A Bank holiday this weekend, followed by half term - an awful lot of us will be out and about, probably with family in tow. But there's nothing worse than getting the family organised, piled into the car and driving for miles only to discover that the attraction you've promised your children is (a) shut or (b) needs a small mortgage to pay the admission charges. So we thought we'd help.

Here is a selection of some of the region's attractions, when they're open and what they're likely to cost you.

Opening times are summer opening - many opening hours change at the end of the school holidays.

"Child" means five to 16 unless otherwise stated. Most attractions admit under fives free, but not all do. Theme parks go by height, not age. Please measure your child before you go, and it could save a lot of tears when you get there.

We checked all these times and prices in the past week, but if you're travelling a long way, please check for yourself first.

ALNWICK CASTLE

Tel: (01665) 510777

Open daily from 11am to 5pm (last admission 4.15pm). Tearoom and gift shop open 10am.

Castle and Gardens Adults £10; Concessions £9; Under 16s free, when accompanied by an adult.

BEAMISH OPEN AIR MUSEUM

Tel: 0191-370 4000

Open daily 10am to 5pm. Last admission 3pm.

Adults: £12, Seniors £10, Children £7.

BOWES MUSEUM, Barnard Castle

Tel: (01833) 690606

Open daily 11am to 5pm.

Adults: £6, including guide book. Concessions £5.

Under 16s free.

Most parts accessible for wheelchairs

CASTLE HOWARD, Malton

Tel: (01653) 648333

Open daily. Gardens and plant centre 10am; shops and cafe 10.30am; house 11am.

Last admission to house: 4pm; last admission to grounds 4.30pm.

House and gardens. Adult £9; Seniors/students £8; Children £6.

Garden and grounds. Adults £6. Children £4.

Pushchairs not allowed in house.

Wheelchair access and lifts. Disabled access to all of house except chapel.

This weekend: Porsche cars, displays, fashion shows. From Tuesday to Sunday, June 1, Wild Week - birds of prey, bug hunts, etc.

CRAGSIDE, Rothbury

Tel: (01669) 620333

Open Tuesday to Sunday and bank holiday Monday. House 1pm to 5.30pm; Estate and gardens 10.30am- 7pm.

House and gardens: Adults £7.20; Children £3.60; Family £18

Gardens: Adults £4.80; Children £2.40; Family £12.

Some access for wheelchairs. Pushchairs and baby back carriers not allowed in house. Front carrying slings available to hire.

DIGGERLAND, Langley Park

Tel: (08700) 344437.

Open weekends, bank holiday and school holidays, 10am to 5pm.

£2.50 per person, Seniors £1.25. Under 2s, free.

Includes some free activities, plus charge for rides on JCBs etc, from approx £1 per ride.

DURHAM CATHEDRAL

Tel: 0191-386 4266

Open for worship and prayer Sunday 7.45am to 12.30pm; Monday to Saturday 7.30am to 9.30am.

General sightseeing: 5pm Sunday; 6.15pm Monday to Saturday. (8pm from mid June to Sept). Free.

Treausres of St Cuthbert. Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 4.30pm; Sunday 2pm to 4.30pm) Adults £2. Children 50p

Monks' Dormitory. Open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 3.30pm; Sunday 12.30pm to 3.15pm.Adults 80p. Children 20p

The Tower - 325 steps, only for the fit.

Open Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 4pm. (Closed during services and bad weather). Adults £2. Children £1.

EDEN CAMP, Malton

Tel (01653) 697777

Open daily 10am to 5pm.

Adults £4. Children/ Seniors £4.

Doesn't accept credit cards.

FLAMINGOLAND, Kirby Misperton.

Tel: (0870) 7528000

Open daily 10am to 5pm (6pm weekends, bank holidays and school holidays)

Adult: £14.50; children aged four and over £14.50; Family ticket for four £54. Seniors £7.25. Wheelchair users and carer £7.25 each.

FORBIDDEN CORNER, Leyburn

Tel: (01969) 640638/640687.

