newcastle upon tyne travel guide

Newcastle, A vibrant city break

Throw yourself head-first into the electric atmosphere of newcastle, with its buzzing city vibes, a stunning quayside setting and its large host of unique bars and restaurants..

With a city centre boasting some of England’s finest Georgian architecture, Newcastle is a hub for shopping, from the independent stores and quirky shops of Grainger Town to the latest big brand names of Eldon Square.

Join the droves of visitors that are drawn from all corners of the globe to experience a night on the ‘toon’ in the highly-acclaimed Geordie capital, with a wonderful array of cultural experiences, diverse range of stylish eateries and an eclectic music scene to suit all tastes in a number of venues across the city.

Where to Stay

Food & drink, landmarks & attractions, things to do.

Take a moment to visit an award-winning museum, admire the modern architecture of the iconic bridges crossing the River Tyne from the rooftop of Newcastle United Football Club’s St James’ Park stadium tour, the charm of Chinatown and the historic Newcastle Castle – from which the city takes its name – located in the centre of town.

Discover true Geordie hospitality – visit Newcastle .

Magical Light Trails in North East England 

7 ways to explore the outdoors in North East England

Alfresco Summer Nights in the North East

Other places to go, northumberland, south shields, tees valley, tynemouth & whitley bay.

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30 Top Things to Do in Newcastle – Places to Visit + Fun Activities + Map  

Newcastle is the city of seven bridges and the party capital of North England . This bustling city has been voted as the third best nightlife destination in Europe. It has its historic Grainger Town, an amazing waterfront, a Chinatown, a medieval castle and above all, Hadrian’s Wall Path – a UNESCO World Heritage site – runs through this city. Not only that, some of the best beaches in the country are also not too far from Newcastle. The local accent, Geordie is believed to be the sweetest of the British accents and so are the people.

Plus, If you are a fit runner, you can participate in the Great North Run – the largest half marathon in the world which takes place here in September every year. With so many things to do and see, you could easily spend a few days (even a week) in Newcastle.

We whizzed past this city so many times living in Edinburgh and to be honest, always underrated this city. And then, when we finally visited, we were utterly surprised and realised how wrong we were. The irony is Newcastle is now one of our favourite cities in the UK. Here is our guide to 30 amazing things to do in this bustling city:

🇬🇧 30 Best Things to do in Newcastle, England

1. tyne bridge - an icon of newcastle.

Built in 1928, Tyne Bridge is the most famous of all the bridges over River Tyne. This Green arch shaped bridge is sort of a symbol of Newcastle which connects this city with its neighbouring town, Gateshead. The structure is simply fantabulous! This iconic bridge is also believed to be the inspiration for Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia which was built using the same design.

This Grade II listed bridge is home to about 700 pairs of black-legged Kittiwakes. From the footpath over the bridge, you would get a spectacular view of the other bridges over Rive Tyne and the Quayside.

2. Newcastle Castle - a medieval fort at the heart of the city

Newcastle Castle is certainly one of the top tourist attractions in the city. The current remains of this Norman fortress were built in the 12 th century on the site of a motte and bailey castle, called New Castle – after which the city is named. Visit the castle, explore the Black Gate and the Keep (dungeon) and meet the intriguing characters of the past.

Plus, you would get a breath-taking panoramic cityscape from the top of the castle. Entrance fees to the Castle is £8.75 for adults.  They host a range of events like film nights, theatres, musical performances which you can enjoy within the walls of this historic castle. 

3. Gateshead Millennium Bridge

The newest of all the bridges in Newcastle, Gateshead Millennium Bridge is a tilting bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. Opened to the public in 2001, this arch shaped engineering marvel is the world’s first tilting bridge. The bridge rotates about 40 degree to allow the river traffics to pass under it. The whole tilting time is about 4 and half minutes. That’s really an interesting event. Check out the Gateshead Council website for the tilting schedules.  

4. Angel of the North, Gateshead 

Located just about 6.5 miles from the city centre, Angel of the North is one of the iconic things that represent North East England. This impressive 65 ft angel of steel has been welcoming visitors to the Newcastle and Gateshead spreading its wings since 1998. This is possibly the largest angel structure in the world. If you are coming here by public transport, take the Bus Angel 21 from Eldon Square.

5. Newcastle Quayside

Quayside is definitely one of the top tourist attractions in Newcastle. This vibrant stretch on the bank of the River Tyne always bustles with restaurants and pubs.   Take a ramble along the quayside and enjoy stunning views of the Seven Bridges. At the end of the Quayside, lies the Free Trade Inn. A great spot to grab a pint and enjoy a breath-taking view of all the bridges.

If you are visiting Newcastle at weekends, come to the Quayside market on Sunday morning for some tasty treats from many different cuisines. Plus, there are plenty of stalls selling antique crafts, local produces, second-hand books, even telling fortunes. You will certainly be amused.

6. Beamish, the Living Museum of the North

Located halfway between Newcastle and Durham , Beamish is a 350 acre open-air museum where you can time travel to the Victorian and Edwardian eras of North East England . It’s like you are in the set of a period drama. Hop on to the vintage bus (free service – included in the ticket) and explore different sections of the museum. You can also shop and taste many nostalgias of the past like Victorian lemonade, Rowntree’s chocolates, bakeries made with Edwardian recipes. Truly a gem of North East England, this Living Museum of the North is a perfect package of entertainment and education for all ages.

Beamish is just about 20 minutes’ drive from Newcastle. There are frequent public bus services as well from the city centre. Entry to the museum is £19.50 per adult which includes your yearly pass. You can visit the museum as many times as you want in a year without paying anything extra.

7. Grainger Town - Historic Heart of Newcastle

Grainger Town lies at the nucleus of Newcastle. It’s named after Richard Grainger who is credited to have reshaped this city in neoclassical style in the 19 th century. Most of the buildings in the Grainger Town are now of historical importance.

Take a ramble along the Grey Street – considered the centrepiece of the Grainger town and admire the grand facades of Theatre Royal, Grainger Market and Grey’s Monument.

8. Grey’s Monument

Located at the head of Grey Street, Grey’s Monument is one of top landmarks in Newcastle. This 134 ft column was built to commemorate Charles Grey, a British Prime minister from the nearby village, Howick. He led the nation from 1830 to 1834 and during his tenure, the Great Reform Act of 1832 was passed which revolutionised Britain’s electoral system. Also, the famous Earl Grey Tea was named after him.  

You can climb up to the top of this monument which dominates the city skyline. The ticket price is £5 per adult.

9. High Level Bridge

Oldest of the seven bridges on River Tyne in Newcastle, High Level Bridge was built in mid-19 th century. This Grade I listed bridge has double-deck structure – the upper one is for the trains and the lower one is for the one-way traffic to the Gateshead.

The arches and suspensions on the sheltered footpath are quite photogenic. Plus, you would get some of the best views of the seven bridges as you walk over this bridge from one end to the other.

10. Tynemouth Priory and Castle

Located at Tynemouth, about 10 miles northeast of Newcastle, Tynemouth Priory and Castle is one of the top tourist attractions in North East England. Visit the ruins of the 7th-century priory and discover the riveting history of Viking raids. The historic castle was one of the largest fortifications of medieval England. Not only the history, you would also get a stunning open view of the North Sea and the coastline.

If you are coming here by public transport, take the Yellow Line metro from Newcastle and it would take about 35 minutes. Entrance fees to the Priory and Castle is £7.60 per adults. After visiting the caste, if you are hungry, pop into the Riley’s Fish Shack, a deckchair fish bar on the King’s Edwards Bay at the foot of the castle.

11. Longsands Beach - A perfect Beach Destination near Newcastle

After visiting the Tynemouth   Priory and castle, if you fancy a dip in the North Sea, head towards the nearby Longsands Beach. This award-winning beach of gold sand is a great spot to soak up the sun and enjoy a swim. It’s one of the best beaches of the northeast coast of England and extremely popular with the locals and surfers. Here, you can sign up for surfing lessons as well if you are into water sports.

12. Whitley Bay Beach & St Mary’s Lighthouse

Whitley Bay Beach is another award-winning beach near Newcastle.  stretching from Whitley Bay to St Mary’s Lighthouse – a Victorian lighthouse that can be accessed via a causeway. This 2-mile-long dog-friendly beach is a great spot for a beach day out. The cornerstone of Whitley Bay is the Spanish City, a white dome-shaped leisure centre.

Whitley Bay has recently been voted as one of the coolest places to live in the UK. So, if you are planning to relocate to the North East, this is the place for you.

13. Tynemouth Market

Tynemouth Metro station is home to a bustling market on Saturday and Sunday every week. This Victorian style building hosts over 150 stalls offering an array of artisan crafts, vintage clothes, jewellery, locally sourced produces and many more eye-catching items. A great place to bag some bargains and enjoy yummy street foods.

14. Newcastle cathedral

The Cathedral Church of St Nicholas is one of the most historic landmarks in Newcastle. The current church was rebuilt in the mid-14 th century after the original parish church was destroyed by fire in early 13 th century.   This lantern-spired church is named after St Nicholas, the patron saint of the sailors.

Pop into this church and enjoy its beautiful interiors adorned with finest stained glasses most notably a roundel of the Madonna feeding the Christ Child.

15. BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art

Located on the south bank of River Tyne, BALTIC Centre for contemporary Art is a totally one of the top attractions in Newcastle. This former flour mill hosts a great range of interesting exhibits all through the year and they are free to explore. Plus, from the Viewing box at Level 5, the view over to the Quayside and the Millennium bridge is absolutely breath taking. They have a rooftop restaurant as well at Level 6 to enjoy a nice meal with the view.

16. Great North Museum: Hancock

The Great North Museum: Hancock is one of the must-see attractions in Newcastle.  A short walk from Haymarket Bus Station, this museum has a vast collection of artifacts spanning across natural history, archaeology and world cultures.

Highlight of your visit would be Hadrian’s Wall gallery on the ground floor which shows many historic objects and tells fascinating stories about 73-mile long stretch of Hadrian’s wall, built in AD 122. There are many interesting exhibits in the Ancient Egyptians, Natural Northumbria and World Cultures Galleries as well.

This museum is part of Newcastle University. It’s open daily and free to visit.

17. Sage Gateshead

Located on the South bank of Tyne in Gateshead, Sage Gateshead is a renowned music and concert venue of the North East. This glass building is home to Royal Northern Sinfonia, a local orchestra of international fame. Opened in 2004, Sage hosts more than 400 gigs and concerts every year. If you are in for some live music, check out their website and buy a ticket in advance.

18. Laing Art Gallery

Located at the heart of Newcastle, Laing Art Gallery houses a great range of collections from watercolour painting to contemporary arts, ceramics to Newcastle Silver. Built in 1901, this gallery is a great place to learn and admire local arts which include Maling Pottery and glassworks. You would find some of the finest works of Thomas Bewick and John Martin – two of the greatest artists of North East England. The gallery runs a number of exhibits throughout the year. Entree is free to this family-friendly gallery except for some of the events.

19. Swing Bridge

Built in 1876 on River Tyne, Swing Bridge was the largest bridge of its kind when it was opened. This superb swing structure was designed to allow larger vessels on River Tyne to pass. This Grade II listed bridge is a heritage landmark of Newcastle. Once in constant use, now this bridge opens only four times a week.  

20. Central Arcade

Located at the heart of historic Grainger Town of Newcastle, Central Arcade is an elegant Edwardian shopping arcade. This arcade is home to JG Windows, one of the oldest music stores in the UK which has a wide range of musical instruments. Pop into the arcade and explore its glass barrel-vaulted ceilings, mosaic floors and stunning tileworks. Shopping in this early 20 th   Century building is certainly a rare experience.

21. Newcastle Theatre Royal

One of the finest theatres in the UK, Theatre Royal on Grey Street first opened its door to the public in 1837 with the performance of The Merchant of Venice. Since then, over the past two centuries, many artists of the UK and international fame have performed here including Sir Henry Irving, Dame Judi Dench, Orson Welles, Charlton Heston. Today, this historic theatre hosts about 400 shows every year. They run guided tours throughout the year. Advance online booking is recommended.  

