With the Bank Holiday looming, John Dean takes a look at 20 locations around the North-East ideal for a day out - whether you're looking for a walk in a forest, a day at a museum or a chance to explore the great buildings of the region.

Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County Durham

A remarkable museum dedicated to North-East life over recent centuries, Beamish was created in 1970. Its attractions include a re-created street, with reconstructed buildings brought from all over the region, and working trams.

Opening times: Summer season until October 30: Open every day, 10am-5pm, last admission 3pm. Winter Season October 31 to March 31: Open 10am-4pm, last admission 3pm. Closed Mondays and Fridays. Also closed Monday, December 12, to Monday, January 2.

Admission prices: Summer: Child (5-16) £9, 60+ £12, Adult £15. Winter: Child £6, 60+ £6, Adult £6

How to get there: Beamish is well signposted from the A1M, Junction 63. Follow the A1M to Junction 63 (Chester-le-Street exit), then the A693 towards Stanley for four miles, following the signs.

Durham Cathedral

Along with Durham Castle, this is a World Heritage Site and is acknowledged as one of the most stunning cathedrals in the world. It has stood on its site in the heart of Durham, on Palace Green, for more than 900 years. It contains the remains of Cuthbert, the saintly 7th Century bishop of Lindisfarne, and the tomb of Bede, the first English historian.

Opening times: The cathedral is open for worship and prayer on Sunday between 7.45am and 12.30pm and from Monday to Saturday from 7.30am to 9.30am. It is open for sightseeing until 5pm on Sunday and until 6.15pm from Monday to Saturday. During the summer - from June 17 until September 8 - the cathedral remains open until 8pm.

Admission: Free, but the cathedral asks for a contribution towards costs.

How to get there: The cathedral is well signed from the middle of Durham.

Hartlepool Maritime

Experience

The award-winning Historic Quay is a reproduction of an 18th Century seaport, re-creating the sights, smells and sounds of the age. Includes harbour-side shops, the spectacular Fighting Ships display and a children's adventure centre. It is home to the oldest British warship afloat, HMS Trincomalee, for which a separate entry fee applies. Hartlepool Museum, next to the attraction, is also worth a visit and is free.

Opening times: Open daily from 10am-5pm (including Bank Holidays); closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Admission prices: Adult £6.25, child/unwaged £3.75, children under five free, over-60 £3.75

How to get there: Well signed throughout the town. Accessed from Maritime Avenue.

Hadrian's Wall

In 122AD, the Emperor Hadrian embarked on a huge undertaking to mark the northernmost boundary of Roman Britain with a fortified wall. Today, much of the wall and its forts remain, and a significant proportion of it was designated a World Heritage Site in 1987, putting it alongside the likes of the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China. There are several forts along the wall.

Chesters Fort

Opening times: Until September, 9.30am-6pm; October to March, 10am-4pm daily.

Admission charges: Adult £3.10, child £1.60, concession £2.30.

How to get there: One mile west of Chollerford on B6318

Housesteads fort

Opening times: Until September, 10am-6pm; October to March, 10am-4pm.

Admission charges: Adult £3.60, child £1.80, concessions £2.70.

How to get there: North-east of Bardon Mill on B6318

Corbridge Roman site

Opening times: Until September, daily 10am-6pm; October daily, 10am-4pm; November to March, weekends only 10am-4pm.

Admission charges: Adult £3.60, child £1.80, concessions £2.70.

How to get there: Half a mile west of Corbridge village.

Bamburgh Castle

Bamburgh Castle is viewed by many as the finest castle in England. It is perched on a basalt outcrop on the edge of the North Sea in Northumberland, and has stunning views of the Farne Islands, Holy Island and the Cheviots. It has an extensive armoury, and has featured in many films, including El Cid.

Opening Times: Until October 31, daily from 11am-5pm. Last entry 4.30pm.

Admission price: Adult £5.50, child £2.50, senior £4.50.

How to get there: Bamburgh Castle is 42 miles north of Newcastle and 20 miles south of Berwick. It is six miles east of Belford by the B1342 from the A1.

Baltic and the Sage

There are two main attractions on the Tyneside riverfront, just down from the Tyne Bridge, both on the Gateshead side. The Sage Gateshead is a £70m home for live music, with a long list of concerts and attractions. The Baltic in an old flour mill, now dedicated to contemporary art.

