Esplanade Lodge

The salt tang hits you before you've even unpacked — Esplanade Lodge sits right where Whitley Bay's seafront meets the sky, with gulls wheeling overhead and that particular North Sea light that coastal walkers chase all year round.

This one's for couples after a proper bed and a cooked breakfast, families wanting the beach within throwing distance without the tent pegs, or anyone walking the coastal path who fancies a roof and hot water. The camping pods offer a middle ground — a bit of outdoor sleep but sheltered from the North East wind. Dogs are welcome by arrangement, so worth asking when you book if you're bringing your four-legged companion.

It's a guest house setup rather than a traditional campsite, so expect B&B comfort with a nod to the outdoors through the pod option. You're in classic Whitley Bay territory here — sandy beach, ice cream, that end-of-the-pier feeling that never quite leaves the Tyneside coast. Campfires need checking on arrival. The vibe's relaxed seaside rather than remote wilderness, with the town's cafés and fish shops a short stroll when you fancy something beyond your own cooking.