A day at the seaside is a longstanding British tradition and while we may not always get the weather to match, the North East boasts some of the best beaches in the country.
Whether it be a plodge in the sea, building sand castles with the kids, a brisk family walk followed by fish and chips or something a little more adventurous such as paddle boarding or surfing, our region’s beaches offer a fantastic opportunity for a fun-filled day out.
Check out the following best 17 beaches within around an hours drive of Sunderland for families to enjoy over the next three bank holiday weekends.
The rankings are based on Tripadvisor reviews.
17. Littlehaven Beach
Littlehaven Beach Of 13 reviews, 12 people said the beach was excellent, 1 very good, 0 average, 0 poor and 0 terrible. Drive time from Sunderland - 25 minutes. One reviewer said: "This beach is the smaller beach in between the piers. It is sheltered from the wind with a car park right next to it and parking is also available on the pier. Toilets are available in the car park. The beach is popular with paddle boarders and swimmers and is very clean and well kept." Photo: Stu Norton