When to Go

The best time to see the Northeast is in summer. This ensures that the museums—and the roads—will be open, and you can take advantage of the countryside walks that are one of the region's greatest pleasures. Rough seas and inclement weather make it dangerous to swim at any of the beaches except in July and August; even then, don't expect warm water. At the end of June, Alnwick hosts its annual fair, with a medieval market, art shows, and concerts. The Durham Regatta also takes place in June. The Northumberland Traditional Music Festival runs over two weeks in October. Winter here is not for the fainthearted. The weather is terrible, but there's nowhere else in England so beautiful and so remote.