Thinking of stopping here for one night this summer, a Sunday, on the way from Edinburgh to Haltwhistle on Hadrian's wall. Is it a party town of some sort? Just fun, or rowdy? My family consists of 2 middle age parents and a 17 year old daughter. Jolly fun would be nice, but rowdy and wild may be a bit much. Is the beach pretty?

Don't know much about this area, as I am from the South and not ventured that far north but check out this website, it looks helpful:<BR><BR>www.tynetown.co.uk

As a Northerner, I know of the reputation of Whitley Bay, and it not a very good one. It is a place for the celebration of hen / stag nights and the like for the population of nearby Newcasle and Sunderland. Can not comment on your perception of fun v rowdy as it is possibly very different from mine

hey - did you know in the original Dracula book he came ashore at Whitley Bay

Gosh, thanks, this may not be the place for us! We don't like Las Vegas. Any other suggestions for an overnight on the coast between Edinburgh &amp; Newcastle?

The weekends in Whitley Bay can be a bit rough but mid week you should be fine. Tynemouth is 2 miles away and has great restaurants and about 12 pubs that are less rowdy than Whitley Bay. Tynemouth is nice with two great beaches (The Long Sands and King Edwards Bay)and the Priory (ruined castle).<BR>In between Whitley Bay and Tyenmouth is Cullercoats with a nice Bay and 3 very good restaurants just above the bay for a fabulous view.

Moschops<BR><BR>I think you're getting confused with Whitby which is in Yorkshire (also the birthplace of Captain Cook, the explorer)

Back from our trip - Whitley Bay was a dump. Wish we had stayed in Warkworth. Stayed at a LOVELY B &amp; B in Haltwhistle - Ashcroft Guest House. Outstanding garden. Nice quiet town.

I used to live in Whitley Bay. It has a pretty uninspiring seafront with lots of pubs and clubs which attract teenagers from Newcastle. If you have to stay on the Coast, as they call it, try Tynemouth, which is nicer. But I would vote with Gigib and go for one of the Northumberland small towns like Warkworth.