The Sage

Opening times: 9am to 11pm all year, closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Admission prices: Free to centre, a charge for concerts.

The Baltic

Opening times: Daily 10am-6pm except Thursday, 10am-8pm.

Admission prices: Free.

How to get there: Both centres are on the south side of the Tyne, close to the Tyne Bridge, which links Newcastle and Gateshead.

Raby Castle

Built for the Nevills dynasty, this 14th Century castle was once a great fortress. The house is grand but intimate and the grounds are known for the deer herd.

Opening times: June to August, daily except Saturdays; May and September, Wednesday and Sunday only; Bank Holidays, Saturday to following Wednesday (including Easter). Castle 1pm to 5pm, park and gardens 11am to 5.30pm, last admission 4.30pm.

Admission prices: Castle, park and gardens, adult £9, child £4, over-60s/students £8. Reduced for park and gardens only.

How to get there: On the A688, one mile north of Staindrop, eight miles north-east of Barnard Castle, County Durham.

Harperley POW Camp

During World War Two, Harperley was a POW camp for Italian and German prisoners. The current owners purchased Harperley late in 2001 and, after clearing the site of thorns and bracken, embarked on a project to restore the site to its wartime appearance.

Opening Hours: Daily 9am-5pm.

Admission prices: Free.

How to get there: On A689, 1 miles (2km) north-west of Fir Tree, in County Durham.

Bowes Museum

Housed in a stunning French-style chateau, Bowes Museum is one of the finest museums in the country. Its rooms are packed with fine furniture, paintings and other works of art, while there are 23 acres of grounds to explore.

Opening times: Open daily 11am-5pm, closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Admission prices: Adults £7, concessions £6, under-16s and disabled carers free.

How to get there: The museum is in Barnard Castle, County Durham, just off the A66, 20 minutes by car from Scotch Corner (A1). It is clearly signed in the town.

The National Glass Centre

Devoted to the history of glass, the centre's skilled staff demonstrate how glass is created and the displays help to tell some of the story of Sunderland's historic links with the industry. The glass roof, which allows people to look down into the centre, is spectacular.

Opening times: Daily from 10am-5pm.

Admission price: Free, but there is a charge for the tour (£5 adults/£3 concessions).

How to get there: Off the A183 Weardale Way, just over the river from Sunderland city centre.

Killhope - North of England Lead Mining Museum

Dedicated to recounting the story of the brave men who mined for lead in the North Pennines, Killhope is based on the site of one of the old mines. There is also the chance to venture into the pit.

Opening times: Daily until October 31, 10.30am to 5pm (open till 5.30pm on Bank Holidays and school summer holidays). At any other time by arrangement.

Admission prices: Adult £4.50, concession £4, child four to 16 £1.70, under-fours free but not allowed down the mine. Additional cost for going into the mine.

How to get there: The museum is near Cowshill, on the A689, midway between Alston and Stanhope, in Upper Weardale, County Durham.

Captain Cook Birthplace Museum

This intimate museum marks the site of the great explorer's birthplace in Marton, on the outskirts of Middlesbrough, and stands in the landscaped grounds of Stewart Park. Inside can be found inventive displays which tell the story of his life and gory death. Stewart Park is worth exploring and has a pets' corner.

Opening times: March to October, Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5.30pm; November to February, Tuesday-Sunday 9am-4pm. Last admission 45 minutes before closing. Closed Mondays.

Admission prices: Adults £2.40, concessions £1.20.

How to get there: Turn off the A19 onto the A174, then north onto the A172, from where the museum is signposted, half a mile from Marton Railway Station.

Life Science Centre,

Newcastle

An attraction which specialises in making science interesting, particularly for the younger ones. The sights, sounds and smells make the centre a real experience.

Opening times: Monday to Saturday, 10am-6pm, (last admission 4pm), Sunday 11am-6pm (last admission 4pm).

Admission prices: Adult £6.95 child under-four free, child five to 16 £4.50, concessions (students, senior citizens, unwaged) £5.50.

How to get there: The centre is a short distance west of the main railway station in Newcastle and within easy walking distance.