North Shields

North Shields is a bustling town with good travel links from other coastal towns and Newcastle centre. Those with a nostalgic streak should visit the Childhood Memories Toy Museum, which exhibits toys from every era. There’s something slightly creepy yet oddly comforting about the mix of Tiny Tears dolls from the 1980s and highly unsavoury Gollywogs from the 1880s. Other North Shields attractions include the Stephenson Railway Museum where you can explore the history of railways from steam to coal to electricity through interactive media and ‘hands-on’ exhibits. There’s also the chance to re-live the days of the steam railway and take a ride on a real steam train.