NORTH-East England is packed with great places to visit – many that are very well-known and loved. But there’s plenty more to discover all across the region. We’ve put together some suggestions of special places you may not have visited before. Durham University Oriental Museum This fascinating museum is the Asian art, antiquities, and material culture museum of the University of Durham. It has a remarkable collection covering the entire range of human history and prehistory from the civilisations and cultures of Asia, Egypt, Islamic North Africa, the Near, and Mid-East. Event: Direct Observation, Until September 28. Works by seven contemporary Chinese printmakers. www.dur.ac/uk/oriental.museum Barter Books, Alnwick. One of the largest secondhand bookshops in Britain located in the stunning Victorian railway station in Alnwick. New Statesman magazine described it as “The British Library of secondhand bookshops” and it’s not hard to see why! The newly restored old Waiting Room remains a place for the public to sit, read newspapers, enjoy the open fire, drink coffee – and just get away from it all. Look out for the model railway acting as a link between the book columns of the central room. Open daily, 9am to 7pm, www. barterbooks.co.uk Castlegate Quay Watersports Centres, Stockton-on-Tees One of the largest and best equipped sailing and paddling centre in the Tees Valley. Spend a fun day learning to paddle kayaks and canoes and how to sail. There are also many clubs based at the centre for those with more experience. www.tees active.co.uk Chopwell Woods, Gateshead Take a woodland walk near Gateshead – Chopwell Woods are Tyne and Wear’s largest woodland, with 360 hectares of mixed woodland to explore. There’s an amazing variety of plant and wildlife, so look out for badgers, foxes, rabbits, roe deer – and otters on the banks of the River Derwent, which skirts the southern side of the wood. Go Wild in the Wood! From 10am to 3pm, Friday August 17. Leave your parents behind and explore the wood with the forest ranger! Tackle the Tree Challenge Trail. Bring a smile, sturdy shoes, waterproofs and your lunch. Children only from age eight upwards. Meet at the Forest classroom, £5 per child, www.forestry.gov.uk Centre for Life, Newcastle This great centre brings a host of interesting science questions to life for all the family, with live shows and hands-on demonstrations to get everyone involved. There’s a great new exhibition Myths and Monsters – where you can discover the truth about monsters! Encounter a life-sized dragon, stare a Yeti in the face and meet an alien as amazing robotic models bring some of the world’s most mysterious creatures to Life! www.lifesciencecentre.org.uk Find more inspiration for great days out at www.visitnortheastengland.com or visit your local Tourist Information Centre. | 
