Flanked by a lone lighthouse out at sea at one end and a glorious white domed building at the other, Whitley Bay certainly has an eye-catching beach.
So much in fact that it has been named the second most Instagrammable beach in the UK in a recent study, coming second only to Brighton beach on the south coast. And while Whitley Bay may be at its most popular in the summer among sunbathers and those brave enough to take a dip in the North Sea, it's a year-round destination.
With promenades fit for a bracing walk spanning a couple of miles from Grant's Clock towards St. Mary's Lighthouse, a swathe of shops, restaurants and cafés and even an amusement arcade just off the beach, there are plenty of places to warm up in the winter. The fact that you can get there on the Metro helps when planning a day out there too!
