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Town and civil parish in Northumberland, England
Photo: Vallan, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Hexham is a small market town in the Tyne valley of Northumberland, 24 miles west of Newcastle. It's an attractive place with a medieval abbey and jail, and a good base for exploring Hadrian's Wall to the north. Also within a short drive are Northumberland National Park and North Pennines AONB. In 2021 Hexham had a population of 10,941.
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This was founded in 674 AD and the original Saxon crypt and cathedra (bishop's seat) survive, but most was destroyed by the Vikings. It was rebuilt in Early English style from 1170 and again in the late 19th century, when the long-lost nave was re-created to the earlier style. The Abbey escaped wrecking at the Dissolution by becoming the Anglican parish church, and remains so. A Roman inscription in the crypt has had the name of Emperor Geta (189-211) erased - he was murdered by his brother, who sought to obliterate his legacy.
Probably England's first purpose-built prison, this was built in 1333 using stone from the Roman fort at Corbridge. It's now a museum of Borders history, with a lift to all floors and dogs are welcome.
a performance venue and art gallery. It's an Italianate building completed in 1866, which has variously been the town hall, ballroom and bingo hall.
a National Hunt (jumps) course with races March-Dec.
Pleasant Italian on main street.
Reliable Indian on main street.
Lively family-run Greek taverna.
Cosy vegetarian restaurant, assistance dogs only.
Mostly trad British cuisine with a hint of Italian.
French restaurant with good menu selection, lots of vegan choices. The fixed-price menu is better value than the à la carte.
Atmospheric country pub with its own brewery and good grub.
Ivy-clad country pub, popular for Sunday roast.
Good gastropub in the lanes north of town.
Pub serving hearty trad fare.
formerly Tap & Spile
Trad main street pub with cask ales, food and live music, plus four rooms en suite.
has rooms
A basic place at the railway station.
Hotel with 33 rooms in Victorian building in town centre, with good restaurant. No dogs.
Comfy hotel, some rooms dog-friendly.
Opened in 2022 so it's still fresh and clean. Comfy enough, rooms small, and it would have been nice to put the wheelchair-friendly rooms on the ground floor.
This is an H-plan turret built around 1350, smashed up in 1405 by Henry IV but rebuilt from the 1880s. In modern times it's been a barracks and a girls school, and was converted into a hotel in 1986. It's atmospheric (think rickety steps and head-knocking low corners) but scores well for atmosphere, service and comfort, and is often a wedding venue.
Plush golf resort hotel in a modern building with cod-medieval trimmings.
Friendly comfy country hotel right on Hadrian's Wall.
Smart country hotel with spa on Hadrian's Wall.
Trains run every 30 min from Newcastle upon Tyne, taking 40 min via Metrocentre and Prudhoe, and continuing west to Haltwhistle and Carlisle, another 50 min.
Read in the guideBus AD122 parallels Hadrian's Wall between Hexham and Haltwhistle, ideal for one-way hikes then a ride back to your vehicle or lodging.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear · International · NCL
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