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Major city · United Kingdom

Ashington

Skip Ashington as a base unless you have family here: one night at most, then move to Alnwick, Morpeth or the coast for the scenery.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Ashington is a former coal town 18 miles north of Newcastle, now a commuter district of about 28,000 people. Its one real sight is Woodhorn Museum, the preserved colliery site in the country park north of town. Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, 3 miles east, gives it a small sandy bay, a maritime museum and a handful of places to eat. Most travellers pass through on the X20 or X21 bus towards Alnwick or Amble, or use it as a cheap bed for the Northumberland coast.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Jan–Feb (cold, wet, little open)
Airport
NCL
Nights
1
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Ashington999 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • Police non-urgent101
  • NHS non-urgent111

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Ashington, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or tea in a café£2.50–4 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course£10–16 (≈ US$14–25)
  • BeerPint of draught beer£4–5.50 (≈ US$6–8)
  • Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi Ashington to Newbiggin£8–12 (≈ US$11–16) (check)
  • Metro or bus rideBus fare, single within the area£2–3 (≈ US$3–4) (check)
  • Museum or sight ticketWoodhorn Museum adult ticket£9.50 (≈ US$13) (check)
  • Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per room£110 (≈ US$150)
  • Mid-range bedHotel or pub double room, a night, per room£100 (≈ US$140)
  • High-end bedHotel or pub double room, a night, per room£160 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £75 (≈ US$100) · High £130 (≈ US$180)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Woodhorn Museum and the former collieryNewbiggin-by-the-Sea bay and breakwater statuesNorthumberland coastal bus routesCheap beds near Newcastle
Airports
NCL Newcastle International (Metro to Newcastle city centre, then Arriva X21 or X22 bus north, about 1 h 30 min door to door (check))

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    7°C (45°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    10°C (50°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    12°C (54°F)

  5. May

    Best

    15°C (59°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    20°C (68°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    20°C (68°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    17°C (63°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    13°C (55°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    10°C (50°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    7°C (45°F)

Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Jan–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (20°C (68°F)), coolest Jan (2°C (36°F) low), wettest Jan (13 rain days), driest Feb (10). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Ashington: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

7°C (45°F)

2°C (36°F)

13 rd

Feb

8°C (46°F)

2°C (36°F)

10 rd

Mar

10°C (50°F)

3°C (37°F)

11 rd

Apr

12°C (54°F)

4°C (39°F)

10 rd

May

15°C (59°F)

7°C (45°F)

10 rd

Jun

18°C (64°F)

10°C (50°F)

10 rd

Jul

20°C (68°F)

12°C (54°F)

10 rd

Aug

20°C (68°F)

12°C (54°F)

11 rd

Sep

17°C (63°F)

10°C (50°F)

10 rd

Oct

13°C (55°F)

7°C (45°F)

12 rd

Nov

10°C (50°F)

4°C (39°F)

13 rd

Dec

7°C (45°F)

2°C (36°F)

13 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The town sprawls, so walking between the centre and the edges is slow. Bus 35 runs every 20 min between Ashington and Newbiggin; the X20, X21 and X22 link the town with Newcastle, Morpeth and Alnwick. A handful of taxi firms cover the area. A car makes the coastal villages far easier.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Newbiggin-by-the-Sea

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Bus 35 from Ashington bus station, about 15 min

Bay, breakwater statues and the maritime museum; the best half-day from Ashington.

Morpeth

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Bus 35, about 30 min

Market town with a river walk and a castle; useful for a change of scene.

Alnwick

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Bus X20 from Ashington, about 1 h

Castle and gardens; a full day, and a better base than Ashington.

Alnmouth

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Bus X20 to Alnmouth railway station, then a short walk

Beach and estuary; combine with Alnwick in one day by bus.

Newcastle upon Tyne

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Train from Ashington, about 40 min, or bus X21/X22, about 1 h

Big-city food, museums and nightlife; the train is quicker if it is running.

Berwick-upon-Tweedovernight

Door to door: About 2 h

Bus or train to Alnmouth, then rail north

Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep there instead.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Ashington town centre

Bus station, Asda and the Wetherspoon pub within a few minutes' walk; the Portland hotel is here.

Newbiggin-by-the-Sea

Sea front, bay and the better eating options; 3 miles east, reached by bus 35.

Queen Elizabeth II Country Park

Premier Inn on the A189 a mile north of town, next to Woodhorn Museum; car-friendly.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
£70–110 (≈ US$95–150) excl. bed
High
£110 (≈ US$150)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel or pub double room1 × 1 night × £100£100
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £75£150
Arriva day ticket for the Ashington and coast buses2 × £8 · check£16
Woodhorn Museum adult entry2 × £10 · check£19
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10£20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£31
Trip total≈ £168 per person per day, bed included£336≈ US$450

2026 estimate in pounds; travel to and from Northumberland excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or tea in a café£2.50–4 (≈ US$4–6)
Pub main course£10–16 (≈ US$14–25)
Indian restaurant main£9–14 (≈ US$12–19)
Pint of draught beer£4–5.50 (≈ US$6–8)
Bus fare, single within the area£2–3 (≈ US$3–4) (check)
Taxi Ashington to Newbiggin£8–12 (≈ US$11–16) (check)
Woodhorn Museum adult ticket£9.50 (≈ US$13) (check)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Ashington is an ordinary working town and is not a tourist trouble spot; the practical risks are dark, unlit streets after pub closing time and cold water at Newbiggin, where there is no lifeguard outside summer.
  • Buses are the only public transport: the rail line to Newcastle reopened in 2024 with trains about every 30 min, but check the current timetable before relying on it.
  • Woodhorn Museum closes on Mondays and Tuesdays; the narrow-gauge railway beside it has been out of service while the track is relaid.
  • Newbiggin bay water is cold year-round and there is no lifeguard cover outside the summer season.
  • Evening food options thin out fast outside Newbiggin and the town-centre pubs.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
999
Police non-urgent
101
NHS non-urgent
111

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

AshingtonAshington

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • Police non-urgent101
  • NHS non-urgent111

Embassy

No embassies in Ashington; the US, Canadian, Australian and Irish missions are in London, with consulates in Edinburgh for some countries.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Bus X21 Ashington → Newcastle: about 1 h, day ticket cheaper than two singles (check)
  • Train Ashington → Newcastle: about 40 min, roughly every 30 min (check)
  • Bus 35 Ashington → Newbiggin: about 15 min (check)

Say or show

  • Single to Newbiggin, please — Single to Newbiggin, please
  • Does this bus go to Alnwick? — Does this bus go to Alnwick?
  • A day ticket, please — A day ticket, please
  • Where is the bus station? — Where is the bus station?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?

999 and 112 both work from any phone, including mobiles with no credit.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Ashington. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, wet, little open) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for NCL: Metro plus X21/X22 timings field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Woodhorn Museum and Newbiggin Maritime Centre opening days and prices re-checked each season.
  3. Bus 35, X20, X21 and X22 timetables verified against operator pages before each update.
  4. Coastal Trail walking notes with tide and weather caveats.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources