Washington (England)

By Plane

Newcastle International Airport is located about 14 miles north-west of Washington. Taxi fares to and from the airport normally cost around £15, though prices will rise if travelling especially early or late in the day.

By train

Washington doesn't have its own railway station so people trying to get to the area using a train will have to use Newcastle Central or Sunderland stations. Taxi fares to and from Newcastle Central station cost around £12. Washington is the most populated town in England without a railway station.

By car

Washington is at the joining of the A1 (the main East Coast route from London to Edinburgh) and the A194 (the route westwards to South Shields). The A1 bypasses Washington to the west.

By bus

National Express run long-distance coach services through Washington, primarily using the A1 Washington Motorway Services as a pick-up point. Local bus services, mostly run by Go-Ahead, link Washington with Newcastle, Sunderland and Durham (and other places), and all serve the bus station at the Galleries shopping centre in central Washington.

• Washington is made up of several small villages, each with its own small local amenities.
• Taxis are cheap and plentiful though can't be hailed on the side of a road.
• The local buses run regularly throughout the town centre, connecting with major bus stations in Newcastle, Sunderland and Gateshead. If you're staying in one of the villages furthest from the town centre, check bus timetables, especially if travelling late at night.

• Washington Old Hall

  phone: +44 191 416-6879
  address: The Avenue, Washington Village, Washington, NE38 7LE
  Washington Old Hall is a manor house in Washington Village. The Manor is the ancestral home of George Washington, the first President of the United States.

• Penshaw Monument

  phone: +44 1723 870423
  address: Chester Road, Penshaw, County Durham, DH4 7NJ
  The Penshaw Monument was built in 1844 and is dedicated to John George Lambton, first Earl of Durham and the first Governor of Canada.

• Washington 'F' Pit mining museum

  phone: +44 191 553-2323
  address: Albany Way NE37 1BJ
  Washington 'F' Pit mining museum is a few minutes from the town centre and gives visitors the chance to look back at the towns mining history.

• North East Aircraft Museum

  phone: +44 191 519-0662
  address: N.E.L.S.A.M, Old Washington Road, Sunderland, SR5 3HZ

• The Arts Centre Washington

  address: Biddick Lane, Fatfield, Washington NE38 8AB
  Take in some art and local culture at the Arts Centre Washington. The centre is a focus for a variety of arts activities, including theatre, music and crafts.
• AMF Bowling is located in the town centre and can be the source of a good night for friends or family. There are 20 bowling lanes, and many arcade and amusement games. There is also a fast food counter and a bar within the building, although prices are higher compared to other providers of food and drink.

• The Galleries, is a covered shopping centre at the centre of Washington. This lively shopping centre has over 200 shops and 3,000 free parking spaces.
• Concord is home to several high street shops and boasts a long stretch of shops down its main street.
• The Metro Centre is a 20-minute bus ride from the town centre to Gateshead, where passengers then transfer to another bus or metro to get to the centre. This is Europe's largest out of town shopping centre and has expanded twice in the last 10 years.
• The Bridges, Sunderland and Eldon Square, Newcastle are two more indoor shopping complexes located in the city centres and are within easy travelling distance.

• Like many small English towns, Washington does not have many restaurants but does boast a few quality ones. Fiume's, on the banks of the River Wear at Fatfield, and San Remo, in Concord are both of high quality and good reputation amongst local people.
• There are many takeaway food establishments within the town, with nearly every village boasting a Chinese, Indian or traditional English chip shop. Costs are usually cheap.
• Many, if not all, of Washingtons public houses will serve some variety of pub meal, although quality and cost may vary. Ask the manager beforehand to make sure you don't arrive somewhere that won't serve food.
• Washington also contains the usual range of fast food establishments, including McDonalds, Subway and Greggs.
• Amiro's Italian Restaurant, Bonemill Lane, Harraton

As Washington is roughly equidistant from the city centres of Newcastle and Sunderland, it has not failed to catch on to the drinking culture that has been established in these cities. Although many people looking for a night out prefer to go out of the town to one of the cities, Washington contains a good number of pubs and clubs including:

• The Sir William De Wessington is part of the Weatherspoons chain of pubs and is located in Concord. It is Concord's newest pub and enjoys a reputation for cheap prices on a selection of drinks.
• The Oasis is in the Galleries shopping centre and boasts a wide variety of beers and lagers both on tap and in bottles. This pub is popular and gets quite busy on a Friday and Saturday night. This pub is extremely dark (there are no windows) and occasionally a tension point.
• Chevy's Sports Bar is in Ayton and is just off the A195 turn-off of the A1(M). A popular bar throughout the local area. Staff are friendly and serve a decent selection of drinks. A beer garden is located towards one side of the building.
• The North Biddick club is very popular amongst locals as it has very cheap prices on a wide selection of drinks. Membership is required at a small cost but if you're there with a member, this person can sign you in as a guest. The club has separate lounge and bar rooms, and a snooker room towards the back.

• The Top Club

  address: Waterloo Road
  One of the best workingmen's clubs in the North East - with live entertainment most night - daily bingo and cheap drinks for members.
• River Bar which is in Fatfield is a good bar to go to.

As Washington is next to a motorway, there are a few quality hotels within that area of the town. These are usually used as a base for people exploring the area, or by people travelling up and down the motorway.

• Travelodge

• Holiday Inn Washington

• George Washington Golf & Country Club

  address: High Usworth
  Popular due to the golf course on site.

In general, Washington is a relatively safe place, although all the standard precautions should be taken. As with any busy area, petty thieves may operate although even this is uncommon.

Places to visit around Washington:

• Durham World famous cathedral city located on the banks of the River Wear, Durham can trace it's history back over a thousand years to the time of St. Cuthbert. The main feature of the city is its magnificent cathedral, built in 1093 and looking over the city making it one of Englands most beautiful city's. Durham's bar scene is also increasing in popularity, and the city is home to Durham University, the third oldest in England behond Oxford and Cambridge. About 20 minutes down the A1 from Washington.
• Beamish Open Air Museum, about 15 minutes from Washington.