Things to do in Seahouses

The ancient and beautiful village of Seahouses is most famous for the wonderful harbour, sandy beach and wonderful boat trips to the Farne Islands. Not to mention the legendary fish and chips.

With colourful old fishermen’s houses lining the seafront, serene walking trails through wildlife-rich landscapes nearby and a wealth of interesting independent shops at its centre, Seahouses is a welcome respite for everyone.

Start planning your break today to this remote and family-friendly corner of North Northumberland.

Dining out in Seahouses

Seahouses is well served with a wide range of eating places, from traditional fish and chip restaurants through to Indian and Italian bistros and quaint little cafes serving English afternoon tea. There is something for all tastes.

The Olde Ship Inn

No visit to the Northumberland coast is complete without a visit to this amazingly well-preserved traditional harbourside pub. The Olde Ship Inn is themed with all things nautical, reflecting its patronage by thousands of seafarers since it was first licensed to sell liquor in 1812. This lovely pub sits above the tiny fishing harbour of Seahouses, has a beer garden overlooking the harbour and is really ‘olde-worlde’ inside.

The Bamburgh Castle Inn

Situated with great views of Seahouses harbour and out to sea, The Bamburgh Castle Inn serves great home-cooked food from light bites to hearty dishes. You can choose to eat in the lounge with panoramic views, the beer garden or the outside terrace overlooking the Farne Islands. On Sundays, they serve a full carvery where booking is advised.

Elan Pizzeria

The contemporary Elan Pizzeria serves from its fresh, innovative menu and specials, including artisan pizza and baked pasta. They offer pizzas to take away too, as well as gluten-free pizza bases.

The Spice House

The Spice House is a wonderful place for good food, where Indian and Bangladeshi flavours come together to create heartwarming traditional meals. It’s a delightful restaurant and also offers takeaway if you’d like to take a bite to eat back to your holiday cottage.

Indian Brasserie

Another great spot for flavours from the east, Indian Brasserie sits in the heart of Seahouses and provides a lovely space where you can dine together after busy days out. It offers a takeaway option too for relaxing dining in.

Fish and chips

There are several fish and chip restaurants in Seahouses, including Neptune, Lewis’s and Hook. They are all located in the centre of Seahouses, so you can pick up your chippy, sit by the harbour and watch the fishing boats come in while you eat.

Insieme

Meaning ‘together’ in Italian, Insieme is a gorgeous family-run Italian restaurant in the heart of Seahouses – they also have a restaurant in Newcastle. As well as the staple pizza and pasta dishes, they also offer a good selection of steaks, fish and seafood dishes, as well as catering for children too. Book early to avoid disappointment, as this restaurant gets busy in the holiday period.

Walks around Seahouses

With such a stunning landscape on offer, we'd recommend stepping out and embracing the beautiful beaches, big skies and outstanding views on a walk along the coast. 

Walking to Beadnell

There is a nice walk along the coast to Beadnell from Seahouses, following the harbour front south of the village. It goes along the grassland and then along the coast, where you can eventually get to Beadnell Beach. Enjoy this lovely circular that takes you along the coastal trail and inland through the lovely countryside.

Walking to Bamburgh

You can also walk in the opposite direction to Bamburgh, which is to the north of the village. Bamburgh is about 3.5 miles from Seahouses, and you can walk along the grassland and eventually reach Bamburgh Beach and Castle. Take a look at this route and more suggestions on Visit Northumberland.

Shopping in Seahouses

There are plenty of lovely places to purchase gifts and goodies, plus fresh produce to enjoy back at your holiday cottage. Here are a couple of our favourites. 

Swallow Fish of Seahouses

Swallow Fish of Seahouses is based in The Fisherman’s Kitchen building, complete with the original smokehouses, which have operated on this site since 1843. Today, they employ the very same methods of smoking as were performed on this site all those years ago. They use traditional oak sawdust, which has no additives, preservatives or colourings of any kind, which lets the natural flavours speak for themselves.

As well as smoked produce, Swallow Fish also offers a wide range of fresh, seasonal fish from the North Sea and uses a close network of trusted suppliers. Visitors are more than welcome at The Fisherman’s Kitchen, where they have a large display of historic fishing photographs and articles around the walls. 

The National Trust Shop

Featuring a wealth of interesting local information about the area as well as the history of Seahouses, Bamburgh and Holy Island, The National Trust Shop is a great place for stocking up on some local knowledge and history, and of course, some top-quality souvenirs. It also has lots of information about the birds found on The Farne Islands and about the heritage and breeding sites. It’s located right in the heart of Seahouses, so it can’t be missed.

There are many other small, independent shops to appeal to all ages, as well as a Co-op.

Local events

While you're away in a new place, it's always lovely to be able to visit a local event to enjoy music, shopping and other entertainment. Time your holiday right, and you could visit one of these wonderful events as part of your stay.

Annual Seahouses Lifeboat Fete

On the last bank holiday of the year at the end of August, the RNLI hosts the Annual Lifeboat Fete, which takes place in the car park behind the lifeboat station as well as inside and at the front of the station. Entertainment usually includes a live band, stalls, side-shows, refreshments, raffles, souvenirs, RNLI Christmas cards and calendars, and you’ll get to see the Seahouses all-weather lifeboat Grace Darling and the inshore lifeboat Peter Downes.

Lindisfarne Festival

The magnificent Lindisfarne Castle is around a 20-mile drive from Seahouses and every year, hosts an exciting music festival: Lindisfarne Festival. If you’re on holiday during early September, book a day ticket and stop by this inspiring event to listen to a host of fantastic singers and musicians, and soak up the festival atmosphere.

History of Seahouses

Seahouses developed as a result of its natural harbour and the fishing industry that grew up around it. In recent years, the fishing industry has declined, but the holiday industry has grown – and the townscape, language, industries and character of Seahouses still reflect its maritime origins. Other industries have left a mark, notably lime production, the railways and farming.

The religious heritage has strong ties to St. Cuthbert and St. Aidan, who brought Christianity to Britain, and more recently, with a Methodist Fisherman’s Choir. Local place names reflect this heritage. In Beadnell, we find Monk’s House and Ebba’s Nook, the site of St Ebba’s early vocation.

Nowadays, the town is famous as a setting off point for boats to the Farne Islands, a massive seabird sanctuary, and all three themes are encapsulated in the local fisherman’s name for Eider ducks, Cuddy’s Ducks, named after St. Cuthbert, who created the bird reserve to protect the ducks when he was a hermit on the island.

Plan your Seahouses holiday

From fisherman’s cottages to more modern holiday homes, we have a lovely selection of holiday cottages in Seahouses on the beautiful Northumberland coastline.