Family Activities in Cramlington: Things to Do with the Kids

Cramlington grew into a new town from the 1960s, and much of what families need is close together. The leisure centre, the library, the cinema and the shopping centre all sit together in the town centre, a network of paths links the estates to the parks and play areas, and Northumberlandia and Plessey Woods are on the edge of town. This guide rounds up the family activities running in Cramlington now, grouped so you can plan around the weather and the ages of your children.

We have written detailed guides to several of these topics already, so where one exists we link to it rather than repeat it. Session times, prices and booking rules change, especially in the school holidays, so check with each venue before you set off. Details were checked in November 2026.

Swimming, soft play and climbing at Concordia

Concordia Leisure Centre on Forum Way, run by Places Leisure, is the hub of family activity in town. Under one roof it has a family pool with a splash pad, a soft play, a climbing wall, a sports hall and swimming lessons. Places Leisure lists its opening hours as 6.15am to 8pm on weekdays, 8am to 6pm on Saturday and 8.15am to 6pm on Sunday, though each activity has its own timetable within those hours.

• Swimming. The pool has a shallow area for little ones and family sessions on the timetable, and the centre runs a learn-to-swim programme from babies upwards, with holiday intensive courses. See our swimming in Cramlington guide for supervision rules and other pools nearby.
• Soft play. A four-storey jungle-themed frame with a toddler area, in 90-minute sessions for children up to 12. Our soft play in Cramlington guide covers it, along with options towards Blyth.
• Clip 'n Climb. Coloured climbing walls for children and adults, booked in timed sessions. Everyone needs a completed disclaimer form first, so do it online before you go. Times are in our rainy day things to do in Cramlington guide.

For babies and nervous beginners, Little Swimming Co on the Bassington Industrial Estate teaches in its own small, warm pool, and has a SEND programme with one-to-one lessons.

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Book family swims, soft play and Clip 'n Climb online through Places Leisure, especially for wet weekends and school holidays.

The library and Manor Walks

Cramlington Library, in the Hub on Forum Way next to Concordia, lends books at no cost and runs children's sessions through Northumberland Libraries, including Storytime sessions for ages two to five and a LEGO Club, both booked through Eventbrite. The library is closed on Sundays and opens on Saturday mornings only. Our baby and toddler groups in Cramlington guide has the session times, along with the council's Family Hub stay-and-play sessions and paid music and baby classes.

Manor Walks is the covered town centre, open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and 9.30am to 4.30pm on Sunday. The centre says it hosts family events and seasonal activities through the year. At the time of writing it is running a Follow the Lights Christmas trail from 21 November to 24 December, with Santa's Grotto opening from 21 November. Inside the centre, Vue Cramlington runs cheaper morning screenings for children at weekends and in the school holidays; see the rainy day guide for details.

Parks and playgrounds

Cramlington Town Council looks after 16 playgrounds, a skate park and a pump track across the town. The biggest and newest is the Activity Zone in Alexandra Park, off Dudley Lane, with two zip wires, an activity trail, a pump track for bikes and scooters and an enclosed games area. The skate park there closed in July 2026 for a rebuild and is due to reopen at the end of the year. East Hartford gained a new playground in August 2026, with equipment for toddlers and older children.

Our best playgrounds in Cramlington guide covers every play area in more detail, and our parks and green spaces guide covers the parks themselves.

Northumberlandia and Plessey Woods

Two of the best family outings are on the edge of town. At Northumberlandia, children can climb all the way up to the head of the giant reclining figure on Blagdon Lane. There is no entry charge, though Northumberland Wildlife Trust suggests a £2 donation for parking, and the visitor centre has a cafe and toilets that are open from 10am to 4pm. Our guide to visiting Northumberlandia covers the paths, accessibility and dogs.

Plessey Woods Country Park, off the A192 near Hartford Bridge, has a play area by the entrance next to the picnic area and visitor centre cafe, climbing boulders, an orienteering route and woodland sculptures to spot along the paths. Parking is free for the first hour. It suits younger children particularly well.

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For days further afield, from Seaton Delaval Hall to St Mary's Lighthouse and Blyth beach, see our best days out from Cramlington.

Clubs and classes for children

Cramlington has a good choice of regular activities for school-age children.

• Football. Cramlington United runs teams from age four, a girls' pathway and sessions for disabled children, and Cramlington Juniors has played junior football in the town since 1973. Our football in Cramlington guide covers both, plus England Football's Wildcats sessions for girls.
• Scouts and Guides. Several Scout groups meet in the town each week, and Girlguiding Northumberland is based in Cramlington. See our guide to Rainbows, Brownies, Cubs and Scouts in Cramlington for meeting nights and how to join a waiting list.
• Swimming lessons. Concordia's learn-to-swim programme and Little Swimming Co both teach from babies upwards, as above.

Planning a family day

A good all-weather plan in Cramlington is to park once in the town centre, where Concordia, the library, Vue and Manor Walks are all together, and head out to Alexandra Park, Northumberlandia or Plessey Woods when the weather is fine. Many of the outdoor options cost nothing; our free things to do in Cramlington guide has more. Without a car, most buses call at the Dudley Lane stops near Manor Walks, as our getting around without a car guide explains.

It is also worth knowing where to go if a day out ends with a bump or a temperature. Our practical guide to Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital explains when to use A&E, NHS 111, a pharmacy or an urgent treatment centre.

For more ideas, browse the families hub or the full Cramlington directory.

Know a family activity we have missed? Get in touch.