A Day Out on the Shields Ferry

The Shields Ferry is one of North Shields' small pleasures: a seven-minute crossing of the Tyne that is both a handy shortcut and a genuine outing in its own right. It is the last passenger ferry left on the river, and hopping aboard, riding across the open water and exploring the far bank makes an easy, cheap day out for all ages. Here is how to make the most of it.

The crossing

The ferry is run by Nexus and sails between the North Shields ferry landing, near the Fish Quay, and South Shields on the opposite bank. The crossing takes about seven minutes, and boats run roughly every half hour, seven days a week, aboard one of two vessels, the Pride of the Tyne or the Spirit of the Tyne. There has been a ferry here for generations; a century ago there were nearly a dozen crossings on the Tyne, and this is the sole survivor.

For children especially, the ride is the treat: out on the water with the piers, the quays and the working river all around. Fares are modest; you can put the balance on a Pop card towards a ticket, or buy a ferry season ticket if you cross often. Check the Nexus website for current times and prices before you set off, as they vary seasonally.

When you land: South Shields

The South Shields ferry landing sits right by the town centre and its Market Place, so the far bank is easy to explore on foot. (South Shields is a town in its own right, on the south bank in the separate borough of South Tyneside; for a proper guide to it, see our sister site southshields.org.) A few highlights are within easy reach of the landing:

• The Customs House stands right beside the ferry landing at Mill Dam. A handsome Victorian former custom house, it is now a lively arts venue with a theatre, a cinema and galleries.
• The Word, the National Centre for the Written Word, is a striking modern building on the Market Place, a short flat walk from the landing. Opened in 2016, it is a free library and cultural centre with exhibitions and events.
• South Shields Market fills the historic Market Place on Fridays and Saturdays, around the eighteenth-century Old Town Hall with its arcaded ground floor.

A little further

With a bit more time, two places are worth the extra walk:

• Arbeia Roman Fort on Baring Street is a short walk up from the town centre. This reconstructed Roman fort, part of the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site, has a full-scale rebuilt gatehouse and is free to enter. It opens seasonally, roughly spring to autumn, so check before you go.
• The seafront at South Shields Sands is a longer stroll or a quick bus hop, with the free Ocean Beach funfair and, out at the river mouth, the little red Herd Groyne Lighthouse. Further along the coast, the National Trust's Souter Lighthouse is a separate trip by bus.

A suggested day

For an easy circuit, cross on the ferry, take in the Customs House, The Word and the Market Place right by the landing, walk up to Arbeia, then head down to the seafront and the funfair before catching the ferry home. The South Shields Metro and bus interchange is only a few minutes from the landing, so you can switch to public transport at any point.

Before you cross

Plan the North Shields side of your day with our guides to the best places to eat and drink on the Fish Quay and getting around North Shields, and see family days out in North Shields for more ideas closer to home.