washington, NE38 7LE (opens in a new window).

Seaton Delaval Hall, The Avenue, Seaton Sluice, NE26 4QR.
More than a great house, it is a truly amazing place.

Seaton Delaval Hall is a great house set in its own estate with lovely gardens and a fine collection; yet it is also much more.

It is a signpost pointing to the diverse history of a family which acquired land here in the late 11th century.

The house occupies the site of a Norman settlement, and its original Norman chapel remains in use today.

Built between 1719 and 1730 for Admiral George Delaval, it is not only the finest house in the north east of England, but also among the finest works of its architect, Sir John Vanbrugh, one of the masters of English Baroque.

For 900 years, the estate has been a stage for drama, intrigue and romance while the surrounding landscape has fuelled industrial revolution.

The house has survived terrible fires, military occupation and potential ruin.

Now it provides an amazing space for arts, heritage and the community to come together.

Full National Trust property information can be found here Seaton Delaval Hall, The Avenue, Seaton Sluice, NE26 4QR (opens in a new window).

The National Trust voucher you need to print and take with you is below…

If you are looking for hotel accommodation in North East England our bed and breakfast best price and room availability is here Book Online.

Room information including photographs can be found on the Accommodation page of our website.

Published on 13th April 2013 15:11.

Read more on our blog about...

Accommodation   Book Online

Full English Breakfast   Special Offers

Last online booking received
Friday 19th June 2026, 12:07 BST
Country United Kingdom

News

A-Levels at Newcastle College

Home > Tyne & Wear > Newcastle upon Tyne > Newcastle College

Newcastle College are looking to take advantage of South Tyneside College’s decision to scrap A-level courses.

Newcastle College’s Rye Hill Campus on Scotswood Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7SA is opening a new £22m centre in September.

Newcastle College principal Steve Gibson said “Young people in South Tyneside may have some concerns about the options available to them to study A-levels, but I would urge them not to worry.

We are keen to ensure all young people get the chance to study the subjects they want, and we’re getting lots of requests from students from across Tyneside to come and talk to tutors at Newcastle College and have a look around our new building.

We offer around 40 different A-levels and have world-class facilities to help students learn.

We are in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, so we are just a short Tyne & Wear Metro ride away from South Tyneside.

Students do not have to travel far to pursue the future they want.”

Newcastle College Rye Hill Campus Scotswood Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 7SA

The Shields Gazette revealed this week that South Tyneside College would no longer be offering A-level qualifications from September.

Instead, it will focus on vocational training, which it says will provide the ‘best possible’ career route into university and work.

About 90 students and 17 lecturers are affected by the changes.

School-leavers who have applied to study AS-levels at the college from September will be offered vocational alternatives.

Existing students going into their second year will be allowed to complete their studies at the college, in St George’s Avenue, South Shields.

The Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) said it will fight to avoid compulsory redundancies.

Jon Bryan, UCU regional support official, said “The thing we are most concerned about is the extent to which the college is going to redeploy staff.

The key thing for us is going to be pressurising the college as much as possible to redeploy people into alternative posts.

They are closing the intake for this year, but following through with the second year.

That will be helpful in terms of some people maintaining their employment.”

Staff will also need to be retrained to deliver vocational courses, he added, although some already teach them.

“If we are lucky, we may be able to avoid compulsory redundancies,” said Mr Bryan.

“That will clearly be our focus.”

There are two school sixth forms in South TynesideHarton Technology College in Lisle Road, South Shields, NE34 6DL and St Joseph’s RC Comprehensive School in Mill Road, Hebburn, NE31 2ET – teaching approximately 270 A-Level students in total.

Whitburn C of E Academy in Nicholas Avenue, Whitburn, South Tyneside, SR6 7EX has been granted permission to open a sixth form from September 2014, but plans are in the very early stages.

A South Tyneside College spokesman said “There are numerous other providers of A-levels within South Tyneside and we are working to ensure no young person is left without that local provision.

“We strongly believe the many and varied courses we provide are best suited to meet the needs of young people and employers in an ever more competitive employment market.

We remain committed to helping those who have applied to start AS-level courses with us in September to find routes on to vocational courses or into alternative provision elsewhere in South Tyneside.

We understand they may be disappointed at not taking those courses with us and we are offering them every possible support.”

If you are looking for hotel accommodation for your visit to Newcastle College’s Rye Hill Campus on Scotswood Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7SA our bed and breakfast best price and room availability is here Book Online.

Room information including photographs can be found on the Accommodation page of our website.

Published on 29th March 2013 17:30.

Read more on our blog about...

Accommodation   Book Online

Full English Breakfast   Special Offers

Last online booking received
Friday 19th June 2026, 12:07 BST
Country United Kingdom

News

South Tyneside College Course News

Home > Tyne & Wear > South Shields > South Tyneside College

South Tyneside College have announced that they are scrapping A-levels.

The “gold standard” qualifications will no longer be offered from September, with the college instead focusing on vocational provision.

About 90 students and 17 lecturers are affected by the changes.

School-leavers who want to take A-level courses will now have to fight for a place at one of the borough’s two sixth forms or travel to Sunderland, Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead or North Tyneside.

Entrance to South Tyneside College St George's Avenue South Shields NE34 6ET

A South Tyneside Collegee spokesman said “We have decided to reshape, strengthen and expand our curriculum to focus on vocational education that meets the needs of employers and universities.

We strongly believe this will provide our students with an excellent and ‘best possible’ career route into higher education and employment.

This means we are replacing our A-level provision with more vocational-led courses.”

Students who have applied to take AS-levels at the college, in St George’s Avenue, South Shields, in September will be offered vocational alternatives.

Those who are due to progress to A2 – the second year of their A-levels – will be able to complete their studies at the college.

