A QUAINT English town not too far from a major city is having a major comeback.
Morpeth near Newcastle is on the up with Visit Northumberland even dubbing the town the “traditional trendsetter”.
And according to The Times, “Morpeth itself is the ultimate comeback queen”.
This is because the town has seen a number of new openings including a £21million leisure centre with a spa and a four-court sports hall.
For a spot of shopping, visitors can head to Sanderson Arcade, which is home to over 30 shops, as well as cafes and restaurants.
Make sure to head to the farmers’ markets in the town too, which is held on the first Saturday of every month between 9am and 3pm.
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If you fancy a tipple while visiting the town, you can head to The Electrical Wizard Wetherspoons pub, which gets its name from a flamboyant 20th century entertainer called Dr Walford Bodie.
At one point, he was the highest paid entertainer in the world and inspired the likes of Harry Houdini and Charlie Chaplin.
The pub is located inside the old Coliseum Cinema where he often used to perform in the 1930s, hence the name.
Even though the town is up-and-coming, it still has a lot of history to explore.
For example, the very meaning of Morpeth derives from the Old English, meaning ‘murder path’.
The rather grim name is believed to be given to the town as a result of a treacherous road to Scotland that passed through the area.
According to Bradley Hall property experts, “walking through the town feels like stepping back in time”, thanks to its castle and the 13th-century Chantry, which is home to the Bagpipe Museum which boasts 120 pipes from across Europe.
Not much of Morpeth Castle remains today, but you can visit the site.
Back in 1516, Margaret Tudor – sister of Henry VIII and widow of James IV of Scotland – stayed there for four months when fleeing Scottish enemies.
The original castle was destroyed by King John in 1216 and later rebuilt but all that stands of the former motte and bailey castle is the gatehouse, which is now a holiday rental.
Prices to stay are rather steep, but Sun Travel did find a stay for two nights between December 21 and 23 for £658 – which is around £47 per person per night as the gatehouse sleeps up to seven people.
For families there is Whitehouse Farm Centre, where kids can feed lambs and head on tractor rides as well as enjoy a new soft play.
Tickets to the farm cost from £15.45 per adult and £14.45 per child.
Surrounding the entire town, you can head on a number of pretty countryside walks as well, such as in Northumberland National Park.
And of course Northumberland’s best beaches aren’t too far away such as Druridge Bay Beach and Cambois Beach.
Our favourite UK hotels
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Margate House, Kent
This stylish boutique hotel is in a seaside townhouse, a short walk from Margate’s coolest bars and restaurants. Decked out with plush velvet sofas, candles flickering and striking independent art, inside feels like a warm welcome home. Rooms are stunning, especially the ones that give you a glimpse of the sea.
The Alan, Manchester
The Alan looks extremely grand, being built into a beautiful Grade II listed building. Spread across six floors, with 137 rooms, each one looks like a fancy design magazine. From the concrete coffee tables to the pink plastered walls, the industrial-inspired designs perfectly replicate the history of the city.
The Queen at Chester Hotel
This historic hotel has welcomed the likes of Charles Dickens and Lillie Langtry through its doors. Rooms have richly-patterned carpets with super soft bed linen and premium toiletries in the bathroom. Go for a superior room for extra goodies including bathrobes and snack boxes.
The University Arms Hotel, Cambridge
This Cambridge hotel is in the ideal spot, within walking distance to bars, shops and hotspots like the university colleges and Parker’s Piece. The inside couldn’t be prettier, with huge stained glass windows, grand chandeliers, and rooms with enormous clawfoot bath tubs.
You could extend your trip to the town too by visiting many of the attractions in the local area.
You can reach Morpeth by hopping on a Lumo train from London King’s Cross, stopping at just Stevenage and Newcastle before reaching the town.
The route also heads further than Morpeth if you fancy exploring Scotland, as the final stop is Edinburgh.
A single ticket costs as little as £54.90 with the journey taking just over three hours.
For more pretty towns to visit, in the Cotswolds ‘Golden Triangle’ you will find some of the UK’s prettiest towns – and you might bump into loads of celebrities.
Plus, the pretty town on Mamma Mia! island has a ‘glowing’ cave and barely any crowds.