The town of Stanhope is central in County Durham and is an ideal base for visiting the North East of England.
Popular attractions with all ages include:
Durham City with its magnificent Norman Cathedral and Castle, only 20 miles away.
The Castle and Cathedral were listed as a World Heritage Site in 2001.
From 17-20 November 2011 in Durham City in the evenings, the magical LUMIERE light festival will be taking place, illuminating the city's building and bridges. This is well worth a visit.
Walk and explore the length of Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, also a World Heritage Site.
Take a trip to the Metrocentre in Gateshead for some retail therapy, one of Europe's largest retail and leisure complexes
www.metrocentre-gateshead.co.uk
Spend a day a Beamish Museum, at Beamish, County Durham with its restored Victorian village
Slightly further afield but still suitable for a day trip, 80 miles away, is the historic city of York with a plethora of attractions including:
Yorkminster Cathedral
The National Railway Museum