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You don’t need to count your pennies with our selection of the top cheap days out in the North, from exciting parklands to interesting museums - there’s always an inexpensive way to spend your time off. Whether you’re headed into town for a shop and need an activity to satisfy the trip, or planning a fun, cheap day out for the family, we’ve got you covered.

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Cheap days out in the North East

Baltic Art, Newcastle

Baltic Art building by a body of waterNearest station: Newcastle Central Station

Distance from train station: 20-minute walk

Baltic Art in Newcastle is a gallery that offers visitors the chance to see the latest and greatest in art from local to national artists. Entry is free, making it a great option for a cheap day out in Newcastle!

Explore the installations they have on show, enjoy a bite to eat at the Baltic Kitchen and shop the centre crafts, all made by local artists. Supporting indie artists is easy and travelling to Baltic Art with your friends is even easier with Northern’s group tickets.

Visit Baltic Art

A girl swimming with her father in a pool and wearing bright pink gogglesDolphin Centre, Darlington

Distance from train station: Darlington

Distance to station: 14-minute walk

Another great cheap family day out, the Dolphin Centre is an activity centre that offers everything from swimming to bowling, all under one roof, with most one-off activities costing less than £10 to get involved in.

The centre also includes a soft-play area along with football, so the littlest ones and older kids will be satisfied with a trip to the Dolphin Centre. Get there with Northern and travel easier and cheaper on a family ticket, making your busy life simpler.

Visit the Dolphin Centre

Middlesborough Institute of Modern Art, Middlesborough

View from the Middlesborough Museum of Modern Art Building Nearest station: Middlesborough

Distance from train station: 10-minute walk

The Middlesborough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA) is home to an eccentric collection of some of the most fascinating pieces of art made this century.

Learn from a range of activities available to book, suitable for youngsters through to the elderly. Observe MIMA’s collection of art sourced from artists that are both local and far-reaching, creating a smorgasbord of visual treats for your eyes. The shop also offers a host of local crafts as well as MIMA specific merchandise so you can support the artists. Grab a duo ticket with Northern and enjoy the intimacy of art at MIMA.

Visit MIMA

Cheap days out in the North West

The outside of the Museum of Liverpool.Museum of Liverpool

Nearest station: Liverpool Lime Street

Distance from train station: 19-minute walk

This museum is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a cheap family day out in Liverpool! It offers an array of interesting exhibits from fashion to dinosaurs and natural history. They even offer Little Liverpool – a gallery for kids to get involved in some interactive fun.

With Liverpool Lime Street station only a short walk away, and free admission into the museum, it's a great option for a cheap and accessible day out. Make your next day out even easier, with Northern and our family tickets.

Visit the Museum of Liverpool

Clitheroe Castle on top of a hill with its flag pole clear against the blue skyClitheroe Castle Museum, Clitheroe

Nearest station: Clitheroe

Distance from train station: 6-minute walk

Gazing out onto the Ribble Valley, Clitheroe Castle sits atop Clitheroe, overlooking the town for 800 years. The museum delves deep into the importance of the castle, what life was like back when the town was created, and how the landscape was formed 350 million years ago.

Tickets are only £5 for adults, and children can go free, so if you find yourself in Clitheroe or on a day with little to do, then the castle museum is a fantastic spot.

Get spontaneous with Northern and get a same-day ticket available for up to 5 minutes before departure. Set your own schedule.

Visit Clitheroe Castle Museum

A pair of hands using a silk weaving machineMacclesfield Silk Museum, Macclesfield

Nearest station: Macclesfield

Distance from train station: 7-minute walk

There’s no finer texture in the world than that of silk. Often seen as a sign of wealth and beauty, Macclesfield had produced this rare commodity for over 300 years before the closure of its factory in 1981. Despite this, the silk produced here is still world-renowned and the museum hosts over 1,000 volumes of the silk in its shelves. 

The museum will take you all the way through the history of silk, from Ancient Egypt, all the way through to the modern era. Hosted in a restored silk mill, the mill still works and gives you the chance to observe the intricate process that produces the fine textile. Book an anytime ticket with Northern, and head along to one of England’s most enjoyable museums.

Visit the Silk Museum

Cheap days out in Yorkshire

A lawn covered in purple and white flowers beneath tall, leafless trees, with a large historic-style stone building and clear blue sky in the background on a sunny day.Valley Gardens, Harrogate

Nearest station: Harrogate

Distance from train station: 17-minute walk

A short walk from Harrogate train station, Valley Gardens is a 17-acre parkland with themed gardens, floral displays and historic buildings. One of the main attractions at the heart of this parkland is Bogs Field, which is believed to have more kinds of mineral water springs (now turned into wells) popping up than anywhere else in the world! 

The Valley Gardens is the perfect break away from the hustle and bustle of city life and a great option for a fun family day out when the skies are clear. Take your family somewhere for cheap with Northern and our family tickets.

Visit Valley Gardens

The direction sign pointing toward the National Railway Museum in YorkNational Railway Museum, York

Nearest station: York

Distance from train station: 20-minute walk

A favourite of ours, the National Railway Museum in York hosts a range of exciting and informative exhibits within its walls. With limited-time exhibitions, there’s always something new to learn about. 

The museum is also home to a VR experience, which is sure to wow even the most reluctant of participants. The National Railway Museum is the perfect destination for any trainspotter you know. Grab your favourite train enthusiast and head along to the National Railway Museum with a duo ticket.

Visit the National Railway Museum

A black and white image looking up at the curved glass ceiling of the Sheffield Winter Garden, surrounded by plants.Sheffield Winter Garden

Nearest station: Sheffield

Distance from train station: 8-minute walk

Visit one of the largest temperature glasshouses to be built in the UK within the last hundred years. The Winter Garden in Sheffield allows you to explore a world of tropical plants, and cacti, with the additional bonus of free admission.

The Winter Garden is also within easy walking distance of the Millenium Gallery, Millenium Square and Tudor Square, so you can easily continue to explore more of Sheffield! 

Bring a friend and enjoy an easy journey with Northern, using a duo ticket.

Visit the Winter Garden

Ruins of a stone castle on a grassy hill under a blue sky, with countryside and water visible in the distance.Sandal Castle

Nearest station: Sandal & Agbrigg

Distance from train station: 16-minute walk

Spend the day exploring Sandal Castle, one of Yorkshire's most atmospheric historic sites. The 12th-century ruins offer great fun for all ages, with panoramic views of the Calder Valley and an on-site cafe. 

Entry is free all year round, and you don’t need to book in advance, making it even easier to enjoy a cheap family day out.

Head over to Sandal Castle with a Northern same-day ticket to keep your schedule open.

Visit Sandal Castle

Whether you're in the mood for an indoor adventure or an outdoor explore, you'll find plenty of options for cheap day out in the North. Make it even easier to enjoy a day out by finding the best deals on travel with Northern, allowing you to get around with ease.

More great days out in the North

Family days out

The hardest part of a family day out in the North is choosing where to go!

Days out with kids

We've pulled together the best fun-filled days out with kids to enjoy in the North.

Days out with teenagers

We've found the best things in the North to keep teenagers amused.

Cumbria and The Lake District

The best North England walks & hikes

Another great free activity, explore our favourite walks across the North. From Alnmouth to Ribblehead, the Lake District to Leeds, find a walk near you to enjoy.

Discover walks near you

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