Coronavirus lockdown has completely changed the travel industry, leaving many of us confused and uncertain about going abroad.

However, have you ever considered a staycation in the North East of England?

If you’re not going on a summer holiday this year, then here are five ways you can recreate your foreign holiday without straying far from home:

Go to the beach

The Northern Echo:

Embleton Bay (Photo: Geograph, Ian Capper)

Relaxing on the beach, with a book in hand, is an essential part of many people’s holiday.

However, you don’t need to travel abroad in order to get to the beach- while you aren’t guaranteed to have Spanish sunshine, you can visit some great beaches in the region.

The East Durham coast is a fantastic place for beach lovers who want to take in the views as it won a UK Landscape award. There are also plenty of surrounding cafes, restaurants and bars to explore.

If you were hoping for a quieter getaway, then you can always head to one of the nearby ‘secret’ beaches. Embleton Bay in Northumberland was recently voted as the UK’s best secret beach, receiving over 90% of the vote.

Eat at an exotic restaurant 

Tapas dishes from Gussto Durham (Credit: Gussto Durham)

Eating out and trying some exotic food is a huge part of the holiday experience- and you can replicate it in the North East.

For a taste of the Mediterranean, you need to try Gussto Durham.

They specialise in Spanish tapas and they pride themselves on making everything from scratch.

Go sightseeing

The Northern Echo:

David Mach's train sculpture  (Photo: Geograph, Graham Hogg)

Some people use their holiday to explore the culture and monuments in the area- you can do the same in the North East.

There might be hidden gem locations and unexplored areas right on your doorstep.

Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle are the obvious places to go if you want a bit of history and culture- and you should definitely visit if you haven’t before.

However, if you are looking for hidden gem attractions, then there are also some unique places you might want to explore on your UK holiday.

Raby Castle is a beautiful landmark in Darlington, with a carriage museum and beautiful gardens.

David Mach's Train sculpture in Darlington should also be on your radar- made in 1997, the sculpture is made entirely out of bricks and certainly unlike anything you have ever seen before.

Book some unique accommodation


(Facebook/Finchale Abbey Touring Park)

You may be close to home but you can still book some unique accommodation to stay in.

Fancy staying in a Shepherd’s Hut for your stay at home holiday? You can find this unique accommodation on Airbnb and it can house two guests.

There are also some great camping and glamping hotspots right on your doorstep. 

Strawberry Hill Farm, Durham, is a family-friendly place for those who want to go camping or hire out a static caravan.

If glamping is your preference, then Finchale Abbey Touring Park in County Durham is a great place to visit- there is a farm shop on site and it is only four miles away from the city of Durham. However, It’s important to note that the park is for adults only.

Enjoy a drink…or two

(Credit: Facebook/Whisky River Cocktail Bar) 

You might not be able to enjoy a beer abroad, but there are still some excellent pubs in Warrington to visit.

You can visit some charming pubs in with a lot of character and history.

The Tawny Owl is one of the oldest pubs in Darlington and actually started out as an Anglo-Saxon settlement- if you haven’t already, you should make sure to stop here during your UK holiday.

For something a little different, consider stopping off at the Whisky River Cocktail Bar in Durham- they are currently the only venue in Durham to stock Durham Mango.

A representiative for the company told The Northern Echo: "The customer feed back has been incredible since reopening.

"Our most popular cocktail since reopening is Espresso Martini but our menu is full of unique cocktails with something for everyone."

Bookings are advised if you want to visit here and it is table service only.