Whitley Sands

📌 Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear
★★★

Central to Whitley Bay‘s attractions is its fine, sandy beach – though at half a mile north of the town centre, it’s hardly central geographically speaking. Whitley Sands extend for nearly two miles out of the bustling North Tyneside conurbation into semi-rural flatlands close to the Northumberland border. The lighthouse on St Mary’s Island is visible just beyond the northern end, while the gleaming Spanish City complex dominates the south end of the beach. This palatial, domed building first opened in 1910 with a concert hall at its centre, fell into disrepair by the turn of the millennium, and reopened for dining and events in 2018 following a multi-year restoration project. Across the road, Di Meo’s gelateria and pizzeria is a bit of an institution – the queue stretching out the door on sunny weekends has got to be a good sign!