22. Hadrian’s Wall- Excellent day out from Newcastle

Hadrian’s Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage site – a must-visit place while you are in northern England. This 73-mile long Roman fortification was built around AD 122 during the reign of Roman Emperor, Hadrian stretching from Wallsend (about 4 miles east of Newcastle) to Bowness-on-Solway on the northwest coast of England. Some key landmarks on this vast stretch include Segedunum, Housesteads Roman Fort & Museum, Roman Army Museum, Corbridge Roman Town, Roman Vindolanda and the iconic Sycamore Gap. If would like to walk the entire stretch, it would take around 10 days depending on your fitness level. The most popular part of Hadrian’s Wall is from Hexham to Haltwhistle which would take about 5 – 6 hours to walk. Hexham is about 45 minutes from Newcastle by train.

• Read More: Our Guide to 11 Things to do in Hadrian’s Wall on a Day Trip.

23. Amazing Nightlife - Best Party Town in North England

Newcastle is the party capital of North England . It has been voted the third best nightlife destination in Europe and seventh in the world. Most of the popular pubs and nightclubs are dotted around the Quayside. People from nearby towns and villages flock here at the weekend just to party. Even you would see some party buses parked at the weekend. Not just the regular raves, this city is also a popular place for Stag and Hen Do. So, pack our party dresses when you are coming to Newcastle.

24. Life Science Centre

Located on Times Square near the Newcastle Central train station, Life Science Centre is a science village. Opened in 2001 primarily to promote Life Science in North East, Life should go on your itinerary particularly if you are visiting here with your kids. They host loads of interactive exhibits, live experiments and educational workshops. Plus, they have the largest planetarium in North England. Highlight of your visit would definitely be the 4D Motion Ride.  

25. St Mary’s Cathedral & All Saints’ Church

Located on Clayton Street, St Mary’s Cathedral lies very close to Newcastle Train Station. This mid-19 th century cathedral was built by famous Victorian architect, Augustus Welby Pugin who also designed the Palace of Westminster. This cathedral with needle spires is now a Grade I listed building. 

Built in late 18th century, All Saints Church in Quayside is the only elliptical church building in England.  

26. Gateway of Northumberland - Easy Day trip from Newcastle

Historically, Newcastle was part of Northumberland until 1974 when metropolitan county Tyne and Wear was created. Now, this city is considered the southern gateway of Northumberland. Within an hour’s distance from Newcastle, lies some of the famous attractions of Northumberland:

Bamburgh – Bamburgh was the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Bernicia, which comprised of present-day Northumberland and a few neighbouring counties. This historic town is home to imposing Bamburgh Castle and Bamburgh Beach which boasts of having a sweeping, sandy bay with impressive sand dunes. If you are a fan of the Netflix series, The Last Kingdom, this is your must-visit place.

Alnwick Castle – UK’s second largest inhabited castle, super famous for the feature on Harry Potter films as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The Holy Island, Lindisfarne – This tidal island is the sacred heart of Northumbria. Only accessible in low tide, this is one of the earliest establishments of Christianity in the UK. Also, Lindisfarne has huge significance in terms of the Viking Raid in Britain.  

Farne Islands – A famous wildlife Colony (especially puffins and grey seals) off the coast of Northumberland.

27. Newcastle Chinatown

Newcastle is one of the five cities in England with a Chinatown. This city’s Chinatown lies at Stowell street in the historic Grainger Town with a traditional Chinese arch to the northern entrance. The entire area is lined up with authentic Chinese restaurants, paintings of dragons, hanging Chinese calligraphy, karaoke bars. So, overall a really nice place for some Asian treats. If you are visiting Newcastle in February, this is a must-visit place when the Chinese New Year celebration takes place.

28. St Thomas Newcastle Church

One of the iconic landmarks in Newcastle, the Church of St Thomas the Martyr is located very close to the Haymarket Bus Station. The present church was built between 1827 and 1830 by famous architect John Dobson, who built many historic buildings in Newcastle. This is a Grade II listed building.

29. Morden Tower

Built in 1290, Morden Tower is one of the five remaining turrets of historic town wall in Newcastle. After Tom Pickard (a famous poet from Newcastle) and his wife, Connie leased out this tower in 1964, it has become a popular spot for poetry reading and literary meet. Many famous poets have read here including Allen Ginsberg, Seamus Heaney, Ted Hughes, Basil Bunting. If you are keen about poetry, you will have to be here.  

30. Durham - An Epic day trip destination from Newcastle

From Newcastle, the Cathedral city of Durham is about half an hour by car and just 15 minutes by train. Durham is most famous for its historic cathedral which is the burial place of St Cuthbert. This Norman architecture Cathedral and the adjoining castle are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Durham offers many fun activities as well – you can row on the River Wear and admire the city landmarks, you can walk along the river or pop into the full moon market. So, Durham is a great choice to extend your trip by a couple of days.

• Read More: Our Weekend Guide to 22 Best Things to do in Durham

Getting in and around Newcastle:

By Train: Newcastle is well-connected by train with most of the big cities in the UK. It takes about 1.5 hours from Edinburgh and 3 hours from London to reach here by train .

By Bus: If you are coming by bus, National Express and Megabus have daily bus services from Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and Edinburgh.  

Getting around the City: You can walk to most of the attractions in the city. However, You would need to take the bus from Eldon Square for visiting some of the attractions which lie outside the city:

• Angel of the North – Bus Angel 21
• Beamish – Bus 28 or 28A
• For visiting Tynemouth, Longsands Beach, Whitley Bay, take the Yellow Line Metro from Central station or Monument metro station.

Planing a Trip to England?

For further reading on other ENGLAND destinations:

Where to Stay in Newcastle:

Newcastle and its neighbouring town, Gateshead across the River Tyne have plenty of hotels, B&Bs and hostels. Accommodation is not too pricey here compared to other big cities in England .

Where to Eat in Newcastle:

This city has an amazing food and pub scene. There are loads of restaurants and pubs dotted around Quayside and the city centre. A few of our recommendations:

• The Botanist near the Eldon Square
• Blackfriars Restaurants – believed to be the oldest in Britain
• The Stack – Street food paradise with plenty of options from Italian to Asian

1 thought on “30 Top Things to Do in Newcastle – Places to Visit + Fun Activities + Map  ”

NEWCASTLE Is a lovely place to visit and stay. A place we’re I stayed with my family on school holidays. I HAVE WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF PLACES I VISITED WITH MY AUNTIE AND UNCLE SISTER AND I HAVE FOND MEMORIES ALL AROUND NEWCASTLE CITY 💖. A CITY I WILL ALLWAYS REMEMBER.

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Newcastle upon Tyne

• 1.1 Tourist information
• 3.1.1 To and from the city
• 3.2 By train
• 3.5 By boat
• 4.1 By bicycle
• 4.3 By Metro
• 4.4 By train
• 4.5 By taxi
• 5.1 Galleries and museums
• 5.2 Further afield
• 6.1 Theatre
• 10.1.1 City centre
• 10.1.2 North Newcastle
• 10.2 Mid-range
• 10.3 Splurge
• 11.1 Bigg Market
• 11.2 Central Station
• 11.3 Quayside
• 11.4 Ouseburn
• 11.5 Jesmond
• 11.6 Others
• 11.7 Breweries
• 12.1 Budget
• 12.2 Mid-range
• 12.3 Splurge
• 14 Stay safe

Newcastle upon Tyne is a city in Tyne and Wear in the north-east of England . It's an industrial but lively, cultural place on the north bank of the River Tyne, with a population of just over 300,000 in 2019, and another half a million residing in its outlying areas.

Newcastle formed its own county or borough as early as 1400, between Northumberland to the north and County Durham to the south. In 1974 the nearby urban areas of those counties were combined with Newcastle to form the new metropolis of Tyne and Wear.

Understand [ edit ]

The Iraqi and Syrian occupation of town is nowadays forgotten, let bygones be bygones. But in 200 AD the Roman army recruited from those territories and brought so many to serve here that the depot fort was called Arbeia , the Arab place. Their job was to tote supplies from the ship wharves to the old castle of Pons Aelius, then up the military roads west along Hadrian's Wall (built 80 years earlier) or north into the bandit lands of the Picts. The Romans left around 400 AD and in their wake eventually grew up a kingdom of Northumbria, which knew the town as Munucceaster. But again and again, the region was devastated by Viking raids: what it needed was a new castle.

Robert Curthose obliged in 1080, fearing attack by Scots or rebels, though he mostly warred with his own family. (He was the eldest son of William the Conqueror but was disinherited, to spend his last 20 years in dungeons.) His wooden Novum Castellum was soon replaced by a stone castle, then another in 1172 which is the ruin you see today. Its walls were extended to protect the entire town, which stood out against the Scots and for several months against Cromwell; the region was Royalist in the Civil Wars then fell to assault.

Newcastle became industrial early in the Middle Ages, from salt-panning, coal that was shallow and easily mined, limestone quarried for masonry and quicklime, and farm produce from the fertile hinterland. Trade and transport by sea were important, including from London in an era when roads were miserable cart tracks, but it was only one of many ports along the Tyne, and small sailing vessels didn't need much harbour facilities. The burgesses of Newcastle set fire to the rival port at North Shields, but their masterstroke in 1290 was to win a Royal monopoly on local mining and export of coal. This lucrative cartel was only busted in 1750, while the other ports subsisted on other trade such as fish.

The city's industrial heyday was in the 19th century, with deep mining of coal, smoke-stack industry including shipbuilding, and a busy port. Urban squalour co-existed with the elegant central district of Grainger Town and Grey Street, nowadays one of the finest cityscapes in Britain. There were horrible accidents, cholera and a devastating factory explosion, but there was also electric lighting, steam-hauled railways and turboprop ships. The 20th century brought the slump of the miners' strike, the Depression and wartime bombing. There was enough variety and innovation of trade for the city to recover, with a growing public sector, two universities and attractive new architecture. By the 21st century, Newcastle could re-launch itself as a year-round leisure travel destination.

The climate is cool in summer (around 20°C) and seldom below freezing in winter. It's not particularly wet but can rain any time: see Tyne and Wear climate chart. Daylight hours range from 4:30AM to 9:45PM in the summer, to 8:30AM to just after 3:30PM in winter.

Tourist information [ edit ]

• Visit Northeast England

Talk [ edit ]

The distinctive dialect here and throughout the northeast is "Geordie" — George or Geordie was a common name among local miners. Its pronunciation is closer to Anglo-Saxon than other English dialects, but its vocabulary is more modern. The only word you need to know is "Howay!", an all-purpose exclamation. Whether you understand anything else of it depends on whether the speaker wishes you to understand, so anyone reliant on your tourist money will ensure you do.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ].

An alternative is Manchester Airport ( MAN  IATA ), with a great range of long-haul flights, saving the hassle of a change in Heathrow or Amsterdam. From the airport railway station, it's 3 hours to Newcastle: you may need to change at Manchester Piccadilly or York.

To and from the city [ edit ]

• By Metro: A journey on the Tyne and Wear Metro takes around 20–25 minutes, with up to 5 trains per hour running during the day and up to 4 trains per hour running in the evening and on Sunday. As of July 2022, a single three-zone ticket costs £3.90 and an all-day three-zone ticket costs £5.70.
• By bus : Stagecoach operate the half-hourly X78 service, which runs express to Eldon Square via Ponteland Road, with an average journey time of around 20–25 minutes.
• By taxi : There is a taxi rank at the airport, with an average fare of around £15.00–£20.00.
• By car: The airport is situated off the A696, which can be reached easily from a number of principal routes, including the A1, A68 & A69. The estimated journey time to the city centre from Newcastle International Airport is 15–20 minutes, with an increased travel time during peak hours.

By train [ edit ]

Newcastle is on the East Coast Main Line, with the following services:

• LNER trains running once or twice an hour between Edinburgh (90 min) and London King's Cross (3 hours) via York (one hour).
• Lumo also operate a few trains between Edinburgh and London.
• CrossCountry runs hourly from the West Country via Birmingham (3 hours 30 min), Sheffield (2 hours 15 minutes), Leeds (90 min) and York.
• TransPennine Express runs from Liverpool via Manchester Victoria (2 hours 30 min). The direct train from Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly remains suspended in March 2023.
• Northern Trains run from Carlisle (90 min) via Hexham and from Middlesbrough (80 min).

For timetables, fares, disruptions and real-time service information see National Rail . You can supplement your rail ticket with a Plusbus ticket for local buses. See the "Get around" section for further information. In most cases, few travellers benefit.

