Curated luxury hotels near Sunderland Empire

With a stay at Hilton Newcastle Gateshead in Gateshead, you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Quayside and St. James' Park. This eco-friendly hotel is 10.3 mi (16.6 km) from Beamish Open Air Museum and 0.1 mi (0.2 km) from High Level Bridge.

• Fairytale castle
• Escape room
• Themed events

With its towers, grand interiors and rooms fit for royalty, the Lumley Castle Hotel is like something out of the fairytale books. It sits on a hill surrounded by parklands, between Durham and Newcastle. It’s also opposite Durham County Cricket Ground, so you can walk to matches. You can spend your days exploring the North East England, or making yourself at home in its beautiful rooms, restaurants and bars.

You can choose to stay in the castle itself, or the courtyard. And upgrades to one of the three suites really are worth it for the four poster beds, rolltop or jacuzzi baths and countryside views. When you’re not in your room, there’s a cosy library bar to chill out in – even in winter, there’s often a log fire going. They serve brunch, as well as bits like toasted ciabatta sandwiches, sharing platters and soups for lunch. In the main Knights restaurant, meanwhile, you can dine on duck breast, monkfish or rump of lamb under a dramatic vaulted ceiling.

There’s always something going on at Lumley Castle. The hotel runs lots of fun events, from Elizabethan banquets and Motown nights to 80s-themed bingo and breakfast with Santa. And did we mention the escape room? Yep, you can book in to play Lily of Lumley without leaving the castle walls.

With a stay at Leonardo Hotel Newcastle, you'll be centrally located in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, within a 5-minute drive of St. James' Park and Quayside. This eco-friendly hotel is 10.5 mi (16.9 km) from Beamish Open Air Museum and 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Life Science Centre.

With a stay at INNSiDE by Meliá Newcastle, you'll be centrally located in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, within a 5-minute drive of Quayside and St. James' Park. This hotel is 11 mi (17.7 km) from Beamish Open Air Museum and 0.3 mi (0.4 km) from High Level Bridge.

With a stay at Jesmond Dene House in Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Jesmond), you'll be within a 5-minute drive of St. James' Park and Quayside. This hotel is 13.2 mi (21.3 km) from Beamish Open Air Museum and 0.2 mi (0.3 km) from Jesmond Dene Park.

With a stay at Holiday Inn Newcastle Jesmond by IHG in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, you'll be within a 5-minute drive of St. James' Park and Quayside. This eco-friendly hotel is 11.5 mi (18.5 km) from Beamish Open Air Museum and 0.5 mi (0.8 km) from Newcastle-upon-Tyne Civic Centre.

Located in Chester-le-Street, The Bowes Incline is within a 15-minute drive of Beamish Open Air Museum and St. James' Park. This bed & breakfast is 6.5 mi (10.5 km) from Quayside and 11.7 mi (18.8 km) from Durham University.

Located in Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Newcastle City Center), Kabannas Newcastle is within a 15-minute walk of Eldon Square Shopping Centre and Castle Keep. This upscale hotel is 0.6 mi (1 km) from Chinatown and 0.7 mi (1.2 km) from Tyne Bridge.

Located in Durham, OYO The Townhouse is within a 15-minute drive of Durham University and Beamish Open Air Museum. This inn is 0.4 mi (0.6 km) from St. Nicholas Church and 0.4 mi (0.6 km) from Gala Theatre Durham.

Located in Gateshead (Lamesley), Riding Farm Cottages is within a 10-minute drive of Beamish Open Air Museum and Angel of the North. This family-friendly hotel is 6.9 mi (11.1 km) from Washington Old Hall and 7.6 mi (12.2 km) from BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art.

With a stay at Hotel Indigo Durham by IHG, you'll be centrally located in Durham – a 1-minute drive from Durham University and 15 minutes from Beamish Open Air Museum. This hotel is 0.3 mi (0.5 km) from St. Nicholas Church and 0.3 mi (0.5 km) from Gala Theatre Durham.

With a stay at Delta Hotels Durham Royal County, you'll be centrally located in Durham – a 1-minute drive from Durham University and 14 minutes from Beamish Open Air Museum. This eco-friendly hotel is 0.2 mi (0.4 km) from St. Nicholas Church and 0.2 mi (0.4 km) from Gala Theatre Durham.

Located in Stanley, Black Horse Beamish is a 3-minute drive from Beamish Wild and 6 minutes from Beamish Open Air Museum. This inn is 7.1 mi (11.5 km) from Tyne Bridge and 7.3 mi (11.7 km) from BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art.

Centrally located in the historic city of Durham Delta Hotels by Marriott Durham Royal County boasts views of Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle and is situated on the banks of the River Wear.

Each room at Delta Hotels by Marriott Durham Royal County Hotel features a flat-screen TV. Some rooms offer views of the River Wear and upgraded bathroom facilities.

Cast Iron restaurant serves a buffet-style breakfast. The Cast Iron Bar, along with the Terrace, serves a selection of sandwiches, mains, sides and desserts along with classic and contemporary cocktails, wines, spirits, beers and soft drinks.

The hotel offers an indoor gym accessible to hotel guests 24 hours.

The hotel is 13 miles from Sunderland and less than 20 miles from the centre of Newcastle. High Force Waterfall is 36 miles away and Beamish Museum can be reached in 15 minutes by car.