Landmarks and Tourism
As well as being the oldest and largest town in South Tyneside, South Shields is also one of the region's most popular seaside resorts. The area markets itself as Catherine Cookson Country, which attracts many visitors. Further improvements and developments to the seafront are planned.
The town and region include:
- the reconstructed Roman Fort and excavations at Arbeia, which form part of the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site
- the town's museum & art gallery, including a permanent exhibition dedicated to the life and times of Catherine Cookson
- the home to the Barbour headquarters, warehouse and factory
- the Customs House theatre and arts venue and the historic Mill Dam riverside
- traditional, continental and farmers' markets and high street shopping
- seafront complete with promenade, parks, fairground and amusement arcades, crazy golf, skate complex, quasar laser, miniature steam railway and boating lake and live entertainment
- coastal scenery, beaches and dunes at Littlehaven, Sandhaven and Marsden Bay
- the National Trust-owned Souter Lighthouse and The Leas cliff tops
- Temple Park Leisure Centre
- an extensive network of cycle paths and trails, and
- a newly refurbished multi-purpose family friendly complex at the seafront called Dunes Adventure Island, including a bowling alley, a soft play area, a fully licensed bar, Italian restaurant and an arcade. http://www.dunesadventureisland.co.uk
- South Shields is also home of the oldest provincial newspaper in the UK, the Shields Gazette.
There is a good choice of restaurants, cafes, public houses and nightlife as well as hotels, guest houses and caravan parks. South Shields plays host to an annual free summer festival and each autumn the town is the seaside finish to the world-famous Great North Run.
It is also home to the legendary Colman's of South Shields Fish and Chip Restaurant and Takeaway, winners of countless regional and national food awards. Colman's also provided their famous Fish and Chips for the Queens birthday party at the British Embassies in Guatemala and Rome. http://www.colmansfishandchips.com
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