There was a lot of traffic past Whitley Bay over the weekend. Most of it (me included)
on the way to or from the Great North Fly-in at Eshott. We were mostly complying with a request from Newcastle ATC to transit up or down the coast. They were very busy at times. Staying off the coast below 1500' keeps you under their CTA and under their approach. Go much inland, and you're into their CTR. They keep an eye on you and tend to advise you of traffic. They don't have to.
It's an example of mutual backscratching that's worked well for years.