Tantalising Tynemouth from on high on the terrific Tide Tour open topper!

There are few finer ways to fall head-over-heels for the North East coast than perched up top on the terrific Tide Tour open top bus, with the wind in your hair, the salt air in your lungs and Tynemouth's priory, pier and pristine sands unfurling before you like a giant, glorious storybook. This is scenic travel at its most joyous, a hop on, hop off adventure that trades traffic jams and parking palaver for a bird's eye seat above the waves. Leave the car at home, grab a spot on the top deck, and let the Tide Tour do the hard work while you do the gazing, grinning and gasping.

The joy of an open topper is that it turns the journey itself into the main event. You are not just being ferried from A to B; you are gliding along the coast with the kind of panoramic view that a car windscreen could only dream of. As the Tide Tour trundles between the mouth of the Tyne and the glittering North Sea, you catch glimpses of grand Victorian terraces, dune-fringed beaches, fishing boats bobbing in the harbour and cliffs tumbling down to coves where the surf rolls in, against a backdrop of Tynemouth's iconic and famous lighthouse. There is a wonderful, holiday-brochure quality to it all, only better, because it is real, it is right there, and you can hop off whenever something catches your eye.

And plenty will catch your eye in Tynemouth. Top of the list has to be the magnificent ruins of Tynemouth Priory and Castle, standing sentinel on their rocky headland above the mouth of the river. Founded as a monastery back in the seventh century and later fortified into a castle, this English Heritage site has weathered Viking raids, royal squabbles and two world wars, when it bristled with coastal gun batteries defending the Tyne. Wander the roofless nave, peer through arched windows out to sea, and imagine the monks, kings and gunners who have shared this astonishing view. It is one of the most atmospheric spots on the whole English coast.

Hop back on the open topper and you can be at Longsands beach in minutes. This is Tynemouth's showpiece: a broad, golden sweep of sand backed by grand houses, popular with surfers, families and anyone who fancies a proper paddle.

Just south lies the smaller, more sheltered King Edward's Bay, tucked snugly beneath the priory cliffs, while the Blue Reef Aquarium promises face-to-fin encounters with sharks, seals and seahorses if the weather turns. And do not miss a stroll along the pier to the lighthouse, where the sea often puts on a thrillingly moody performance and the views back across the sands are second-to-none.

Tynemouth's history has a poignant, salty edge, and nowhere is that more keenly felt than in the story of the Stanley. On a savage November night in 1864, this Aberdeen steamer was driven onto the rocks at the mouth of the Tyne in a ferocious gale, along with the schooner Friendship. Despite heroic efforts from the Volunteer Life Brigade and the Tynemouth lifeboat crews, dozens of lives were lost within sight of the shore. The tragedy so shook the nation that it directly inspired the founding of the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade, the first of its kind in the country, whose Watch House still stands beside the pier today. Pop in if you can; the little museum inside is stuffed with figureheads, ship's bells and moving reminders of the sea's power and the bravery of those who face it.

For a change of pace, aim for Tynemouth Station, an exuberant Victorian confection of iron and glass that hosts one of the North East's best weekend markets. Beneath its beautifully restored canopies you will find stalls piled with antiques, vinyl records, vintage clothes, handmade crafts, artisan cheeses, cakes and coffee. It is a browser's paradise and a lovely way to while away an hour or two, especially if a shower rolls in off the sea, before walking into the town centre and perusing delightful independent shops, set beside the watchful hour of the ornate clock tower.

All this sea air will inevitably work up an appetite, and Tynemouth rises magnificently to the challenge. Riley's Fish Shack, right down on King Edward's Bay, is legendary: fresh, sustainable seafood cooked over open flames and eaten from wooden shacks with your toes almost in the sand. Up on Front Street, Longsands Fish Kitchen serves some of the finest fish and chips on the North East coast, while Marshall's has been frying happy holidaymakers for generations. For coffee and cake, the Crusoe cafe overlooking Longsands is hard to beat, and Front Street brims with characterful pubs, bistros and gelaterias where an afternoon can happily disappear. Allards on the Quay is fab, meanwhile, for local food and delightful Cocktails.

Stay on board the bus to wonderful Whitley Bay, it is a wonderful contrast to the polished promenades and priory ruins, with a mix of amusement arcades, yet also amazing architecture, including the former cinema, the New Coliseum, which is one of the most grandiose buildings around and the incredible Spanish City, which is an historic Edwardian dome building that serves delicious afternoon tea, as well as fish and chips. It's yet another reason the Tide Tour's hop on, hop off ticket is such a gift; you get to sample the whole gorgeous stretch without ever fiddling with a road map.

By the time you settle back on the top deck for one more sun-warmed loop, watching the coast slide past in golden light, you will understand exactly why Tynemouth wins the hearts of everyone who visits. It is history, heritage, beach life, brilliant food and jaw-dropping scenery, all wrapped up in one glorious open top bus adventure. Ready to climb aboard? Plan your Tide Tour trip via the Great Scenic Journeys page at https://www.greatscenicjourneys.co.uk/ and get set for a brilliant aerial view of terrific Tynemouth!