Central Station is on both lines of the Tyne & Wear Metro, with frequent trains to the airport, suburbs, Gateshead and outlying towns. See below.

By car [ edit ]

From north or south follow A1(M), which passes west of the city by Metrocentre. For most central destinations, use Exit 69 onto A184, which brings you in via Gateshead and the Tyne Bridge. Don't take A19, which bypasses the city away to the east via the toll tunnel. From Glasgow or Stranraer (from Ireland) head via Carlisle onto A69.

Newcastle Park & Rides are aimed at commuters from rural Northumberland, so they're mostly north and west:

• Callerton Parkway and Kingston are on the Metro Green Line from the airport,
• Newcastle Great Park at Wide Open uses the bus (but is closed in 2022)
• Regent Centre to the north is on the Metro Yellow Line, as is Walkergate to the east.
• Heworth near Gateshead is the only P&R south of the River Tyne: it's on both Metro lines but not particularly convenient for the A1.

The city centre has multi-storey carparks with over 10,000 spaces, charging around £2 per hour M-Sa 8AM-5PM and free at other times. Street parking is a last resort: it's pricey, is typically for a maximum of one hour, and the only space you can find is obstructed by a builder's skip.

Car hire companies include Europcar (who have a desk in Central Station), Avis , National , Sixt , Budget and Enterprise . These also serve the airport and Gateshead.

By bus [ edit ]

National Express buses take 7-8 hours from London Victoria via Milton Keynes , Sheffield , Leeds , Middlesbrough and Sunderland ; one-way fares from London start from £7. There are three morning departures, one afternoon and one overnight. Four buses a day run from Liverpool via Manchester airport and city and Leeds, though you may need to change. Three a day run from Birmingham via Sheffield and Leeds, and three a day from Glasgow via Edinburgh .

Megabus have five buses a day from London Victoria, for similar fares. The fastest take 7 hours, but some take 10 hours via Heathrow airport, Coventry , Birmingham airport and city, Manchester airport and city, Huddersfield , Leeds , Middlesbrough and Sunderland . Megabus don't use Newcastle bus station, they stop on John Dobson Street a couple of blocks east of Eldon Square, close to the universities.

Stagecoach Bus 685 runs from Carlisle via Brampton , Haltwhistle (for Hadrian's Wall ), Hexham , Corbridge and Heddon-on-the-Wall. It's supposed to be an hourly service but is sporadic in 2022. See Tyne and Wear#Get around for regional bus routes: you're always better by train or Metro where available, for instance from Berwick-upon-Tweed , Durham or Sunderland .

By boat [ edit ]

Port of Tyne, 7 mi (11 km) east of city centre, has overnight DFDS ferries from IJmuiden near Amsterdam . See Tynemouth#Get in for how to get there.

Get around [ edit ]

Walking is always first choice for city centre, the university main campuses, Quayside and the opposite river bank of Gateshead.

By bicycle [ edit ]

Newcastle is a reasonably cycle-friendly city, with cycle lanes and lock-up points. A few Metro stations have secure storage for bicycles, but only fold-away bikes are permitted on Metro trains. You don't need a bike in town, but might use one to explore Hadrian's Wall path or venture out to the coast. See Tyne and Wear#Get in for long distance bike routes.

Newcastle doesn't have a bike-share scheme, and the shops sell bikes and kit but don't hire, however there is one rental facility:

54.97058 -1.58732 1 Cycle Hub , Ouseburn NE61BU ( east bank of Ouseburn outlet ), ☏ +44 191 276 7250 , [email protected] . M-W 8:30AM-4:30PM, Th F 9:30AM-2PM, Sa Su 10AM-4:30PM . A full-service place with a cafe, a shop, a workshop, and bike hire with a good selection. Pricey, but knowledgeable friendly service. ( updated Dec 2021 )

Go North East Q3 or Quaylink runs every 30 min south from Great Park P&R through Gosforth, Jesmond, Haymarket and Pilgrim St in city centre, then east along Quayside to St Peter's, Walker and Wallsend. Bus 33 also runs between Gosforth, Jesmond and the centre.

Bus 1 runs every 30 min from Gateshead to Market St in city centre, then east to Wallsend and the coast.

These city buses ply the streets and don't use the bus station. See Tyne and Wear#Get around for buses to the outlying towns, and individual towns' "Get in".

The bus companies offer day-tickets and longer passes, but these are only valid for the issuing company, with a variety of fare zones. For instance a Go North East day-ticket for city centre in 2022 is £5.30, more than separate there-and-back singles.

Plusbus is a supplement to your rail ticket, valid for local buses but not the Metro. A day ticket is adult £4, child £2. The travel area corresponds to Fare Zones A+B, so it costs more than an ordinary single, and only makes sense for multiple journeys. 7-day and longer tickets are available.

By Metro [ edit ]

Tyne & Wear Metro is quick and inexpensive, and is the best option for outlying areas. There are two lines, mostly overground, but running together underground through the city centre.

• The Green Line runs from the airport to South Gosforth, the city centre, Gateshead, Heworth, Sunderland and South Hylton.
• The Yellow Line makes a great loop north from St James in the city centre to Wallsend, North Shields, Tynemouth, Whitley Bay then South Gosforth, back through the city centre (crossing itself at Monument) then Gateshead, Heworth, Jarrow and North Shields. So for the north bank of Tyne always take the anti-clockwise loop, but for Whitley Bay, you could go either way.

Trains run between 6AM and 11PM, normally every 6-10 min but in 2021/22 this is scaled back to 12-15 min. There are three fare zones: in 2022 a single for one is £2.30, two zones £3.20 and all zones (e.g. from the airport) £3.90. A day ticket for one zone is £3.60, for two is £4.70 and for all is £5.70. Plusbus is not valid on the Metro.

Ticket machines take cards or cash. Main stations have ticket barriers. Outlying stations may have no gates or leave them open at quiet times, but ticket inspectors patrol and are wearily familiar with lame excuses by fare dodgers. Smoking is banned in the entire system, including open-air stations. All stations on the network offer step-free access from street to train, and the metro carriages have ample space for wheelchairs. Mobility scooters are not allowed on the Metro.

You might use train rather than Metro or bus for a few districts, for similar fares:

• north via Manors (for both universities) to Cramlington and Morpeth . Manors Metro is 100 yards north of Manors railway station so it's not mapped as an interchange, but a short walk.
• west via Dunston (west edge of Gateshead) and Metrocentre to Prudhoe, Corbridge , Hexham and Carlisle .
• southeast via Heworth to Sunderland , Stockton-on-Tees and Middlesbrough .

A new line is under construction in 2022 through the northern suburbs to Blyth and Ashington. It might open in 2024.

By taxi [ edit ]

Operators include Premier (incorporating Newcastle Taxis) ☏ +44 191 638 0 638 , LA Taxis ☏ +44 191 287 7777 , Blueline ☏ +44 191 262 6666 , and Uber . They all get mixed reviews for reliability and general state of repair of vehicles and drivers. A ride from city centre to the airport in 2022 is around £15, and to the ferry terminal is £18.

See [ edit ]

• The River Tyne north bank has a footpath and cycleway. It's called "Hadrian's Way" but is entirely modern, as the Roman original is lost under the city centre.
• Gateshead : the south bank of the Tyne is a separate city, but its main sites are along the riverside a short walk from Newcastle. For instance BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art is by the Millennium Bridge, and Gateshead also has Sage Music Centre, the Athletics Stadium, and Metro shopping centre. Angel of the North stands at the south tip of the city.

• 54.99 -1.59 9 Jesmond Dene is a park in the bosky gorge of the Ouseburn river, laid out by the industrialist and inventor Lord Armstrong in the 1860s. Multiple access points, the Metro Yellow and Green Lines run half a mile west to their fork at South Gosforth.

Galleries and museums [ edit ]

• 54.97832 -1.60868 10 Gallery North , Northumbria University, Sandyford Road NE1 8QE , ☏ +44 191 349 5382 , [email protected] . W-Sa 10AM-4PM . The gallery was established in 1977 within Northumbria University and has rotating exhibitions. The University's permanent art collection is for teaching and research, and not generally on public display. However the Woon Gallery , opened in 2018, is a long-term loan of Asian (mostly Buddhist) art. Free . ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.96907 -1.60832 18 Side Gallery , 5 & 9 Side NE1 3JE , ☏ +44 191 232 2208 . Th-F 11AM-5PM, Sa-Su noon-5PM . Documentary photography gallery and archive, also has a 50-seater cinema showing independent films. Free . ( updated Dec 2022 )

Further afield [ edit ]

• 54.988 -1.531 19 Wallsend is actually Wall's Beginning, as construction of Hadrian's Wall started here in 122 AD and worked west. The Roman fort of Segedunum is next to Mile Zero of the wall and Wallsend Metro station (not Hadrian Road). Hadrian's Wall path and cycleway follows the north bank of the Tyne but is entirely modern for 14 miles west, as through Newcastle the ancient route and structures are obliterated.
• Stephenson Railway Museum: see Tynemouth .
• Tynemouth at the river outflow has a ruined castle and priory and is a beach resort.
• The Angel of the North is the distinctive 20-m winged sculpture by Antony Gormley. It's at the south edge of Gateshead , at the junction of the A1 and A167. From Newcastle city centre or Gateshead Interchange (on the Metro), take bus route 21 "The Angel" to Durham Road / Deneford.
• Hadrian's Wall can be discerned west from Heddon-on-the Wall, though the best parts begin 20 miles further west around Hexham .

Do [ edit ]

• What's on? Read The Crack magazine.
• River Escapes . Apr-Oct: Su; Jun-Sep: Tu Th Sa . In summer they have 3-hour boat trips upriver to the countryside or downriver to the sea, embarking from St Anne's Quay near Premier Inn. Weekends they have one hour city trips, embarking from City Marina beneath Tyne Bridge. ( updated Dec 2021 )

Theatre [ edit ]

Music [ edit ]

• See Gateshead for Sage Music Centre. It's easiest accessed from Newcastle by walking across the low-level swing bridge.
• Northumbria and Newcastle University have large venues in their unions' for mainstream and indie acts alike and attract some of the biggest names from across the UK and abroad.
• For smaller, indie gigs check out Head of Steam , The Cluny and Tyne Bar

Sport [ edit ]

• 55.0316 -1.604 9 Newcastle Racecourse is nowadays to the north at High Gosforth Park NE3 5HP. It's an artificial Tapeta surface, with flat-racing held year-round and jumps races Oct-March. It's a mile north of South Gosforth on both metro lines.
• Football: Newcastle United play at 54.97546 -1.62175 10 St James Park , half a mile north of the railway station. They play soccer in the Premier League, England's top tier. Since 2021 they are by some distance the world's richest club, being owned by the Saudi Arabian sovereign investment fund.
• Rugby Union (15-a-side): Newcastle Falcons were promoted in 2020 so they now play in the Premiership, the top tier of English rugby union. Their home ground is 55.0187 -1.6721 11 Kingston Park in the north of the city.
• Rugby League (13-a-side): Newcastle Thunder folded in 2023 so the city lacks a pro RL team.
• Basketball: Newcastle Eagles play at the Vertu Motors Arena.
• Go to the dog track , also at Brough Park - the dogs chase round the outer track, the bikes race within.
• Athletics at 54.96096 -1.57962 12 Gateshead International Stadium , south of the river with its own Metro station. This multi-use stadium hosts other events, and its sports facilities can be used by members.
• Watch cricket at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street , 10 mi (16 km) south. This is home to Durham County Cricket Club, one of the 18 First Class Counties, the top tier of English cricket. County matches normally last 3-4 days. The stadium also hosts international or Test Matches, lasting up to five days. The stadium is half a mile east of the railway station, frequent trains take ten min from Newcastle.

Cinema [ edit ]

• 54.97243 -1.61819 13 Cineworld , The Gate, Newgate St NE1 5TG , ☏ +44 330 333 4444 . Chain multiplex showing mainstream releases. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.97266 -1.61262 15 Everyman , 75 Grey St NE1 6EF , ☏ +44 1233 555642 . Delightful salon-style cinema where you recline on sofas and are served food and drink. Obviously that's reflected in the ticket prices. Adult £13, child £9 . ( updated Dec 2021 )
• Side Cinema is within Side Gallery, see above.
• 54.979 -1.595 16 Star and Shadow , Warwick Street NE2 1BB ( by City Stadium ), ☏ +44 191 261 8315 , [email protected] . Volunteer-run indie cinema and performance venue. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• Odeon is in the Metrocentre (see Buy) in Gateshead . Vue Cinema is in central Gateshead.

