Home / Family days out
Family days out in South Shields
Parks, beaches, play areas and indoor options for children, with what's free and what you pay for. Winter hours are shorter, so check with the venue before a long trip.
Parks and playgrounds
South Marine Park, Sea Road, NE33 2JS. Boating lake, café, miniature steam railway, picnic tables and play areas with water play and adventure climbing frames, plus toilets and an art trail. (South Tyneside Council: South Marine Park; checked 4 Nov 2026) Free to get in; the railway and pedalo hire are paid extras. All areas are accessible and there are accessible toilets. (Visit South Tyneside: South Marine Park; checked 4 Nov 2026) Dogs must be on a lead in the park at all times. (South Tyneside Council: PSPO review 2026; checked 3 Nov 2026)
Lakeshore Railroad, in South Marine Park. A 9½ inch gauge steam railway that has run round the boating lake since 1972, just under a third of a mile per lap. In autumn it runs at weekends from late morning to about 5pm, weather permitting, and the closing time is an estimate. (Lakeshore Railroad, South Marine Park (railway website); checked 4 Nov 2026)
Still being confirmed: Fares and the winter timetable for the railway and the pedalos: Check Lakeshore Railroad, South Marine Park (railway website) or Visit South Tyneside: South Marine Park.
North Marine Park, Lawe Road, NE33 2AL, near Littlehaven Beach. A themed play area with 16 pieces of equipment inspired by the town's maritime heritage and Arbeia: swings, "shipwreck" slides, a mast, a drawbridge, climbing frames and a wheelchair-accessible roundabout. There's also an adult fitness trail (ages 14+), a viewing platform over the river mouth and ramped paths. Gates open at all times; free. (Visit South Tyneside: North Marine Park; checked 4 Nov 2026)
Bents Park, Sea Road, NE33 2NL. A big open grassy park on the seafront for picnics and games, and the venue for summer events. (South Tyneside Council: Bents Park; checked 4 Nov 2026) It has public toilets and a Changing Places toilet. (South Tyneside Council: Public toilets and opening times; South Tyneside Council: Changing Places toilets; checked 3 Nov 2026; checked 4 Nov 2026)
Beaches and rock pools
- Sandhaven is the main sandy beach on Sea Road; Littlehaven is next to it at the river mouth. Visit South Tyneside suggests Littlehaven for looking for rock pools and crabs. (Visit South Tyneside: Family fun; checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Always check the tide before you go onto the rocks. Tide times and safety advice are on our Tides & sea safety page. (South Tyneside Council: Staying safe at the coast; Admiralty EasyTide (UK Hydrographic Office); checked 3 Nov 2026)
- South Shields Surf School runs guided rock-pooling sessions for ages 4 and up at £5 per person; under-8s need an adult (one adult goes free). The 2026 dates ran from May to August. (South Shields Surf School: rock pooling sessions; checked 4 Nov 2026)
- No lifeguards until the 2027 season. See Lifeguards. Dog rules: Beaches & dog rules.
Still being confirmed: 2027 rock-pooling dates: Check South Shields Surf School: rock pooling sessions.
Rides and attractions
Ocean Beach Pleasure Park. Ocean Beach Pleasure Park, Sea Road, NE33 2LD: laser tag and arcades in November on Fridays 2–6pm and Saturdays and Sundays 11am–6pm. (Ocean Beach Pleasure Park: events and opening; checked 4 Nov 2026) The summer fairground rides (rollercoaster, dodgems, water rides) are listed by Visit South Tyneside. (Visit South Tyneside: Family fun; checked 4 Nov 2026)
South Shields Museum & Art Gallery. South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, 10 Ocean Road, NE33 2JA, 0191 277 1433. Mon–Fri 10am–5pm, Sat 11am–4pm, closed Sunday. Free entry. (North East Museums: Visit South Shields Museum & Art Gallery; checked 3 Nov 2026) Visit South Tyneside lists free children's activities such as treasure hunts and crafts. (Visit South Tyneside: Family fun; checked 4 Nov 2026)
The Word. The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, Market Place, NE33 1JF: library, exhibitions, shop and visitor information centre. Building open Mon–Thu 9am–7pm, Fri 9am–5pm, Sat–Sun 10am–4pm. (The Word, National Centre for the Written Word: opening times; checked 3 Nov 2026)
Souter Lighthouse, Coast Road, Whitburn. The lighthouse is closed in November and December; the café is open Friday to Sunday, 11am–3pm. Dogs are welcome in the grounds and café. (National Trust: Souter Lighthouse and The Leas; checked 3 Nov 2026) See Souter Lighthouse for prices.