Open daily. Monday to Saturday midday to 6pm; Sundays and bank holidays 10am to 6pm.

Tickets must be booked in advance either by phone from the Forbidden Corner or in person at Leyburn Tourist Information Centre

Adults £6; Seniors £5; Children £4. Family (two adults plus two children) £19.

HARTLEPOOL HISTORIC QUAY

Tel: (01429) 860006

Open daily 10am to 5pm

Adults £5.50; children/concessions £2.75. Family ticket (two adults plus three children) £14.50

LIGHTWATER VALLEY, Ripon

Tel: (01765) 635359

Open 10am all half term week, then Wednesday to Sunday in June and every day in July and August.

Admission charges vary according to height. Over 1.2m £13.50; Under 1.2m £12; Under 1.0m free.

Senior citizens £5.95.Family tickets for four, £48; for five £60; for six £72.

NATIONAL GLASS CENTRE, Sunderland

Tel: 0191-515 5555

Open daily 10am to 5pm.

Entry free BUT that doesn't include entry to the Glass Tour, which is the most interesting bit and costs £5 for an adult, £3 for concessions and £12 for a family ticket.

NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM, York

Tel: (01904) 621261/686286

Open daily 10am to 6pm.

Free, except for special events.

NEWBY HALL, Ripon

Tel: (0845) 450 4068; (01423) 322583

Open Tuesday to Sunday, plus bank holiday Mondays.

Gardens and restaurant 11am to 5.30pm; House midday to 5pm

House and gardens. Adults £7.20; Seniors £6.20; Child £4.70.

Gardens and grounds Adults £5.70; Seniors £4.70; Child £4.20.

NEWCASTLE LIFE CENTRE

Tel: 0191-243 8210

Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm (Last admission 4pm); Sunday 11am-6pm (4pm)

Adults: £6.95; concession £5.50; Children £4.50. Family (two adults plus two children) £19.95

NORTH OF ENGLAND LEAD MINING MUSEUM, KILLHOPE

Tel: (01388) 537505

Open daily 10.30am to 5pm (5.30pm, bank holidays and school summer holidays)

Adults £5. including mine trip; £3.40 without; Children £2.50 (£12.70); Family ticket: £12.50 (£8.50).

Under fours free - but not allowed down the mine. Exhibition area and cafe suitable for disabled.

If you're going down the mine, best take your own wellies.

NORTH YORK MOORS RAILWAY

Tel: (0751) 472508. Talking timetable: (01751) 473535.

Daily. Number of trains varies depending on day. First trains usually 9.50am from Grosmont, 10.20am from Pickering. Last trains are usually 4.20pm from Pickering and 4.50pm from Grosmont.

All line return tickets Adult: £12; Senior £10.50; Child £6.

Family tickets: two adults plus one child £25; two adults plus four children £28

Tickets also available for part journeys.

Some trains accessible for wheelchairs.

RABY CASTLE, Staindrop

Tel: (01833) 660202.

Bank Holiday weeks open Saturday to Wednesday. June, July and August, daily except Saturdays.

Castle opens 1pm to 5pm; Park and gardens 11am to 5.20pm. Last admission 4.30pm.

Castle, park and garden: Adults £6; child £2.50; Senior/student £4.50

Park and gardens: Adult £4; Children £2.50; Senior/students £3.

Family ticket (two adults plus three children) £15.

THORP PERROW ARBORETUM AND F AND F UM AND F UM AND F ALCONS

Tel: (01677) 425323

Open daily, dawn to dusk.

Adults £5.25; Seniors £4; Child £2.75; Family (two adults plus two children) £15; Family (two adults plus four children) £19.

TIMOTHY HACKWORTH MUSEUM, SHILDON

Tel: (01388) 777999

Open Wednesday to Sunday and bank holidays 10am to 5pm

Adults: £2; Seniors/Children £1; Family £5

VINDOLANDA

Bardon Mill, Hexham. Tel: (01434) 344277

Open daily 10am to 5.30pm

Adults: £4.10; Concesssions: £3.50; Child: £2.90. Family: £12.50