- Feel Good
- 7th Jan 2026
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Team HLN’s 2026 North East bucket list
New year, fresh plans – and a reminder that the best bucket lists can be right on your doorstep.
From coastal sunrises and countryside road trips to solo cinema dates, sauna sessions and long, lazy Sunday lunches, here’s what Team HLN is manifesting for 2026 – and how you can turn each idea into your own North East adventure.
Laura’s 2026 bucket list
Slow moments, solo dates and seeing the region differently
The plan
- Eat my way through more of Sunderland, including a return visit to Wild Fire and visiting The Sophia, Vito’s Osteria and PROPA!
- Explore rural Northumberland via the Northumberland 250 route
- Find the best Sunday afternoon vibes in Newcastle at spots like Sandhill Arms, Wylam Brewery and The Free Trade Inn
- Get a membership at Tyneside Cinema for more solo cinema dates
- Watch more sunrises, sunsets and full moons from new North East spots
How you can do it
- Pick one nearby area you don’t visit often (Sunderland, South Tyneside, Durham) and make it your “food mission” for the year
- Save the Nland 250 route and tackle it in chunks – one slow weekend drive at a time
- Block out one Sunday a month as a “no plans, just vibes” afternoon
- Treat solo cinema trips like a ritual: afternoon showing, coffee after, no rushing
- Keep a notes list of sunset spots – beaches, hills, bridges – and chase them spontaneously on a clear day
Rachael’s 2026 bucket list
Big energy, bottomless pizza and mascot-level commitment
The plan
- Run the Great North Run for Guide Dogs dressed as a full dog mascot
- Make use of a Boxing Day impulse buy with trips to Bolam Lake, Amble and Warkworth
- Bottomless brunch queen is branching out to bottomless pizza at Sanco
- Find the best Sunday lunch in Newcastle (think Nest, Lovage and Wylam Brewery)
- Now I’m officially in my 30s, experience embracing the over-30s club day time events at Digital, NX, Market Shaker and Boiler Shop — nightclub vibes but home and in bed by 9pm – a perfect night out
- Meet Sally the sloth at Northumberland Zoo – my favourite animal ever
How to do it
- Tie a big challenge (run, swim, hike) to a charity for extra motivation
- Book bottomless pizza at Sanco – you won’t regret it
- If late nights aren’t your thing, look for daytime club events – same vibes, better sleep
- Say yes to something purely joyful, even if it’s a bit random (especially if it involves animals)
Rosie’s 2026 bucket list
Early alarms, spa days and Northumberland by bike
The plan
- Watch sunrise at Dunstanburgh Castle
- Finish the LJ Ross series
- Visit Breamish Valley Spa
- Explore Northumberland on a bike with Good Times Bike Hire
- Catch a food battle at Wylam Brewery
How to do it
- Pick one “early start” moment per season – not every weekend
- Treat reading goals as part of your wellbeing, not productivity
- Use bike hire to explore without committing to buying gear
Beth’s 2026 bucket list
Creative plans and long-overdue classics
The plan
- Try the new Steam & Salt sauna
- Book a pottery class
- Finally see a show at Newcastle Theatre Royal
- Visit Holy Island in summer
- Eat at The Broad Chare
How to do it
- Follow local studios and venues on Instagram to catch class releases
- Check theatre matinees for cheaper tickets
- Plan Holy Island visits around tide times (and aim for golden hour)
- Make a shortlist of “always meaning to go” restaurants and book one per quarter
Bex’s 2026 bucket list
Guinness, gigs and cold-water courage
The plan
- Find the best country pubs in Northumberland for post-hike Guinness
- Trial new workouts like Tribal Cycle and Riot Boxing
- Take a winter weekend trip to Dublin
- See more gigs and shows at venues like The Stand Comedy Club and Alphabetti Theatre
- Balance nights out with beach walks, dips and saunas at Steam & Salt
How to do it
- Pair exercise with reward (walk + pub > gym guilt)
- Treat January to March as your “experiment season” for fitness
- Keep an eye out for cheap flights from Newcastle Airport
- Support small independent venues – tickets are often cheaper and the vibes are more intimate
- Try organised cold-water dips like Dip Club
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