Done most of the usual touristy things so many times York,Whitby.Scarborough etc any fresh ideas.

Any children?

You could go north to Holy Island, or catch a boat trip from Seahouses, to the Farne Islands.

Or there's Beamish, or Killhope Lead Mining Centre (more interesting than it sounds, and a lovely run over, via Weardale.) Or High Force.

As monkeybutt says, depends whether you have youngsters to cater for. If so, maybe the Life Museum in Newcastle. Really depends what sort of thing you like to do and how far you want to drive.

No they have no socks. That's Yves' one big weakness.

Brilliant exhibition, though, and some interesting paintings in the House.

Washington Old Hall is good too. (George W's old house in, you've guessed....Washington Village).

I sense a business opportunity here. Think I'll start organising tours to local places of interest.

Is Redcar still a decent day out ?

It's supposed to lash down tomorrow so somewhere indoors. Maybe head up to Newcastle for the Hancock Museum, Discovery Museum or the Centre of Life

I know it's well out of range, but me and our lass and the bairns went to Avebury stone circle this afty. Absolutely magic place.

If you've never been to Diggerland before, I'd go there on Monday, even if you don't have kids.

I got bored reading just reading that

To answer the opening post..... Pub, have some dinner and get pissed

Horses for courses Mr B, if you've got kids it's hard work just getting pissed all day.

It does me good to travel about and see new stuff, learn a bit of history etc. Essential for the kids.

Sunderland Winter Gardens, Causey Arch or take them for a walk locally, Castle Eden or Hawthorn Denes

I walked half the ridgeway about 4 years ago and we started at Avebury. It's much more interesting than Stonehenge. Did you make it down to Sudbury Hill?

One of the best pubs you'll find anywhere is The Old Ship Inn at Seahouses. Real old pub, proper beer and proper old school pub food.

Holy Island, Bamburgh, Craster smoke house for real kippers, Alnmouth and a walk along the beach at Druridge Bay is a fantastic day out. Even better if you make it 2 days out by staying overnight at the one of the pubs on the island.

I enjoyed Holy Island, something rather strange about knowing your totally surrounded by water and can't leave till a set time. I got attacked by a swarm of wasps like which wasn't great.

Was also funny seeing two or 3 cars totally submerged in water as they thought they would park before the car parks etc so they could get away a minute or two earlier by beating the traffic.

It is a great place to stay like.

Plus there's the entertainment value of seeing dicks trying to beat the tide and losing. Seems to happen everytime we go.

Last time we went I had 6 people stood on the foot plates of my Shogun, hanging on to the roof rack as I took them through the incoming tide cos they got stranded and couldn't walk back to their car.

I saw a similar group. Pretty sure it was the same group of lads who went their and just got pissed in a pub and then tried to leave. Nearly pissed myself laughing.

Why you would go their to sit in a pub all day baffles me.

Why would people who have kids sit in a pub all day, used to baffle me when I had a boozer, seemed such a waste of a childhood!

We didn't do Silbury Hill this time but we went last year. My favourite bit is walking downWest Kennet Avenue to the Sanctuary. Loads better than Stonehenge, and nowhere near the number of tourists.

I love Holy Island, we've stopped there loads of times. We spent half our honeymoon there and it's where my eldest was conceived.

It is hilarious seeing the doyles trying to race the tide too.

I take my kids in pubs all the time, but never longer than an hour or so. Always make them behave as well, not tear-arsing about being noisy and bothering people. There's an ellish pub near me that has a huge beer garden with swings and climbing frames and stuff at the bottom, it's perfect for everyone as the kids all gravitate down that end.

Best place for kids on a bank holiday would be school.

Thanks for all the suggestions but due to the weather we ended up at the Metro Centre (no kids) i last went there when it 1st opened some 29 years ago think it will be 2044 when i go back :} i will bear the suggestions in mind when we have better weather next time.

I remember when everybody filled out of the pubs at 3 or 4 in the afternoon and then had a good fight on Bank Holiday Mondays..it's almost a tame affair nowadays.