Arbeia Roman Fort is closed until spring 2027. (Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort (North East Museums); checked 3 Nov 2026) See Arbeia.
Soft play and indoor options
The Dunes, Sea Road, NE33 2LD, 0191 455 5255. A galleon-themed indoor soft play over five levels, a separate toddler area, 12-lane ten-pin bowling, arcades and places to eat. Wheelchair access throughout, disabled parking and toilets. (Visit South Tyneside: The Dunes; checked 4 Nov 2026) Open every day from 10am. Under-16s must be with an adult for bowling. (The Dunes Adventure Island (venue website); checked 4 Nov 2026)
Still being confirmed: Soft play prices at The Dunes: Check The Dunes Adventure Island (venue website).
Jumbo Jim's, 0191 456 3337. Soft play for children up to 8, with a baby and toddler zone and a café. Mon–Fri 9:30am–6pm, Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 10am–4pm; closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Great North Run day. Entry: under 1 £2, under 2 £5.50, 2 and over £7.50; adults free. No outside food or drink. SEND sessions are offered. (Jumbo Jim's children's play area (venue website); checked 4 Nov 2026)
Still being confirmed: The address and SEND session times for Jumbo Jim's: Check Jumbo Jim's children's play area (venue website).
Haven Point, the council leisure centre on the seafront, has a learner pool and slides, according to Visit South Tyneside. (Visit South Tyneside: Family fun; checked 4 Nov 2026)
Still being confirmed: Haven Point swimming times and prices: Check Visit South Tyneside: Family fun.
Free and paid at a glance
| Free | Paid |
|---|---|
| South Marine, North Marine and Bents parks; the beaches; the museum; The Word; rock pooling on your own | Lakeshore Railroad, pedalos, Ocean Beach rides and laser tag, The Dunes, Jumbo Jim's, Souter Lighthouse entry (when open), guided rock pooling |
Toilets and baby changing
- Public toilets at Bents Park, South Marine Park (Beach Road), the Amphitheatre, South Promenade and Haven Point car park. Seafront toilets are open 9am–4pm until 24 March 2027 (the amusement park toilets keep their own hours). (South Tyneside Council: Public toilets and opening times; checked 3 Nov 2026)
- South Shields Museum has accessible toilets with baby changing on the ground and first floors, and breastfeeding is welcome. (North East Museums: South Shields Museum access information; checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Changing Places toilets: South Shields Town Hall, Bents Park and Souter Lighthouse. (South Tyneside Council: Changing Places toilets; checked 4 Nov 2026)
Still being confirmed: Whether the council seafront toilets have baby changing (the council page does not say): Check South Tyneside Council: Public toilets and opening times.
Sources for this page
- South Tyneside Council: South Marine Park, checked 4 Nov 2026
- Visit South Tyneside: South Marine Park, checked 4 Nov 2026
- Lakeshore Railroad, South Marine Park (railway website), checked 4 Nov 2026
- Visit South Tyneside: North Marine Park, checked 4 Nov 2026
- South Tyneside Council: Bents Park, checked 4 Nov 2026
- South Tyneside Council: PSPO review 2026, checked 3 Nov 2026
- South Tyneside Council: Public toilets and opening times, checked 3 Nov 2026
- South Tyneside Council: Changing Places toilets, checked 4 Nov 2026
- Visit South Tyneside: Family fun, checked 4 Nov 2026
- South Tyneside Council: Staying safe at the coast, checked 3 Nov 2026
- Admiralty EasyTide (UK Hydrographic Office), checked 3 Nov 2026
- South Shields Surf School: rock pooling sessions, checked 4 Nov 2026
- Ocean Beach Pleasure Park: events and opening, checked 4 Nov 2026
- North East Museums: Visit South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, checked 3 Nov 2026
- The Word, National Centre for the Written Word: opening times, checked 3 Nov 2026
- National Trust: Souter Lighthouse and The Leas, checked 3 Nov 2026
- Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort (North East Museums), checked 3 Nov 2026
- Visit South Tyneside: The Dunes, checked 4 Nov 2026
- The Dunes Adventure Island (venue website), checked 4 Nov 2026
- Jumbo Jim's children's play area (venue website), checked 4 Nov 2026
- North East Museums: South Shields Museum access information, checked 4 Nov 2026