Events [ edit ]

• Chinese New Year follows a lunar calendar, so the next is in February 2024, starting the Year of the Dragon. Expect firecrackers, drums and weaving dragons in the vicinity of Stowell St 11AM-4PM.
• Hoppings is a funfair in late June, held on Town Moor (Metro or bus to Jesmond). The next is anticipated for June 2024.
• Northern Pride is a gay pride festival on Town Moor in July, with the next on 20-21 July 2024.
• MELA means "meeting" in Hindi and it's a celebration of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi cuisine, music and art. It's held on the August bank holiday on Exhibition Park, the south corner of Town Moor (directions as above) with spillover events around the Monument. The next is Sunday 27 to Monday 28 Aug 2023.
• Great North Run is a half marathon, staged between Newcastle and South Shields in September. The next is Sunday 10 Sep 2023.
• Christmas Market is held through December to Christmas Eve, centred on Monument. In bygone years this had a funfair and extended down Northumberland St, but the scale of the 2023 market is not yet known.

Learn [ edit ]

Work [ edit ]

Employers always hiring are the call centres here and in Gateshead, and the many bars and restaurants.

As elsewhere in the UK, British and Irish citizens always have the right to take up work, but other EU nationals generally do not.

Buy [ edit ]

• 54.97547 -1.6152 2 Eldon Square is the block west of Northumberland St. It has John Lewis, Argos, Boots and Next.
• 54.97284 -1.61491 3 Grainger Market , Grainger St . M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM . A bustling indoor market in a hall from 1835. ( updated Nov 2023 )
• Cloth Market , west of Grey St, has vintage clothing shops.
• Farmer's Market is around Grey's Monument. It's normally first Friday every month 9:30AM-2:30PM but is suspended as of 2021.

Eat [ edit ]

Budget [ edit ].

City centre [ edit ]

• 54.977223 -1.612078 1 Frankie & Tony’s Sandwich Bar , 19 Ridley Pl . Generous portions. Quick service. Worth waiting in the queue. A sandwich is for about £4. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 54.972352 -1.611595 2 Pani's Cafe , 61-65 High Bridge , ☏ +44 191 232 4366 . M-F noon-3PM, 5-9PM, Sa noon-10PM . Italian specialising in Sardinian. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 54.969017 -1.607781 3 Uno's , 18 Sandhill , ☏ +44 191 261 5264 . Cheerful trattoria on Quayside. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 54.97503 -1.617862 4 El Coto , 21 Leazes Park Rd , ☏ +44 191 261 0555 . Daily 11AM-11PM . Lively tapas restaurant near the football stadium. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 54.969672 -1.616539 5 Zapatista Grainger St . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 54.977255 -1.611581 6 Zapatista Ridley Pl , 28 Ridley Place , ☏ +44 191 261 7769 . M-Sa 11AM-8PM, Su 11:30AM-7PM . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 54.975005 -1.616639 7 Pizza Express , 7 St George's Way ( within Eldon Sq Shopping Centre ), ☏ +44 191 232 3228 . Daily 11:30AM-9PM . Reasonably priced Italian chain. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• Otherwise there are also found the chain restaurants JD Wetherspoon, eat4less, Chicken Cottage, Wok Inn, Tortilla and Chicken Shack.

North Newcastle [ edit ]

• 54.991 -1.598 8 Francesca's , 134-136 Manor House Road, Jesmond , ☏ +44 191 281 6586 . M-Sa noon-2:30PM, 5-9:30PM . Friendly Italian restaurant. ( updated Feb 2023 )

Mid-range [ edit ]

• 54.971613 -1.619579 9 Blackfriars Restaurant . British restaurant. The feel of the place is calming and feels private. The original features of the building and the history make your visit here something special. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 54.971602 -1.611499 10 Zizzi , 42 Grey St , ☏ +44 191 261 8360 . Daily 11:30AM-11PM . Reliable mid-price Italian chain. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 54.970516 -1.610167 11 Marco Polo , 33 Dean St , ☏ +44 191 232 5533 , [email protected] . M-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight . Stylish and popular Italian. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 54.9695 -1.606096 12 Khai Khai , 29 Queen St . Indian restaurant opened in 2021. ( updated Feb 2023 )

Splurge [ edit ]

• 54.971599 -1.619498 13 Blackfriar's Restaurant , Friars St , ☏ +44 191 261 5945 . M-F noon-2:30PM, 5:30-10PM, Sa 9:30AM-10PM, Su 9:30AM-4PM . Great reviews for what may be the UK's oldest restaurant. You sit at long tables in a 13th-century monastery refectory, and consume better monkfish than ever the locally-sourced freshly-shrived Black Friars got to eat. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 54.966695 -1.618539 14 Sachins , Forth Banks ( south side of Central station ), ☏ +44 191 232 4660 , [email protected] . M-Sa noon-1:30PM, 5-9:30PM . Upscale Punjabi restaurant, gets very busy with the post-match crowd. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 54.970571 -1.604681 15 21 , Trinity Gardens, Quayside , ☏ +44 191 222 0755 . Tu-Sa noon-2:30PM, 5:30-9PM . Slick restaurant serving quality British and French bistro food. The same group runs Café 21 within Fenwick's on Northumberland St. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 54.973105 -1.619436 16 Landmark Oriental , 20 Stowell St , ☏ +44 191 261 0882 . Tu-Th 5PM-9PM, F Sa noon-2:30PM, 5-9:30PM, Su noon-8PM . Great reviews for this high-class Chinese restaurant and bar in Chinatown. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• And see Sleep for Jesmond Dene House.

Drink [ edit ]

The main drinking strips are Bigg Market, Quayside and around Central Station.

Bigg Market [ edit ]

• 54.97121 -1.6146 1 City Vaults ( Idols ), 13 Bigg Market NE1 1UN , ☏ +44 191 221 0850 . Th-Su 8PM-3AM . This spacious club features three bars, different music in different rooms, and big screens for showing football on match days. Topless dancers and scantily clad bar staff abound. As if all that wasn't enough, they serve food, including sandwiches, burgers, salads, and curries. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.97138 -1.61394 2 Popworld , 14 Bigg Market NE1 1UW , ☏ +44 191 260 2919 . Su-Th 8PM-1AM, F 7PM-2AM, Sa 5PM-2AM . Fizing atmosphere for cocktails and music. ( updated Dec 2021 )

Central Station [ edit ]

• 54.96897 -1.61643 3 Centurion , Neville St NE1 5DG ( within Central Station ), ☏ +44 191 261 6611 . Daily 8AM-11PM . An impressively designed bar and restaurant in the restored Victorian lounge of the Central Station, the Centurion is a favourite stop for commuters. Live sports on a drop-down big screen. Choose from the bustling main bar or the more intimate cafe-deli. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.96992 -1.61373 4 ChachaBuchi ( formerly Floritas ), 28 Collingwood St NE1 1JF , ☏ +44 191 261 8271 . Su-Th 11AM-1AM, F Sa 11AM-3AM . Split-level cocktail bar with outdoor garden bar. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.96859 -1.62085 5 The Dog And Parrot , 52 Clayton St West NE1 4EX , ☏ +44 7512 350561 . Daily 11AM-1AM . Rock n' roll themed bar with good live music and cheap drinks. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.96985 -1.61403 6 Revolution , Collingwood St NE1 1JF , ☏ +44 191 261 8901 . M-Th noon-midnight, F-Su noon-1AM . Spacious, ultra-modern vodka bar with cool architecture (pillars, high sculpted ceiling, stainless steel bar and huge windows) and great selection of flavoured vodkas and cocktails. Dress is "smart casual", which means no baseball caps or hoodies. Music ranges from pop to indie to R&B to house. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.9706 -1.62136 7 The Bodega , 125 Westgate Road NE1 4AG ( next to Tyne Theatre ), ☏ +44 191 221 1552 . Su-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight . A beautiful Victorian pub with ornate stained glass domes, friendly bar staff and a great selection of real ales and premium lagers. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.96959 -1.61841 8 Forth Hotel , 17-23 Pink Lane NE1 5DW ( by St Mary's Cathedral ), ☏ +44 191 232 6478 . Su-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-1AM . Cosy pub with a great selection of real ales, imported beers and wine, serves food. It doesn't have accommodation. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.96957 -1.61553 9 The Head of Steam , 2 Neville St NE1 5EN ( within Hampton by Hilton ), ☏ +44 191 230 4236 , [email protected] . W-Su 5PM-2AM . On the first floor, you'll find a wide selection of real ales, lagers, cider, wine and spirits in a comfortable atmosphere. The basement, which holds 50-some, is a live music venue showcasing up-and-coming bands. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.96815 -1.61411 10 The Telegraph , Orchard St NE1 3NY ( south flank of Station ), ☏ +44 191 261 8991 . M-Th 3PM-11PM, F Sa noon-2AM, Su noon-midnight . Handy for station, charming interior and roof terrace. They often have DJs or live bands. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.97047 -1.62062 11 Tilleys , 105 Westgate Rd NE1 4AG ( next to Tyne Theatre ), ☏ +44 191 232 0692 . W Th Su noon-10PM, F Sa noon-11PM . Cosy pub with L-shaped bar, with a large selection of real ales, craft and premium lagers and ciders, serves decent food. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.96923 -1.61323 12 Tokyo , 17 Westgate Rd NE1 1SE , ☏ +44 191 230 3318 . Su-F 5PM-2AM, Sa 3PM-2AM . A stylish, modern venue with an elegant rooftop garden bar and a good selection of cocktails, spirits, wines and beers. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.96924 -1.61345 13 The Mile Castle , 19–25 Westgate Road NE1 5XU ( corner of Grainger St ), ☏ +44 191 211 1160 . Su-Th 8AM-1AM, F Sa 8AM-2AM . JD Wetherspoon pub with large 3-storey bar serving food, big enough to find a seat at the weekend. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.96781 -1.62052 14 Rusty's ( formerly Baron and Baroness ), Times Square NE1 4EP . Daily 8PM-3AM . Lively gay bar near the station. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.96829 -1.62282 15 Powerhouse , 7-19 Westmorland Rd NE1 4EQ , ☏ +44 191 261 9326 . Nightly 11PM-4AM . Newcastle's longest running and biggest gay dance club, with four floors of music from the 1990s to disco and more. ( updated Dec 2021 )

Quayside [ edit ]

• 54.96877 -1.60813 16 Quilted Camel , 36 Sandhill NE1 3JF , ☏ +44 191 221 1885 . F Sa 6PM-1AM . Quirky cocktail bar with a range of 30 cocktails, with retro-chic interior. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.96943 -1.60754 17 Bridge Tavern , 7 Akenside Hill NE1 3UF ( beneath Tyne Bridge ), ☏ +44 191 261 9966 . M-Th noon-midnight, F Sa noon-1AM, Su noon-11PM . A great craft brewpub: reasonably priced and always busy, serves food. 10+ taps on the bar which change regularly. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.97052 -1.59953 19 Pitcher & Piano , 108 Quayside NE1 3DX ( by Malmaison ), ☏ +44 191 232 4110 . Daily 11AM-10PM . An extensive list of beers, wines, shooters and cocktails. The glass fronted building has two floors and a rooftop terrace, nice views of the river and Millennium Bridge. DJs and occasional live music. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.969281 -1.60884 21 Crown Posada , 31 The Side NE1 3JE , ☏ +44 191 232 1269 . Daily 11AM-midnight . Beautifully preserved 1880s long-room pub, with stained glass windows and wood-panel ceiling. A gramophone in back cranks out vintage tunes, and it's a great place to try real ales from local breweries. ( updated Dec 2021 )

Ouseburn [ edit ]

• 54.97102 -1.58709 23 The Free Trade Inn , 12 St Lawrence Rd NE6 1AP , ☏ +44 191 265 5764 . Daily noon-10PM . A cosy trad pub by the Tyne, with an excellent selection of beers. A free jukebox supplies the music. Limited food, but there's deli sandwiches, and a pizza van visits. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.97157 -1.58818 24 Tyne Bar , Mailing St NE6 1LP , ☏ +44 191 265 2550 . Daily noon-9PM . Beneath Walker St bridge where Ouseburn flows into the Tyne, this has a good selection of real ales and a beer garden. Live music at weekends, and bands in the garden during summer. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.9754 -1.58925 25 Cumberland Arms , James Place St NE6 1LD , ☏ +44 191 265 1725 . M 5PM-10PM, Tu-F 2PM-10PM, Sa Su noon-10PM . Atmospheric 1860s pub with real ales, a roaring fire and live music, large outside seating area with heaters. ( updated Dec 2021 )

Jesmond [ edit ]

Jesmond and Gosforth are upmarket areas, and several bars are part of hotels.

