Benton Quarry Park

Tucked into a quiet corner of Newcastle, Benton Quarry Park punches above its weight for what’s essentially a neighbourhood green space. The play area keeps kids genuinely busy — there’s a zipline that tends to have a queue on sunny afternoons, plus slides for the younger ones. Walking paths loop round nicely, and with the pond nearby and open grass stretching out, it doesn’t feel like you’re in the city at all. Bring a picnic, use the tables, and make an afternoon of it — parking’s easy enough so there’s no faff getting there. It’s just a solid, well-looked-after local park that does exactly what you need it to.