Things to Do in Cramlington

Cramlington is best known as a 1960s new town, but there is more to do here than most visitors expect. On the edge of town is one of the largest human-shaped landforms in the world. There is a country park on the River Blyth, and the town centre has a big leisure centre, a cinema and a shopping centre all within a few minutes' walk of each other.

This guide picks out the highlights, with links to our more detailed guides. Times and prices were checked against each venue's own website in November 2026, so check before you set off. For more ideas, browse the families, outdoors and heritage hubs.

Climb Northumberlandia

Northumberlandia, the "Lady of the North", is the one thing every visitor should see. The landform sculpture on Blagdon Lane (NE23 8AU) was designed by Charles Jencks and opened by the Princess Royal in August 2012. The figure is 34 metres high and 400 metres long. It sits in a 46-acre park with around four miles of paths, so you can walk right up to her head and look out over the town.

Northumberland Wildlife Trust looks after the site and says there is no entry charge. It asks for a donation for car parking, with £2 suggested, and the park is open from dawn until dusk. The Northumberlandia Cafe at the visitor centre opens daily from 10am to 4pm, and dogs on leads are welcome. Our best walks guide has routes, and the parks and green spaces guide tells the story of how she was built. For parking, accessibility and the paths up to her head, see our guide to visiting Northumberlandia.

Best for: Go on a clear day: the view from the top is the best in town.

Walk the parks and woods

Plessey Woods Country Park, run by Northumberland County Council, has woodland and riverside paths along the River Blyth at Hartford Bridge, plus a play area, picnic area and visitor centre. The first hour of parking is free, then it is charged.

Closer to the town centre, Alexandra Park has an Activity Zone looked after by Cramlington Town Council, with zip wires, an activity trail and a pump track for bikes and scooters. Its skate park is being rebuilt and is due to reopen at the end of 2026. For wildlife, East Cramlington Pond is a small Northumberland Wildlife Trust reserve known for dragonflies and newts.

See our guides to free things to do, the best playgrounds and dog-friendly Cramlington for more.

Best for: The new town's footpaths and cycleways link most of the parks, so you can leave the car at home.

Swim, climb and bowl at Concordia

Concordia Leisure Centre on Forum Way is the town's indoor activity hub, run by Places Leisure. Under one roof there is a family pool with a splash pad, Clip 'n Climb climbing walls, an eight-lane bowling alley, a four-storey jungle-themed soft play for children up to 12, and a gym. Swims, soft play and Clip 'n Climb are booked online, and holiday sessions fill up quickly.

Our guides to swimming, soft play and gyms go into more detail.

Best for: A good wet-weather plan: swim in the morning, bowl or climb in the afternoon.

Catch a film and shop at Manor Walks

Manor Walks Shopping & Leisure is the town centre, with more than 100 shops, cafes, restaurants and leisure operators. Parking has no charge for up to four hours, and a Park Plus pass from the leisure venues adds two more; our parking guide explains how it works.

Vue Cramlington at Manor Walks has nine screens, three with 3D. Its Mighty Mornings show films for children aged 4 to 11 every weekend from 10am and daily in the school holidays, and Big Shorts are short screenings for children aged 1 to 4. Cramlington Library is next door in the Hub on Forum Way, with storytimes and children's sessions. It is closed on Sundays.

All of these are covered in our rainy day guide.

Best for: Park once: Manor Walks, Vue, Concordia and the library are all within a few minutes' walk.

Explore the old village and its churches

The new town grew around an old mining village, and the village green and older streets around St Nicholas still survive. The Grade II listed St Nicholas' Church dates from 1868, and three 18th-century monuments in its churchyard are listed in their own right. At Annitsford, St John the Baptist of 1906 is also Grade II listed. Both are working churches, so check service times before visiting. Our historic churches guide tells you what to look for.

Best for: Pair the churchyard with lunch at the Blagdon Arms on the village square.

Eat and drink

The old village has the Blagdon Arms on Village Square. Near Northumberlandia on Blagdon Lane, The Snowy Owl is a large Vintage Inn with all-day dining. Families with younger children often head to Willow Farm, a Farmhouse Inns carvery on Northumberland Business Park with an indoor play area for diners.

For more choice, see our guides to the best pubs, restaurants, coffee shops and cafes, brunch and Sunday roasts.

Days out nearby

• Seaton Delaval Hall: the National Trust's Vanbrugh mansion at Seaton Sluice (NE26 4QR) is a short drive east. Its Wagonway walk is a 4-mile easy route from the main gates, and the Brewhouse Cafe is on site. Opening varies by season, so check the National Trust page first.
• Woodhorn Museum, Ashington: around a 20-minute drive north, Woodhorn tells the story of Northumberland's mining communities. Under-18s go free, and it opens Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
• The coast: Blyth, Seaton Sluice and Whitley Bay are all a short drive east.

Best for: Woodhorn is free for children, so it is good value for a family with one paying adult.

What's on

Manor Walks and St Nicholas' Church host seasonal events through the year, from Remembrance services to Christmas concerts and a Santa's Grotto. See our events calendar for what is coming up, or what's on this weekend for the next few days.

Getting here

Cramlington is about ten miles north of Newcastle, with the A1, A19 and A189 all close by. Cramlington station, with Northern trains to Newcastle and Morpeth, is about five minutes' walk from Manor Walks, and buses link the town with Newcastle and Morpeth. Our guide to getting around Cramlington without a car has the details, and moving to Cramlington is a good introduction if you are thinking of staying longer. Staying for a couple of days? Our weekend in Cramlington itinerary puts the highlights in order.

Spotted a change? Get in touch and we'll update the guide.