I've never been to Woodhorn Museum in Ashington (NOT Hexham) Sandra but school trips go there so it must be worth seeing.
There are loads of places you could visit up her so here are a few ,
Beamish Museum is worth seeing if you have a car to get there as its a few miles north of Chester le Street.
Opposite Minchella's on Ocean Rd which I'm sure you will remember is a Museum worth seeing.
Then there is the Discovery Museum in Newcastle a 5 min walk from the Central Station.
St Pauls Church in Jarrow is worth a visit as is the Roman Fort in South Shields.