Newbiggin-by-the-Sea in Northumberland, less than a 30-minute drive from Whitley Bay also offers “striking” sunrises and “fiery” sunsets across its bay that will “take your breath away”.
Here you will also see Sean Henry’s fascinating Couple sculpture that sits out at sea, and there is also incredible marine life to spot, including dolphins.
Is Newbiggin worth visiting?
Visit Northumberland shares: “The once vital port for shipping grain and ex-coal mining town is now a small fishing port, and Newbiggin Maritime Centre is its hub.
“As early as 1828, Newbiggin was a popular beach resort, with facilities to cater for visitors.
“The town had five public houses, one of which had a spa-like array of bathing facilities, several shops and lodging houses.”
At the Newbiggin Maritime Centre, you can step into the rich history of the historic fishing area.
Residents and visitors can explore the Mary Joicey all-weather lifeboat and the Girl Anne fishing coble.
Plus, you can relax at the Breakwater Café, which serves locally sourced food (take in the “breathtaking” views of the bay while you feast).
On Tripadvisor, the centre currently has 163 “excellent” reviews.
Breakwater Café provides ‘lovely’ views across the bay (Image: Tripadvisor)
A recent visitor posted: “We visited the Maritime Centre during our holiday in Newbiggin. The Restaurant offers lovely views across the Bay and is a great place to enjoy a very good cup of coffee.
“On this occasion we did not sample the scones, however we have been told that these are delicious. Something to look forward to when next in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea!”
Visit Northumberland continues: “The [Maritime] centre has a sea view cafe, Seashore Shop and three gallery museums, this fantastic visitor attraction offers an array of events, including an annual Kite Festival, live music gigs and film showings.”
Close by is the RNLI Newbiggin Lifeboat Station, which is the oldest operational boathouse in the British Isles.
What are the statues at Newbiggin by the Sea?
If you want to discover even more scenic views of the bay, you might want to take a short stroll along the promenade.
“Don’t miss the dolphins that are regularly spotted from Newbiggin Bay, as well as whales, porpoises, seals, otters and other wildlife,” Visit Northumberland adds.
“Artist Sean Henry’s sculpture ‘Couple’ has become an iconic quirk to Newbiggin’s coast, as the pair look out from Church Point towards the North Sea and are extremely photogenic against their stunning sunset backdrop.
“Beach wheelchairs are available to hire here and accessible ramps lead onto Newbiggin’s sands.”
But that’s not all, as away from the beach, other main focuses of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea are the Piazza area and High Street directly behind it.
Just some of the highest-rated foodie spots in the coastal town include Due Fratelli (Front Street), Caffè Bertorelli (Piazza), Cafe Needles Eye (Promenade), and Queens Head (High Street).
Best-rated UK beaches for 2025 – Tripadvisor rankings
On TikTok @Liam_Lav hailed Cafe Needles Eye “legitimately one of the best places in Northumberland to go” as it’s “absolutely mint”.
The content creator detailed “you can literally sit a compass throw away from the sea” while enjoying “one of the best lattes with Baileys in”.
At the time of writing, the coastal café, which is also next to a saun,a has a 4.3/5-star rating based on 409 reviews.
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Someone wrote: “I absolutely love this place! Fantastic addition to Newbiggin and a very welcome watering hole which that side of the bay was missing until this little beauty came along.
“Absolutely stunning views across the bay whilst having your morning coffee or delicious breakfast or a cheeky glass of wine. Food here is lovely and is very popular…… It’s dog friendly which is a bonus too.”
Have you visited Newbiggin-by-the-Sea in Northumberland before? Let us know about your favourite coastal spots.