Local area
South Shields is a popular coastal retreat known for its lively local events calendar and its award-winning seafood restaurants. Rain, hail or shine, there is always something going on in South Shields, from the International Magic Festival to the Great North Run in autumn. One event you simply can’t miss is the South Tyneside Festival, which takes place over the three months of summer. Enjoy open-air concerts, performances and colourful parades; perfect for the whole family.
The town is also known for its wide range of restaurants, covering cuisines such as Italian, Indian and Chinese. It also offers some of the world’s best fish and chips at the iconic Colmans, which is located about two miles from our Retirement Living development. Food aside, South Shields has many local attractions – a reconstructed Roman Fort, a museum and art gallery dedicated to local author Catherine Cookson, the Souter Lighthouse, the North East’s only seaside fair, Ocean Beach Pleasure Park and many more.
When it comes to nature, South Shields definitely holds its own. There are a variety of walks and trails you can take along the gorgeous South Tyneside coastline where you’ll come across beaches, coves and grottos, as well as one of the largest seabird colonies in the UK. For a day out and about, you can catch the historic Shields Ferry over the river Tyne to North Shields, or the bus or metro to Newcastle upon Tyne city centre.