• 54.98999 -1.60435 26 Bar Blanc , 38-42 Osborne Rd NE2 2AL ( within Whites Hotel ), ☏ +44 191 281 5126 . M-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-10:30PM . Relaxing place with a mixture of locals and hotel guests, shiny decor and a large outside seating area. B&B double £50 . ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.99112 -1.60458 27 Osbornes , 61-69 Osborne Rd NE2 2AN , ☏ +44 191 240 7778 . Su-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-11PM . This spacious bar shows live sports on wide-screen TVs and has an outdoor beer garden. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.99385 -1.6092 28 The Lonsdale , Lonsdale Terrace, West Jesmond NE2 3HQ ( by West Jesmond Metro ), ☏ +44 191 281 0039 . M-Th 11AM-11PM, F-Su 10AM-11PM . Trad pub with a relaxed atmosphere. Quiz nights, digital juke box, and monthly live music. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 55.00668 -1.60301 29 Brandling Villa , Haddrick's Mill Rd, South Gosforth NE3 1QL , ☏ +44 191 284 0490 . Su-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight . Cask beer and great selection of whisky, dog-friendly. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.98517 -1.60879 30 Collingwood Arms , Brandling Village NE2 4RS , ☏ +44 191 281 0570 . M-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight, Su 1PM-11PM . Old-style pub with great ales, dog-friendly. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 55.00599 -1.61951 31 Brandling Arms , High St, Gosforth NE3 1HD , ☏ +44 191 285 4023 . Su-W noon-11PM, Th F noon-midnight, Sa 10AM-midnight . Pub with decent food and patio garden, dog-friendly. ( updated Dec 2021 )

Others [ edit ]

• 54.97233 -1.61114 32 Bacchus , 42-48 High Bridge NE1 6BX , ☏ +44 191 261 1008 . M-Sa 11AM-midnight, Su noon-10:30PM . Ocean liner decor redolent of Tyneside's shipbuilding days. A long drink list includes wines, cask ales and microbrews. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.97126 -1.60885 33 Bar 52 , 55 Degrees North, Pilgrim St NE1 8BJ , ☏ +44 191 261 1066 . Daily noon-midnight . Chain sports pub, okay-ish food. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.97765 -1.61195 34 The Five Swans , 14 St Mary's Place NE1 7PG , ☏ +44 191 211 1140 . Daily 8AM-midnight, F Sa 8AM-1AM . JD Weatherspoons chain pub, good value for drinks and food. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.97998 -1.61132 35 The Hancock , 2a Hancock St NE2 4PU , ☏ +44 191 281 5653 . Daily noon-midnight . Next to both universities, so it has a student vibe with juke boxes, pool tables, big screen TVs and game machines, plus an array of DJs four nights a week. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.97481 -1.61955 36 The Strawberry , 7-8 Strawberry Place NE1 4SF ( east side of football stadium ), ☏ +44 191 232 6865 . Daily 11AM-11PM . A shrine to next-door Newcastle United, displaying a huge amount of club memorabilia from down the years, and packed around home games. It has real ales and bar meals, big screen TVs, a jukebox, pool table and a roof terrace. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.97709 -1.61838 37 The Trent House , 1-2 Leazes Lane NE1 4QT ( just south of Newcastle University ), ☏ +44 191 261 2154 . M-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-11PM . Friendly pub with a great selection of real ales, beers and spirits, but most famous for their free jukebox playing soul, rock and 1970s music. It's heaving when Newcastle Utd are playing at home. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.97272 -1.60839 38 World HQ , Curtis Mayfield House, Carliol Square East NE1 6UF . Sa-Th 24 hrs . Great place to go clubbing for the night with cheap drinks and a crazy audience. ( updated Dec 2021 )

Breweries [ edit ]

• Lots! There are nowadays no big commercial breweries hereabouts, but small independents include Newcastle Brewing , Brinkburn Street , Full Circle , Northern Alchemy , Wylam , Almasty , Anarchy , and Tyne Bank .
• Gateshead just across the bridge has several more.
• Newcastle Brown is the city's flagship ale but local production ended in 2005. Now owned by Heineken, the domestic product is brewed in Tadcaster , North Yorkshire, and the export product is made in Zoeterwoude near Leiden in the Netherlands. It's 4.7% ABV; in 2015 the red-brown colouring agent was switched from caramel to roasted malt. It's traditionally sold in pint (568 ml) clear bottles, served cold but not chilled. It pours quietly without a head, so you can fill your glass to the brim without froth escaping down your pants. In Britain it's marketed as a trad, no-nonsense, working-man's budget pint, while other markets get jazzier treatments. Some find it insipid and gassy (what doesn't bubble out as a head is sure to make its presence known elsewhere) but it's a question of the right drink for the right occasion. On a dreary day with the drizzle blowing in from the North Sea, you'll be grateful to sit down to a meat casserole or pie with a bottle or three of Nookie Broon within reach.

Sleep [ edit ]

• 54.97085 -1.61584 1 Albatross Hostel , 51 Grainger St NE1 5JE , ☏ +44 191 233 1330 , [email protected] . Large youth hostel in a former bank near Central Station. Basic but clean, 24 hr reception. Dorm from £17 ppn . ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.96591 -1.62266 2 Leonardo Hotel ( formerly Jury's Inn ), Scotswood Rd NE1 4AD ( west side of station ), ☏ +44 191 201 4400 . Boxy modern hotel, usually clean. They have another in Gateshead. B&B double £60 . ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.96882 -1.60635 3 Premier Inn Quayside , Quayside NE1 3AE , ☏ +44 333 321 1347 . Budget chain offering, very central, a bit grubby. They also have two other city hotels, one in Gateshead, one at Metro Centre and two next to the airport. Double (room only) £70 . ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.96824 -1.63185 4 Rooms Inn , 40 West Parade NE4 7LB , ☏ +44 191 273 3034 . Basic hotel in a residential area, value for what you're paying. Double (room only) £45 . ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.98128 -1.60329 5 Hansen Hotel , 131 Sandyford Road NE2 1QR , ☏ +44 191 281 0289 , [email protected] . Small budget hotel near Jesmond metro station. Poor reviews 2021-23. ( updated May 2023 )
• 54.97338 -1.608038 6 YHA Hostel , 17 Carliol Square . Hostel with dormitories, private rooms and cafe. There is no self-catering kitchen. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.969 -1.613 7 Sleeperz , 15 Westgate Road, NE1 1SE ( Rail & Metro: Newcastle Central, 300 m ). Check-in: 3PM , check-out: 11AM . Basic, but smart and comfy, city centre hotel. Ask for a room with a view, as the castle, Tyne Bridge and railway tracks are all in sight. Good buffet breakfast, but very limited vegan and vegetarian options. £50 pppn. Breakfast £9 . ( updated May 2023 )

• 55.03863 -1.71419 8 Britannia Hotel , Ponteland NE13 8DJ ( by the airport ), ☏ +44 871 222 0028 . A business hotel equipped with wireless internet and a 400-person conference hall. Double (room only) £40 . ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.96898 -1.62271 9 Holiday Inn Express , Waterloo Square, St James Blvd NE1 4DN ( west side of station ), ☏ +44 191 224 685 , fax : +44 870 428 1477 , [email protected] . Comfy central place, pet-friendly. Parking is in the public multi-storey. B&B double £50 . ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 55.008 -1.668 10 Hotel Novotel Newcastle Airport , Ponteland Road, Kenton NE3 3HZ ( junction of A1 and A696, 3 mi (4.8 km) from airport ), ☏ +44 191 214 0303 , [email protected] . In 2021 this is acting as asylum-seeker accommodation. ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.9692 -1.61534 11 Royal Station Hotel , Neville St NE1 5DH ( at Central Station ), ☏ +44 191 232 0781 , [email protected] . Opened by Prince Albert and Queen Victoria in 1858, this is a grand old Victorian railway hotel. Modern interior, gets good scores for comfort and service. B&B double £90 . ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.96944 -1.61695 12 County Hotel ( formerly Thistle ), Neville Street NE1 5DF ( by Central Station ), ☏ +44 191 731 6670 . Comfy place in Victorian pile, very central, the downside is street noise and lack of parking. B&B double £80 . ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.97071 -1.60285 13 Travelodge ( Newcastle Central ), Forster Street, Quayside NE1 2NH , ☏ +44 871 984 6164 . Reliable chain hotel, inevitably they get a lot of stag and hen parties. Travelodge have two other central sites plus one in Gateshead and three further out by racecourse, airport and Seaton Burn. Double (room only) £80 . ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.96905 -1.60955 14 Vermont Hotel , Castle Garth, Quayside NE1 1RQ ( by castle ), ☏ +44 191 233 1010 . Decent central mid-price hotel. They don't accept stag / hen parties. B&B double £120 . ( updated Dec 2021 )
• 54.96628 -1.61273 15 Copthorne Hotel , The Close, Quayside NE1 3RT ( one block south of station ), ☏ +44 191 222-0333 , [email protected] . Good central hotel with river views, some railway noise. B&B double £110 . ( updated Oct 2021 )
• 54.971 -1.61 16 Grey Street Hotel , 2-12 Grey St NE1 6EE , ☏ +44 191 230 6777 , fax : +44 191 230 6888 , [email protected] . Great value in this central hotel on elegant Grey St. B&B double £145 . ( updated Oct 2021 )
• 54.999 -1.604 17 Jesmond Dene House , Jesmond Dene Rd NE2 2EY , ☏ +44 191 212 3000 , [email protected] . A leafy boutique hotel, great reviews for service, comfort and cuisine. B&B double £160 . ( updated Oct 2021 )
• 54.97 -1.6 18 Malmaison , 104 Quayside NE1 3DX , ☏ +44 191 389 8627 , [email protected] . Smart upscale hotel, very central. B&B double £160 . ( updated Oct 2021 )

Connect [ edit ]

As of July 2021, Newcastle has 5G from EE and 4G from the other UK carriers.

Stay safe [ edit ]

Newcastle is a safe city, and friendly in its hard-faced northern way. Watch for traffic, avoid drunks and boisterous revellers, safeguard valuables, you'll do fine. There are rough outlying areas where you have no reason to go.

Historically there was a sharp rivalry between Newcastle Utd and Sunderland, but the disparity in league standings and club wealth means that anyone taken to be a Sunderland supporter nowadays won't get more than derisory banter. Nevertheless, you should avoid wearing Sunderland shirts while in Newcastle unless you want to risk inviting harassment from local football fans.

Cope [ edit ]

Medical: only go to Hospital for outright emergencies. Otherwise try the walk-in centres at Westgate or Molineaux St, or phone 111.

Pharmacies: 54.97509 -1.61539 5 Boots in Eldon Square is open M-Sa to 8PM, Su to 5PM. The others keep standard shop hours.

Laundrettes: 54.97753 -1.63905 6 Swiss Wash on Fenham Rd is open M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM. Coin-op on Heaton Rd is open M-Sa 9AM-6PM.

Go next [ edit ]

• Tynemouth , a short Metro ride east, stands on the coast with a ruined priory and castle.
• Hadrian's Wall starts just east of the city at Wallsend , but the best of it is 25 mi (40 km)-40 mi (64 km) west between Hexham and Brampton, with sites such Vindolanda and Housesteads.
• Alnwick is a charming small town with a fine castle and gardens, and Alnmouth is a picturesque village on the coast. The railway station is between them, with a connecting bus.
• Durham is only 20 min by train. Its castle and cathedral are set in a well-preserved old town centre.
• Beamish has an extensive Open Air Museum depicting northern town life circa 1913.
• Northumberland 's coastal highlights are Dunstanburgh Castle north of Alnwick , Bamburgh castle near Seahouses , and the tidal Holy Isle of Lindisfarne .
• Northumberland National Park has forests centred on Kielder reservoir, with activities such as abseiling, canoeing, hiking and mountain biking.

