Townapedia
St Cuthbert's Church, Bedlington
St Cuthbert's Church, Bedlington · John Lord, CC BY-SA 2.0
Bedlingtonshire Community High School Badge
Bedlingtonshire Community High School Badge · ShaunJonesBCHS, CC BY-SA 4.0

Bedlington, United Kingdom

Bedlington is a town of 18,470 people in England, United Kingdom.

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Population18,470 GeoNames
RegionEngland
Elevation161 ft 49 m
Time zoneEurope/London
Nearest airportNewcastle International Airport (NCL) 7 mi
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Why visit Bedlington

Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks, 6 parks and trails, 54 places to eat and 1 attraction in and around town.

Highlights include Bedlington War Memorial, Castle Island and Plessey Woods Country Park.

About Bedlington

Bedlington is a town in the civil parish of West Bedlington, in Northumberland, England, with a population of 18,470 measured at the 2011 Census.

From the Wikipedia article Bedlington (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do1

Outfall Weir

Waterfall · 1.3 mi

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Museums and landmarks6

Bedlington War Memorial

Monument and historic site

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Bedlington 'D' Doctor Pit Memorial

Monument and historic site

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Bedlington Old Market Cross

Monument and historic site

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Childhood Home of Sir Daniel Gooch

Monument and historic site

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Dr. James Trotter Memorial

Monument and historic site

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Scotland Gate War Memorial

Monument and historic site · 1.5 mi

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Parks, trails and playgrounds6

Castle Island

Park · 2.6 mi

Island in the River Wansbeck in Ashington, Northumberland, England

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Plessey Woods Country Park

Park · 1.7 mi

Park in Northumberland, United Kingdom

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Bedlingtonshire Golf Club

Golf course · 0.9 mi

Hartford Road, Bedlington

Open in Google Maps · +44 1670 822457

Attlee Park

Park · 0.5 mi

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Dr Pitt Park

Park

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Gallagher Park

Park · 0.7 mi

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Restaurants and cafes54

Wharton Arms

Bar and pub

Burdon Terrace, Bedlington

Su-Th 11:00-23:00, Fr,Sa 11:00-01:30

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Apothecafé

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.5 mi

Bedlington Bank, Bedlington

Tu-Sa 08:00-14:00

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Clayton Arms

Bar and pub · 1.2 mi

Clayton Street, Bedlington

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The Grapes

Bar and pub

68 Front Street West, Bedlington

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The Northumberland Arms

Bar and pub

112 Front Street East, Bedlington

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The Sun

Bar and pub

25 Front Street West, Bedlington

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Ristorante Verde

Restaurant · Italian

3 Vulcan Place, Bedlington

Open in Google Maps · +44 1670 82 43 43

Rossini

Restaurant · Italian · 1.1 mi

Station Road, Bedlington

Open in Google Maps · +44 1670 820 130

The Red Lion

Bar and pub

Front Street West, Bedlington

Mo-Su 08:00-24:00; Fr, Sa 08:00-01:00

Open in Google Maps · +44 1670 536160

Asda Café

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.5 mi

Cowpen Road, Blyth

Mo-Sa 08:30-18:00; Su 10:00-16:00

Open in Google Maps · +44 1670 540511

The Market Tavern

Bar and pub

8 Market Place, Bedlington

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Bebside Inn

Bar and pub · 1.4 mi

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42 more on the map.

History

The place-name "Bedlington" is first attested circa 1050 in a biography of Saint Cuthbert, where it appears as "Bedlingtun". The name means "the town of Bedla's people".

Bedlington and the hamlets belonging to it were bought by Cutheard, Bishop of Durham, between 900 and 915, and although locally in the county of Northumberland, it became part of the county palatine (from Lat. palatium, a palace) of Durham, over which Bishop Walcher was granted royal rights by William the Conqueror.

When these rights were taken from Cuthbert Tunstall, Bishop of Durham, in 1536, Bedlington among his other properties, lost its special privileges, but was confirmed to him in 1541 with the other property of his predecessors. Together with the other lands of the see of Durham, Bedlington was made over to the ecclesiastical commissioners in 1866. Bedlingtonshire was made part of Northumberland for civil purposes by acts of parliament in 1832 and 1844.

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Bedlington became an industrial town with an iron works and several coal mines, however subsequent closure of these industries in the latter half of the 20th century caused the town to undergo many changes, becoming more of a dormitory town for those working in the surrounding areas. The last of the residential housing estates, formerly built for the mining families of the town, were taken over and razed by the council with residents evicted from the 'Pit Rows' estate in the early to mid 1970s, as was part and parcel of the government's national policy of this time.

The most important historic building in Bedlington was Bedlington Old Hall, which consisted of a 15th-century pele tower with a long early 18th-century stone block adjoining, occupying a prime location on the high street. It was controversially demolished in 1959 and replaced with council offices, which are now themselves empty and for sale.

Another historic building is Hartford Hall which was owned by the Burdon family.

The parish was abolished on 1 April 1974 and became an unparished area in Wansbeck district.

From the History section of Bedlington on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

More about Bedlington

Education

Bedlington is served by two secondary schools: Bedlington Academy (previously Bedlingtonshire Community High School) and St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy. They are both in Bedlington, but they do take in children from Stakeford, Guide Post, Choppington, Stannington and even areas of Morpeth. Bedlington is also served by three primary schools: Bedlington Station Primary School, Stead Lane Primary School and St Bede's Primary School. One of the few middle schools left in England is Meadowdale Academy. This is soon to change however as Meadowdale is to change to a primary school. The town of Bedlington also has two first schools: Whitley Memorial C of E School and Bedlington West End County First School. Whitley Memorial C of E School became a primary school at the start of the summer 2021 term. Pupils may also commute around 13 miles (21 km) south to Newcastle upon Tyne if they choose to attend an independent school.

From the Wikipedia article Bedlington, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Notable people from Bedlington

Born in Bedlington, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.

Churches and places of worship9

Shopping7

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Gas and EV charging4

Schools, colleges and libraries11

Healthcare5

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Map of Bedlington

103 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Newcastle International Airport (NCL) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 7 miles away.

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Towns near Bedlington

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Page built November 10, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.