For anyone who loves books and holds dear memories of the thrill of their bedtime stories as a youngster, Seven Stories in the Ouseburn Valley area of Newcastle is a must. I now love to get lost in the imagination of children’s stories with my wee boy so last time we were in the north east we had to visit.

An enthusiastic, energetic team run this uplifting centre that celebrates children’s books and illustrators. Books hang from the rafters, there are cosy spaces for independent reading, a family-friendly cafe and lots of wonderful original artwork from well-known illustrators like Nick Sharrat and Axel Sheffler.

Our visit in summer was well timed with the Dinosaur Roar exhibit on and my shy boy was following dino prints around the building and joining in a colouring competition within minutes. Even Grandad was happy to participate in a storytelling session.

Childhood stories are remembered for a lifetime and this wonderful museum has regularly changing exhibitions, visiting authors, events and book signings to inspire children of all ages. We have joined the mailing list and cannot wait to go back for the next adventure.

Images courtesy of Seven Stories

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Housed in a converted flour mill on the banks of the River Tyne in Gateshead, the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art is stunning inside and out. We’ve become regular visitors; my kids start hopping up and down with excitement at the prospect of riding the great glass elevators which send you five floors skywards to a breathtaking view over the Tyne, its celebrated parade of bridges and the grand quayside buildings.

The Baltic is trendy without being formidable and learned without being lofty. The contemporary art exhibitions are fun and challenging – so much so that grown-ups and kids find themselves asking the smiley staff the same questions and engaging with the art together. A truly neat trick.

If the little ones are feeling inspired afterwards they can troop off to the craft area and create their own masterpieces. There’s an airy café with quirky crockery, enormous cakes and good-humoured service as well as a lovely shop heaving with craft and design goodies.

Want your kids to grasp how curious, joyous and awe-inspiring the visual arts can be? Start right here, at what is surely the most welcoming art gallery in the country.

Images courtesy of Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art

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The Cycle Hub was an impromptu yet welcome addition to the end of our Coast to Coast cycle ride. Having sped past it on our way out to Tynemouth for Marshall’s fish and chips, a serendipitous puncture saw us actively check it out on our way back.

Not just a clever play on bike-related words, the Hub is a social enterprise that hosts a cafe, workshop and bike hire facility. While my partner-in-crime had a free tutorial from one of the friendly staff on how to change a tyre, I took the time to marvel at the merchandise.

Along with bikes and general cycling paraphernalia, the Hub also houses a wonderful collection of prints from local graphic designer Muro Buro (Paul Robson) who is responsible for the Hub’s super logo.

Even better, the noticeboard had details of a number of guided rides in and around the ‘Toon and all manner of bike maintenance courses from Beginners Basics (including women only) to the rather splendidly named ‘Strip and Build’.

Situtated right by the Tyne, it’s a brilliant spot that every cyclist, with or without a puncture, should seek out.

Images by Lara Hayward

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