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Travel Guide To Newcastle

Newcastle may have been a favourite for the title of European City of Culture 2008, but the culture here is more earthy Chaucer and Brueghel than refined Poussin and Schubert. Like its inhabitants, the city lives hard and bounces back because over the centuries it has had to learn how. The 'new castle' to which the city owes its origins and its name was built by Henry II in the second half of the 12th century. The first recorded ship built on the Tyne was a galley made for Edward I. By the 1950s, the shipyards along the river were producing more vessels per year than the entire USA and Newcastle was the biggest coal-exporting port on the planet. Half a century later there are no coal mines and no shipbuilding, and yet- with its vibrant nightlife, cool bars and world-class restaurants - Newcastle is a boomtown.

Writing in the 1950s, the historian Arthur Mee said that Newcastle is 'a city that should be admired not for its appearance but its achievements'. You can check those off, from the bridges and the shipyards to the fact that the reading room at the Literary and Philosophical Society was the first public room in the world to be lit by electric light. The city is brimming with confidence. And with its spectacular bridges, edgy galleries and packed streets, it has every reason to be.

Where to stay in Newcastle

JESMOND DENE HOUSE

Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE2 2EY (0191 212 3000; fax: 0191 212 3001; www.jesmonddenehouse.co.uk ). This grand house has a leafy setting near the heart of the city and 40 well-designed rooms. All boast spacious bathrooms with under floor heating, Egyptian cotton sheets and flat screen TVs. Overlooking the wooded valley of Jesmond Dene, it guarantees peace and rural idyll, with the lively distractions of the city a five-minute drive away. There are also rooms for meeting, dining and celebrating - from the wood-panelled Great Hall to the light-filled garden room. Food is straightforward, flavoursome and makes the most of seasonal local produce. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly but with an attention to detail. ££

MALMAISON NEWCASTLE

Quayside (0191 245 5000; www.malmaison.com/newcastle ). Tyneside branch of the hotel chain with a deserved reputation for style and service. Riverside rooms look directly out on the Gateshead Millennium Bridge and across the Tyne. £

THE VERMONT HOTEL

Castle Garth (0191 233 1010; www.vermont-hotel.com ). Smart, independent hotel in a 1930s building next to the castle. South-facing rooms have fine views of the Tyne Bridge. £

OUTSIDE NEWCASTLE

SEAHAM HALL

Seaham Hall, Lord Byron's Walk, Seaham, County Durham (0191 516 1400; www.seaham-hall.com ). The house where Byron fatefully married Anabella Milbanke in 1815 has been converted into an all-suite 18-room hotel by the owners of The Samling. Perched on a rugged cliff-top overlooking the sea, the hotel has a dining room for lunch and dinner, a grand drawing room for afternoon tea, plus a big new spa and Thai restaurant in a separate building. Seaham Hall was featured in our special feature on UK Hotels. ££

THE SAMLING

The Samling, Ambleside Road, Windermere, Cumbria (01539 431922; www.thesamling.com ). Emphatically a hotel in the country, not a country-house hotel, this 10-room (nine of them suites) property was once the home of William Wordsworth's landlord. Features include open fireplaces, Oriental rugs, and great big sofas to sprawl on. There are spectacular views over Lake Windermere and the restaurant serves locally sourced fish, meat and vegetables. The Samling was featured in our special feature on UK Hotels. £

Where to eat out in Newcastle

BARS & CAFES

Chains such as Pitcher & Piano, Revolution and Zizzi have set up shop in the city, often in impressive buildings. The following are more individual, independent establishments.

8 Nelson Street (0191 231 3000). Home-baked bread and bagels, freshly squeezed juice, Sunday brunch, all in a building that's the interior design equivalent of a chambray work shirt and chinos.

PANI'S

61 High Bridge (0191 232 4366). Bustling café around the corner from the Theatre Royal. Run by a cheerful Sardinian family, Pani's has good pasta and panini and excellent coffee.

82 Pilgrim Street (0191 232 8923). Spanish and North African food and cocktails in a typically throbbing Newcastle atmosphere. There's a quieter restaurant, Paradiso, upstairs.

THE CROWN POSADA

31-33 The Side (0191 232 1269). Pevsner praised the Pre-Raphaelite stained-glass windows and ornamental mouldings, but most people come for beer. Arguably one of England's finest pubs.

THE FREE TRADE INN

St Lawrence Road, Byker (0191 265 5764). A no-frills pub with good beer from local breweries such as Mordue and Wylam. In the evening you can sit by the front window and watch the sun setting behind the Tyne bridges.

RESTAURANTS

BARN@THE BISCUIT

The Biscuit Factory, Stoddart Street (0191 230 3338). Attached to the new art gallery in the old Nice biscuit factory. Serves good brasserie food - Greek salad, cod in beer batter with chunky chips - in a room with vague, ironic hints of the Old West.

19-21 Queen Street (0191 222 0755). Chef Terence Laybourne's deservedly lauded restaurant is more informal today than in years gone by, and the set lunch is one of the best bargains in the city.

TREACLE MOON

5-7 The Side (0191 232 4949). A small Quayside restaurant owned by Tom Maxfield, the man behind The Samling in Cumbria and Seaham Hall in County Durham. The fusion cooking here sidesteps gimmickry and concentrates on flavour. Dishes include hot smoked salmon with wasabi crème fraîche, monkfish wrapped in Parma ham, and a wonderful chocolate tart. Open for dinner only.

What to see in Newcastle

Newcastle was settled by the Romans, but Hadrian's Wall is mostly invisible; just off New Bridge Street a short section of the foundations can be seen disappearing into the garden of a council house. But bits of the 'new castle' are still standing, notably the keep and the Black Gate. During the reign of Henry VIII, John Leland noted that the walls of Newcastle 'in strength and magnificence far passeth all the walls of the cities of England'. There is not much evidence to support that assertion now. The longest and best-preserved stretch can be found between Bath Lane and Gallowgate. The old moat is still visible, the water long gone and the trench now speckled with daisies and elderflower petals. The narrow alleyways that run between the wall and the Chinese restaurants of Stowell Street still look and smell authentically medieval, however.

Paul Richardson

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Nearby, in the quiet courtyard of Blackfriars, are the ruins of the Dominican friary. Newcastle was once a town of two monastic communities, the Dominicans and the Carmelites. The former wore black, the latter white. This is said to be the origin of Newcastle United's black-and-white striped shirts, so popular with the locals that the Saturday shopping crowds in Northumberland Street often resemble a herd of zebra or a gigantic bar code. Their place of devotion, St James's Park, towers above the city, bigger than any cathedral.

The fortifications gave Newcastle its name, but the river gave it its fortune. And for all the excellence of Dobson's work on Grey Street and Central Station, it is here that the real structural glory of the city lies. In the industrial north-east, engineering has always outranked architecture, and the bridges of the Tyne show why. The Swing Bridge, built in 1876, swivelled aside so that the warships built and repaired upstream at Elswick (close to the Vickers-Armstrong armament plants) could pass through. The High Level Bridge with its encased, serpentine arches, was designed, by George Stephenson's son, Robert, to carry trains on the upper tier and road traffic on the lower. And best of all is the Tyne Bridge, opened in 1928 by George V. The top of the vast arching span stands nearly 200ft above the river. And if it looks a little like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, that is not so surprising: the same company, Dorman Long of Middlesbrough, built both.

GREY STREET

In a few short years, business-builders and architects like Richard Grainger, Thomas Oliver and John Dobson fashioned the best-designed Victorian town in England, with classical facades of stone lining splendid new streets, most notably Grey Street, that takes its name from the Northumberland dynasty of political heavyweights whose most illustrious member was the second Earl Grey, prime minister from 1830 to 1834. Grey Street still shows off much of its Victorian elegance, best exemplified by the Theatre Royal and by Grainger Market, open Mon to Sat, from 8am to 5pm.

LAING GALLERY

Newcastle's premier art collection is the Laing Gallery on New Bridge Street, off John Dobson Street, behind the library. It's a well-organised museum in which local pottery, glassware, costume and sculpture play their part, while on permanent display is a sweep through British art from Reynolds to John Hoyland with a smattering of Pre-Raphaelites. The real treat is the paintings of John Martin (1789-1854), a self-taught Northumberland painter with a penchant for massive biblical scenes inspired by the dramatic north-eastern scenery.

THE CATHEDRAL

Standing on Nicholas Street, this is remarkable chiefly for its tower, erected in 1470, it is topped with a crown-like structure of turrets and arches supporting a lantern. Much of the interior was given a neo-Gothic remodelling in the late 19th century under Sir George Gilbert Scott.

How to get to Newcastle

Newcastle's airport, six miles north of the city, is linked to Central Station by Metro, which runs every eight to 15 minutes.

AIRLINES FROM THE UK

British Airways (0870 850 9850; www.ba.com ) flies from Gatwick and Heathrow to Newcastle. Regional options include: Air Wales (0870 777 3131; www.airwales.com ) from Cardiff; Eastern Airways (01652 680600; www.easternairways.com ) from Birmingham; and flyBE (0871 700 0535; www.flybe.com ) from Belfast City.

11 Best Things to Do in Newcastle Upon Tyne

Leah Pattem is a freelance journalist and blogger who specializes in content focused on the city of Madrid, Spain. Leah's work has appeared in publications including Fodor's and Condé Nast Traveler. 

Rolling into Newcastle Central Station by train, passengers panic to pull out their smartphone cameras in time for the magnificent view over the River Tyne, where the old coal and shipbuilding industries once thrived. Despite being one of the best-connected cities in the U.K. (the railways were invented here), Newcastle is not on the beaten path. Trains glide through between Edinburgh to London, with few tourists ever disembarking.

Those tourists are missing out on a lot, from ancient ruins, cozy pubs, world-famous contemporary art, and an infamous nightlife scene to beautiful beaches where you can learn how to surf, and an old fishing village and, of course, some of the best fish and chips in the country.

Parkour Through Newcastle's Ancient Ruins

In the heart of Newcastle, there’s an old castle—or, rather, a ‘Frankenstein’ castle. Since it was created in the 12th century, it has been built up and added to over the years and was refurbished as recently as 2015. To reach the castle keep, either cross the replica wooden bridge over the motte or brave the ghosts of invaders, who fell into the ditch below many years ago, and enter for a tour of the well-preserved interiors.

Beyond the castle, Newcastle is peppered with old fortifications. Follow the tumbling Castle Steps , through the stone tunnel and jump off course towards the Castle Well, where you’ll find more crumbling fortifications shrouded by creeping ivy. From here, you can also discover a cool view of the bridges over the River Tyne.

Eat at Blackfriars, the Oldest Dining Room in the U.K.

Dposte46 / Wikimedia Commons

The oldest part of Newcastle survives, and it’s even older than the old castle. In the middle of a peaceful courtyard, with the tips of old gravestones protruding through a blanket of soft grass, discover a crumbling medieval enclave, where locals and travelers have been dining since 1236.

Step inside and watch the tall stone walls flicker by candlelight and feel the knights' armor around the room almost come to life. Occasionally, the waiting staff invokes this ancient dining room's spirit by wearing the armor while serving traditional English dishes that have barely changed since Blackfriars was founded.

In parallel to its meaty, medieval microculture, Blackfriars also serves up delicious vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes.

Explore Newcastle’s Up-and-Coming Indoor Market

The Grainger Market is a beautiful, Victorian-style market, home to over 100 local traders. The eclectic aisles provide a glimpse into Newcastle’s bygone high street while seamlessly blending into modernity with eclectic food stalls representing cuisines from afar.

You can find everything from a traditional English breakfast at Café one2one and Turkish street food at Fez, to shops selling workers’ uniforms and butchers that have been there for three generations. The first Marks and Spencer’s is still going strong in the Grainger Market's central aisle, with its original signage and personable customer service.

See What’s on at Newcastle’s Progressive Cinema

Don’t expect to find Hollywood’s latest blockbusters here. This cult cinema screens a very niche selection of British and international films and is a self-titled window on the world.

