Head out in search of Roman history with a walk by Hadrian’s Wall, perhaps taking in some of its major sights along the way – Vindolanda and Housesteads Roman Fort are both about 20 minutes’ drive away, for example, and Corbridge Roman Town is about 15 minutes away. Sample a different side of history with outings to National Trust properties at Wallington (15 minutes’ drive), Gibside (40 minutes) and Cragside (40 minutes), or grab your broomstick and head off in search of Harry Potter locations at Alnwick Castle (50 minutes). If you’d rather stick to the outdoor pursuits there’s plenty of walking to be done nearby, in the Northumberland National Park, Simonside Hills and North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and there’s a Go Ape park 15 minutes away for treetop adventures and axe throwing. Meanwhile, if city lights beckon it’ll take you about half an hour to drive to Newcastle upon Tyne to see the Tyne Bridge, the Sage Gateshead and great museums like the BALTIC contemporary art collection.