While there's no denying the excitement of a summer trip abroad, there's a spot in the North East that rivals the best of them when the sun shines and temperatures hit the 20s.

This place has even been compared to , thanks to its sandy , seafront bars, and stunning sunsets.

Enter South Shields beach, or Sandhaven to be precise, which was crowned Beach of the Year by The Sunday Times in 2022.

While comparing a stretch of sand and sea in South Tyneside to the party-centric White Isle might seem far-fetched, a sunny afternoon in July or August can create an atmosphere that's very much like a beach party.

During these months, free Sunday concerts draw tens of thousands to Bents Park - and despite often being marred by poor weather, when the sun does make an appearance, the festivities shift closer to the sea.

Venues like The New Sundial, Platform 33, and The Sanddancer are packed to the rafters, both inside and out, as DJs and live bands provide some open-air entertainment, reports .

Order a frozen strawberry daiquiri and imagine you're on holiday without even needing to board a plane.

South Shields shares more than just great beaches and live music with Ibiza - it also boasts its own Ocean Beach.

Instead of day beds, Moet and sushi platters, think of a waltzer, slushy and a carton of chips.

Rather than being an expensive beach club, Shields' Ocean Beach is a popular theme park that attracts visitors all year round and has even featured on the hit show Vera.

Despite their aesthetic differences, both Ocean Beaches share a celebrity clientele. In a recent chat with The Chronicle, Perrie Edwards revealed that she took her son Axel to the Shields' O Beach, which has just reopened for 2025, during her last visit home to South Shields.

Sandhaven Beach, boasting a near perfect 4.5/5 score on Trip Advisor, has been hailed as an 'amazing' spot. The UK Beach Guide also rates it highly with four stars.

One happy reviewer wrote: 'I have travelled far and wide but never seen such beauty as sunset in South Shields.'

Another equally impressed visitor penned: 'A first class beach with lovely soft clean sand."