Built as a news-reel theatre in the 1930s, Tyneside Cinema has maintained its informative, unbiased essence. Through contemplative film, this Newcastle institution fosters audience appreciation for harder-hitting issues playing out in the world today.

Also, check out the cinema’s many beautiful bars, interspersed through several stories, where post-film discussions run on.

Dive into Newcastle's Famously Infamous Nightlife Scene

Newcastle is renowned for its unapologetically hardcore nightlife and is one of the most popular destinations for stag and hen dos. People from Newcastle (Geordies) work hard and play hard. You can either let this mishmash of local, hardcore spirit combined with the excitement of tourists unfold before your eyes, or you can join in.

If you enjoy creative cocktails, like to dress to impress, and can dance the night away in 5-inch heels, you’ll feel at home in Floritas, Bijoux, and Revolution Bar. More into retro music? Check out Flares. If you’re bold enough to enter Newcastle’s most hardcore scene, pick from any of the clubs on the Bigg Market, or head down to the Quayside area. But, be warned: weekend nights are a little on the wild side.

Go to the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art

Courtesy of Baltic

Cross the Millennium Bridge towards the six-story, converted flour mill on the edge of the River Tyne. Modern and contemporary art exhibitions often make a stop at the Baltic art gallery for a few weeks or months, making this Victorian edifice a world-famous pilgrimage site for artists and art lovers alike.

The fifth floor also hosts Newcastle’s most impressive viewpoint. From here, admire the quaint sandstone buildings straddling Newcastle’s Tyne bank and a riverside promenade, and the seven bridges that weave together the cities of Newcastle and Gateshead.

Get Lost and Eat Pie Inside Newcastle’s Coziest Pub

Courtesy of The RedHouse

Mind your head walking into the RedHouse (this old pub was built for folk who were much shorter than we are today), then head straight towards the beautiful mahogany bar. Put your order in for a pint and a delicious pie, then explore the maze-like rooms, nooks, and courtyards that comprise the coziest pub in Newcastle.

Ride the Metro Along the Riverbanks

Take the metro from any of the central metro stations and head towards Tynemouth, enjoying a scenic 20-minute ride through Newcastle’s shipbuilding heyday. Being 10 miles inland, Newcastle may appear to have its back to the sea, but its wide river has been arterial to its historic industrial success. In fact, the rail line you’re riding on is a living museum of this period. Originally built to supply the riverside industry, steam engines hauling miles of coal mined from the local area have now been replaced with light metros carrying passengers between the city and the coast.

While aboard, use your imagination to visualize the riverscape once studded with hundreds of cranes, and imagine shipyard workers piling into pubs en mass for elevenses. At dawn, if you listen carefully, you might hear the shipyard’s horn echoing over the riverside towns. Haunting as it sounds, this portal to the past lives on.

Hunt for Treasure in Tynemouth Market

Every Saturday and Sunday, Tynemouth metro station transforms into a huge flea market, where you can buy absolutely anything old and new: from antique furniture and vintage knitwear to delicate jewelry made from washed-up glass collected from the shores and watercolors of Newcastle’s rich history painted by the very artists manning the stalls. Enjoy all this to the soundtrack of the metro rumbling in the near distance.

Discover Newcastle's Fishing Heritage

After lunch, go for a stroll around the Fish Quay's dockyards and check out the old fishing boats. This small, wooden port used to host 70 trawlers but, today, only around 20 boats regularly dock here.

Be careful not to fall into the water while admiring another spectacular view of the River Tyne. If you’re lucky, you might catch a ferry, cargo ship, or cruise ship being led up the river by little tugboats, like a metal giant being carried by ants.

Surf Along Tynemouth Longsands Beach

Book a surfing lesson for just with Longsands Surf School or, if you already know how to surf, simply rent all the equipment you need. In a few hours, learn how to stand up and surf the North Sea, putting your new knowledge to the test on the shallow but turbid waves rolling in from Norway in the distance.

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Newcastle upon Tyne travel guide

Newcastle upon tyne tourism | newcastle upon tyne guide, you're going to love newcastle upon tyne.

Newcastle upon Tyne is a city of contrasts. Dating back to the second century, it retains many historical sights, which stand side by side with the modern world. Hadrian's Wall was built to span the width of England and protect the northern border of the Roman Empire, and there are still parts intact today in and around Newcastle. The Roman fort was replaced by a Norman 'new castle' in the 11th century and later a castle keep, which, along with the Black Gate, still stands on the banks of the River Tyne.

The fascinating history of Newcastle is apparent throughout the city, with various architectural eras visible. Ultra-modern buildings blend in seamlessly with the ancient, creating a mismatched combination that keeps sightseers interested at every turn. Newcastle has something for everyone, from museums, art galleries, and the Theatre Royal to a plethora of restaurants, nightclubs, and bars.

With a unique English dialect, the people of Newcastle are referred to as Geordies and considered among the friendliest in the country - you will be warmly welcomed wherever you go. Newcastle is paired culturally with the neighboring city Gateshead, which is located across the river. Many entertainment venues, including the Sage Gateshead concert hall and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art are on the riverside, linked by bridges to Newcastle.

Top 5 Reasons to Visit Newcastle upon Tyne

1. unbelievable historical sights.

Newcastle dates back to Roman times and displays both ruins and restored buildings from this era. From the 11th-century castle to 19th-century architecture, the sights never cease to amaze.

2. It's a Green City

If you need a break from the city center, Leazes Park and the Town Moor are vast expanses of green just a few minutes away. Do some exercise, take a stroll or bike around, and feel like you're in the countryside without even leaving Newcastle.

3. One-stop Shopping

The main focus of the city center is shopping. Everything is in one area around Northumberland Street and Eldon Square. From high street bargains to designer labels, there are stores to suit all budgets.

4. Cultural Delights

Catch a play or musical at the Theatre Royal, browse through the history of the area at the Discovery Museum or the Great North Museum, or view the latest exhibitions at the Laing Art Gallery.

5. Vibrant Nightlife

Said to be the best nightlife destination in the country, Newcastle is popular with fun-seekers of all ages. The area around Central Station is hip and laid back, the Bigg Market area is full of energy, and the Quayside has bars to suit everyone.

What to do in Newcastle upon Tyne

1. newcastle castle: a passage to history.

The Newcastle Castle, built on the site of the former Roman fortress, includes the main stone tower, Castle Keep, and Black Gate. Robert Curthose, son of William the Conqueror, erected a castle on the site in 1080. Henry II began construction on Castle Keep in 1172, and Henry III added Black Gate in 1247. Today, visitors can discover the passageways and chambers, as well as its history from Roman to Medieval times. In 2015, Black Gate was reopened as a museum, which hosts engaging exhibits and events.

2. Gateshead Millennium Bridge: The Blink of an Eye

Gateshead Millennium Bridge, a tilt bridge that crosses the River Tyne between Gateshead's Quays and the Quayside of Newcastle, was opened to pedestrians and cyclists in 2001. The bridge was designed by the WilkinsonEyre and Gifford firms. Known locally as the Blinking Eye Bridge because of its shape and tilt, Gateshead Millennium Bridge is open occasionally to sightseers and for events, such as the Northumbrian Water University Boat Race and the Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Race.

3. Cathedral Church of St Nicholas: Rising from the Ashes

The Cathedral Church of St Nicholas, home to the Bishop of Newcastle and the Diocese of Newcastle, was established in 1091 as a Norman church that was destroyed by fire in 1216. The current structure, completed in 1350, is famous for its 15th-century lantern spire. The building was restored in 1777 and achieved cathedral status in 1882. Among the highlights, visitors can observe the marble monument of Admiral Lord Collingwood, who commanded the Battle of Trafalgar, the stunning stained glass throughout the building, and a thirteenth century effigy of an unknown knight, as well a 1903 bronze statue of Queen Victoria.

4. Quayside: Arts on the River

Located on the banks of the River Tyne, the Quayside, once an industrial and commercial hub, is now a music and arts complex. Visitors can find restaurants, bars and nightclubs, as well as the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and The Sage Gateshead, a performing arts center. The Quayside is home to the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, which connects the BALTIC Centre and the Newcastle Law Courts. Quayside also hosts the annual Great North Run.

5. Angel of the North: Guarding the Hill

The Angel of the North, a striking modern sculpture designed by Antony Gormley, was unveiled in 1998. The imposing steel angel, believed to be the largest angel sculpture in the world, measures 66 feet and has a wingspan of 177 feet. Located on the hill of Birtley, the statue can be seen year-round. Visitors can access the sculpture by bus from Eldon Square Bus Station in Newcastle or Gateshead Interchange.

Where to Eat in Newcastle upon Tyne

Chinatown is located on Stowell Street; here, meals cost around £10. Restaurants are generally dotted around the city and offer a wide range of cuisines. A three-course meal at Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill will cost around £40 per person. The menu includes a range of steaks and classic French dishes with a modern twist. A meal from the set menu at Simply Greek Tavern will cost £18 per person, and the offering includes beef stifado and chicken souvlaki.

When to visit Newcastle upon Tyne

Summer is the most pleasant time of year to visit Newcastle. July and August see temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit and very little - if any - rain.

How to Get to Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle International Airport (NCL) is less than seven miles from the city center. A connecting flight from London takes just over an hour. Taxis are available from the airport and will cost less than £10 to most destinations in the city. The rail system also links up to the city; a single ticket costs £3.30.

Trains arrive at Newcastle Central Station, which is located just minutes from the city center. Taxis, buses, or the subway can be taken to your final destination. Trains from London take around three hours. If booked well in advance, tickets can be as low as £40 rising to upwards of £100 for last-minute journeys.

Driving to Newcastle is straight forward from any direction. The A1 runs from Edinburgh to London and passes right by the city. The A69 runs from the west coast to the outskirts of Newcastle.

Taking the bus from London to Newcastle takes around eight hours or six overnight. While it is the slowest, bus is the cheapest form of transport for this journey. Long distance buses are usually referred to as coaches and stop at Newcastle Coach Station, which is a few minutes away from the train station.

Airports near Newcastle upon Tyne

Airlines serving newcastle upon tyne, where to stay in newcastle upon tyne.

The majority of hotels are located near the river, usually up the hill that leads to the city center and overlooking the river from a height. Try the Copthorne Hotel or Malmaison. Budget hotels, such as Holiday Inn or Hotel Indigo, tend to be in the city center or surrounding areas, such as Jesmond or Gosforth.

Popular Neighborhoods in Newcastle

The Quayside - revamped traditional buildings and new constructions house bars, clubs, and restaurants that make the Quayside a vibrant area both day and night.

City Center - with shopping, dining, museums, and art galleries all within walking distance, the city center is easy to navigate.

Jesmond - an area popular with students, there are a growing number of bars, restaurants, and coffee shops, as well as small, boutique stores.

Where to stay in popular areas of Newcastle upon Tyne

Most booked hotels in newcastle upon tyne, how to get around newcastle upon tyne, public transportation.

The Metro system is a light railway, which travels under and overground, covering Newcastle towards the coast and south of the River Tyne to South Shields and Sunderland. There are also plenty of bus routes to all surrounding destinations. Fares generally cost £2-3 within Newcastle.

There are various taxi ranks around the city, at the train station, and busy shopping or nightlife areas. Taking a taxi between two locations in Newcastle will cost under £10.

If you plan on staying in Newcastle and visiting other areas in North and South Tyneside, there is really no need for a rental car. If you want to travel further afield, a rental car may be worthwhile. The daily cost of a mid-sized car will be approximately £50 from companies such as Hertz, Europcar, or Avis. There are many parking lots and parking garages around the city that generally cost less than £10 for three hours.

The Cost of Living in Newcastle upon Tyne

Shopping streets.

Shopping in Newcastle is centered around the Eldon Square shopping mall, which has all the major UK chain stores, as well as the surrounding streets, like Northumberland Street and Grey Street. There are department stores, including Fenwick and John Lewis, which are about on par with US prices.

Groceries and Other

Fenwick and Marks & Spencer have food halls offering groceries and ready-to-eat meals. Prices tend to be higher than at regular grocery stores, such as Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Waitrose, which are in or around Eldon Square. A loaf of bread, milk, and eggs will each cost £1-2.