Business lecturer John Heywood, branch secretary of the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU), said the A-level team was informed of the move at a meeting on Thursday.

Staff have been told they will be redeployed.

He said “I think it is tragic that we lose our gold standard provision.

These are the courses that will get students into university.

I think it is an absolute tragedy for the borough, the college, students and staff.”

The number of students taking A-levels at the college has dwindled from almost 300 in 2009 to just 48 now, with a further 36 doing other courses, plus an A-level to enhance their main course.

The college’s A-level pass rate last year was 99.1%.

It said “every possible support” is being given to current and prospective students, and that it is liaising with other A-level providers to give them a full range of alternative options.

Harton Technology College in Lisle Road, South Shields, NE34 6DL and St Joseph’s RC Comprehensive School in Mill Road, Hebburn, NE31 2ET are the only other sixth form providers in the borough.

Whitburn C of E Academy in Nicholas Avenue, Whitburn, South Tyneside, SR6 7EX has been granted permission to open a sixth form from September 2014, but plans are in the very early stages.

Three secondary schools…

Boldon School in New Road, Boldon Colliery, NE35 9DZ

South Shields Community School (formerly Brinkburn Comprehensive School) in Nevinson Avenue, Whiteleas, NE34 8BT

and

St Wilfrid’s RC College in Temple Park Road, South Shields, NE34 0PH – offer some post-16 provision.

If you are looking for hotel accommodation near South Tyneside College our bed and breakfast best price and room availability is here Book Online.

Room information including photographs can be found on the Accommodation page of our website.

Published on 26th March 2013 15:54.

Read more on our blog about...

Accommodation   Book Online

Full English Breakfast   Special Offers

Last online booking received
Friday 19th June 2026, 12:07 BST
Country United Kingdom

News, Places to Eat & Drink, Places to Visit

National Glass Centre Brasserie

Home > Tyne & Wear > Sunderland > National Glass Centre

Sunderland Football Club subsidiary 1879 Events Management have today announced that they have won the contract to run the restaurant at the National Glass Centre on Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL when it reopens this summer.

National Glass Centre Sunderland

Formerly the Throwing Stones restaurant, the new eatery will be part of a £2.25million investment programme in the National Glass Centre which includes remodelled galleries and improved educational facilities at the centre.

The National Glass Centre was taken over by the University of Sunderland in 2010 with it’s redevelopment supported by Arts Council England through it’s award of a £750,000 improvement grant.

The Heritage Lottery Fund also backed the redevelopment of the centre, providing £250,000 towards improvements.

Director of the National Glass Centre James Bustard commented “Everyone involved in the redevelopment of the centre is thoroughly enthused about the reopening in the summer, and about its future success.

We are extremely confident that the new-look centre will further enhance the region’s cultural offer while helping to reinforce ourselves as the leading centre for glass in the UK.”

It is hoped that “a first-class food offering will help strengthen visitor numbers, which can only benefit the city as a whole.” – Gary Hutchinson, commercial director at SAFC.

“1879 Events Management is delighted to be providing such an important service to the National Glass Centre at such an exciting time in its development.

We’re proud to be in partnership with both the National Glass Centre and the University of Sunderland on this venture.”

The opening of the restaurant, to be named National Glass Centre Brasserie, is scheduled for summer 2013.

It hopes to attract lovers of high-quality food and to be added to the list of premium restaurants in the region.

Both daytime and evening menus are to be heavily influenced by local and regional fayre.

A first class food offering is also expected to help strengthen visitor numbers which can only benefit the city of Sunderland as a whole.

If you are looking for hotel accommodation for your visit to the National Glass Centre on Liberty Way in Roker, Sunderland our bed and breakfast best price and room availability is here Book Online.

Room information including photographs can be found on the Accommodation page of our website.

Published on 25th March 2013 21:53.

Read more on our blog about...

Accommodation   Book Online

Full English Breakfast   Special Offers

Last online booking received
Friday 19th June 2026, 12:07 BST
Country United Kingdom

Competitions, Places to Eat & Drink

Martino’s Restaurant in Seaburn Competition

Home > Tyne & Wear > Sunderland > Seaburn > Dykelands Road

If you are staying at our bed and breakfast accommodation and are planning a visit to Seaburn in Sunderland then you may be interested in this competition to win £20 worth of vouchers for popular Martino’s Ristorante Italiano on Dykelands Road, Seaburn, Sunderland, SR6 8DD.

Martino's Restaurant In Seaburn Sunderland

Martino’s Ristorante Italiano have branches in both Seaburn and Seaham.

Martino's Restaurant Sunderland Competition

Simply re-tweet Martino’s Ristorante Italiano’s tweet on your own Twitter account for a chance to win.

Martino’s Ristorante Italiano’s Seaburn branch in Sunderland is approximately fifteen minutes drive from our bed and breakfast accommodation.

Martino’s Ristorante Italiano’s menus can be found below…

Martino's Restaurant In Seaburn Sunderland Lunch Menu

Martino's Restaurant In Seaburn Sunderland Main Menu

Martino's Restaurant In Seaburn Sunderland Sunday Lunch Menu

Martino’s Ristorante Italiano’s locations are…

Martino’s Ristorante Italiano, Dykelands Road, Seaburn, Sunderland, SR6 8AA

Martino’s Ristorante Italiano, North Railway Street, Seaham, County Durham, SR7 7DA.

If you are looking for hotel accommodation for your visit to Seaburn, Sunderland our bed and breakfast best price and room availability is here Book Online.

Room information including photographs can be found on the Accommodation page of our website.

Published on 27th February 2013 18:11.

Read more on our blog about...

Accommodation   Book Online

Full English Breakfast   Special Offers

Last online booking received
Friday 19th June 2026, 12:07 BST
Country United Kingdom