Must-see attractions in Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Life Science Centre

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Part of a sober-minded institute devoted to the study of genetic science, this centre lets you discover the secrets of life through a fascinating series…

BALTIC – Centre for Contemporary Art

Once a huge mustard-coloured grain store, BALTIC is now a huge mustard-coloured art gallery rivalling London's Tate Modern. There are no permanent…

Victoria Tunnel

Walking Newcastle's streets, you'd never know this extraordinary tunnel runs for 2.5 miles beneath your feet. Built between 1839 and 1842 as a coal-wagon…

Discovery Museum

Tyneside's rich history is explored at this unmissable museum. Exhibitions spread across three floors of the former Co-operative Wholesale Society…

Great North Museum

The contents of Newcastle University's museums and the prestigious Hancock Museum's natural-history exhibits come together in the latter's neoclassical…

The last strong post of Hadrian's Wall was the fort of Segedunum, 5 miles east of Newcastle at the 'wall's end', now the Newcastle suburb of Wallsend…

Seven Stories – The Centre for Children's Books

A marvellous conversion of a handsome Victorian mill has resulted in Seven Stories, a very hands-on museum dedicated to the wondrous world of children's…

Biscuit Factory

No prizes for guessing what this commercial art gallery used to be. These days, it's the UK's biggest contemporary art, craft and design gallery/shop,…

Newcastle Castle

The stronghold that put both the 'new' and 'castle' into Newcastle has been largely swallowed up by the train station, leaving only a few remaining…

Angel of the North

Nicknamed the Gateshead Flasher, this extraordinary 200-tonne, rust-coloured, winged human frame has loomed over the A1 motorway some 6 miles south of…

Laing Art Gallery

The exceptional collection at the Laing includes works by Gainsborough, Gauguin and Henry Moore, and an important collection of paintings by…

Bessie Surtees House

The Tyne's northern bank was the hub of commercial Newcastle in the 16th century and on Sandhill a row of leaning merchant houses has survived from that…

Ouseburn Farm

Shetland ponies, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens and agricultural crops aren't what you'd expect to find in built-up Newcastle, but you can see them all at…

St Nicholas Cathedral

Newcastle's cathedral was founded in 1091 but the Norman structure was destroyed by fire in 1216; its replacement was completed in 1350. The lantern spire…

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Explore Newcastle upon Tyne

Plan Your Trip to Newcastle upon Tyne: Best of Newcastle upon Tyne Tourism

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Newcastle upon Tyne Is Great For

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• Maldron Hotel Newcastle
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14 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Newcastle upon Tyne

Written by Bryan Dearsley Updated Dec 25, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Newcastle upon Tyne - usually simply referred to as "Newcastle" - is, in both an economic as well as a cultural sense, very much the unofficial capital of the northeast of England. This industrial city stands on the River Tyne, with its center possessing many noteworthy Victorian buildings and streets, as well as three large shopping centers. It's also popular for its many interesting museums and entertainment facilities, including the prestigious Theatre Royal and City Hall , popular venues for theater, events and festivals, as well as pop and rock concerts.

Once an important coal port, the harbor area is now a busy passenger terminus for ferries and cruise ships to Europe, as well as for boat trips around the city. In Roman times, Newcastle - then called Pons Aelius - was a fort on Hadrian's Wall , and during the Saxon period, it was known as "Monk Chester" on account of its many religious houses.

The city owes its present name to William the Conqueror who, like Hadrian before him, recognized its strategic importance. In 1080, he gave his son the order to erect a "New Castle" on the site of the old Roman fort, in addition to the building of St. Nicholas' Cathedral . Today, these two buildings are among the city's most popular tourist attractions.

One of the top things to do in Newcastle is to tackle at least part of the 84-mile-long Hadrian's Wall Path , which passes through the city center. It's easy to pick up from here, and actually follows Hadrian's Wall across some of England's loveliest countryside.

For these and other fun sightseeing ideas, be sure to review our list of the top tourist attractions and things to do in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

See also: Where to Stay in Newcastle-upon-Tyne

1. See the Historic Tyne Bridges

2. take a stroll along the millennium bridge, 3. explore the historic quayside district, 4. visit newcastle's castle, 5. newcastle cathedral, 6. explore the old city chares, 7. grainger town and grey's monument, 8. get your shopping fix in eldon square, 9. get your art fix at laing art gallery, 10. explore the great north museum: hancock, 11. "discover" the discovery museum, 12. take the kids to the life science centre, 13. jesmond dene, 14. don't forget gateshead, where to stay in newcastle upon tyne for sightseeing, map of attractions & things to do in newcastle upon tyne, newcastle upon tyne, united kingdom - climate chart.

Today, a total of seven bridges span the River Tyne in and around Newcastle. Three of them are famous internationally for their revolutionary approach to bridge building that they enshrined.

The oldest is High Level Bridge , a two-level steel structure almost 165 feet high that was built to plans drawn up in 1849 by Robert Stephenson and opened by Queen Victoria. The next oldest is Swing Bridge . Designed by Sir W. G. Armstrong and opened in 1876, it stands on the same site as the "Pons Aelius" fort built by the Romans.

However, the bridge that most symbolizes the city's identity is the Tyne Bridge . Begun in 1925 and opened by King George V in 1928, it was at that time the largest arch of any bridge in the world.

Crossing the River Tyne via the spectacular Gateshead Millennium Bridge on foot (or on bike) is one of the top free things to do for visitors when visiting the Newcastle area. Opened in 2001, this unique curving footbridge stretches a distance of 126 meters across the river, connecting Newcastle's revitalized Quayside area with the trendy arts quarter of Gateshead on the south bank.

Its design - which has led to the nickname "Winking Eye Bridge" - allows for the bridge to tilt enough to allow boat traffic to pass underneath. This 4.5 minute undertaking is quite the sight, and happens regularly enough that you're likely to catch it in action during your Newcastle adventure (see the official website below for scheduled "tilt" times). Be sure to also pay a visit at night if you're staying in Newcastle, as the bridge is lit up to dazzling effect.

Address: S Shore Road, Gateshead

Official site: www.gateshead.gov.uk/article/4594/The-Gateshead-Millennium-Bridge

The Quayside district around the Tyne and High Level Bridges has been redeveloped, and many of the old houses here are now hotels, shops, and restaurants. On Sandhill, a number of historic buildings can be seen, including the Guildhall, built in 1658, and the Merchants' Court. The lovingly restored Bessie Surtees House consists of two merchant's houses dating from the 16th and 17th centuries with a restored Jacobean facade.

A fascinating underground tourist attraction is the 2.5-mile-long Victoria Tunnel, running beneath the city from the Town Moor down to the Tyne. The tunnel opened in 1842 as a wagonway to transport coal from the colliery to riverside jetties, and a large section can be seen by guided tour (be sure to book in advance).

Location: Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne

North of Newcastle's High Level Bridge on St. Nicholas Street, the well-preserved Norman fortified tower bears testimony to the "New Castle" begun in 1080 and completed in 1172. The late Norman Chapel and the King's Chamber can be visited as you explore the castle's many old passages and medieval chambers. Along the way, you'll find fascinating displays of archaeological artifacts, while the tower offers excellent views over the city.

Although separated from Castle Keep by a train line, the gatehouse (the Black Gate) was built in 1247 and is also worth exploring. Guided tours, including a chance to visit both structures, are available. If possible, try to plan your visit to coincide with one of the castle's many fun themed seasonal events.

Address: Castle Garth, Newcastle upon Tyne

Official site: www.newcastlecastle.co.uk

Built in the 14th and 15th centuries, Newcastle Cathedral - officially known as The Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas - is not especially large, having only been elevated from the status of parish church to cathedral in 1882. Its most striking feature, though, is its lantern tower. Standing almost 197 feet tall, it was built in 1435 and is topped by a lovely crenellated Scottish Crown . At night, the spire is floodlit to impressive effect.

Interior highlights include the canopied font and lectern (both dating from 1500), the organ (1676), and numerous fine statues dating from 15th to 20th centuries. A pleasant café is also located on-site. Outside, the statue of Queen Victoria in St. Nicholas Square was the work of Sir Alfred Gilbert (1900). Admission to the cathedral is free, making it one of the top things to do for free in Newcastle.

Address: St. Nicholas Square, Newcastle upon Tyne

Official site: http://stnicholascathedral.co.uk/

To the east of the Tyne Bridge is one of the oldest parts of Newcastle, the Chares. This series of well-preserved, narrow medieval alleyways and lanes, with their stepped pathways, are endless fun to explore, including Breakneck Stairs, Long Stairs, and Castle Stairs, the latter leading to Castle Keep and the Black Gate.

Along the way, you'll find newer (yet still historic) architectural delights, including the Custom House (1766) and Trinity House (1721). A number fo great restaurants and shopping opportunities have also spring up in the area, adding even more reasons to linger here.

Also of interest is the splendid All Saints Church . Built in Neoclassical style by David Stephenson in the 18th century above the tomb of Roger Thornton (d. 1429) and his wife (d. 1411), this catholic church possesses a great deal of elaborate mahogany woodwork along with what is believed to be the largest brass in England.

Address: Akenside Hill, Newcastle upon Tyne

At the north end of Grey Street stands the 135-foot-high Grey's Monument, a favorite meeting place in the heart of the city. Built in 1835 in memory of the second Earl Grey, it commemorates his role as Prime Minister and architect of the 1832 Reform Bill. The column's viewing platform - a 164-step climb that's only occasionally open to the public - boasts superb views of the city.

Grainger Street , which ends at Grey's Monument, is one of Newcastle's most attractive shopping streets. The thoroughfare and the area around it, Grainger Town , are named after Richard Grainger, the architect behind the rebuilding of the city center between 1824 and 1841. Here, you'll also find excellent shopping in Grainger Market , established in 1835 and still bustling with over 100 vendors selling food and other goods.

Address: Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne

An enormous shopping complex has developed around Eldon Square, comprising the shopping center of the same name, Eldon Garden, and the Central Arcade. The area has numerous passageways lined with shops, elegant arcades, exclusive designer boutiques, restaurants, and cafés, as well as a number of fine antique stores on Vine Lane. All are ideal for exploring when a little retail therapy is needed.

A short distance to the west of Eldon Square is a Chinese district around Stowell Street that is famous for its excellent restaurants. While there, visit Newcastle's old medieval Town Walls , now restored, as well as 13th-century Blackfriars in Monk Street , which houses craft workshops and a restaurant.

Address: Eldon Court, Percy Street, Newcastle upon Tyne

Official site: https://eldonsquare.co.uk

The Laing Art Gallery was built in 1901 and contains an extensive collection of paintings and sculptures. Highlights include work by Gauguin, landscapes by John Martin, and paintings by 20th-century British artists like Stanley Spencer.

It's also home to sculptures by Henry Moore and decorative arts from the 16th to 18th centuries, including silver, glassware, and ceramics. The gallery also hosts a continuous program of temporary exhibitions and educational activities. A great café is located on site (cream teas!), and guided tours are available.

Another gallery of note is the Hatton Gallery at Newcastle University, which has works by European painters from the 14th to 18th centuries, as well as paintings by modern English artists. A little north from the Laing Art Gallery is the Newcastle Civic Centre , noteworthy for its chimes (based on local tunes) and its statue depicting the Tyne river-god.

The Biscuit Factory , the UK's largest commercial art, craft, and design gallery, is housed in a former Victorian warehouse and includes collections of contemporary fine art, sculpture, and original print. It has also become a popular dining spot thanks to its two restaurants.

Address: New Bridge St W, Newcastle upon Tyne

Official site: www.laingartgallery.org.uk

Established in 1884, the Great North Museum: Hancock is located in a splendidly restored Victorian-era building and houses excellent natural history and ethnology sections. Among its many exhibits are artifacts from ancient Egypt and Greece, the Romans and Hadrian's Wall , as well as a digital planetarium.

For the kids, a fun interactive study zone, an "under fives" space, and a garden are all available to explore. The nearby Exhibition Park is also worth wandering, and is a great place to visit for a picnic after visiting the museum.

Fans of Roman Britain should pay a visit to the Segedunum Roman Fort & Museum . Here, you can explore excavated remains of an original Roman fort along with reconstructions including a bathhouse, plus related displays in the museum.

Although a little outside of the city, the Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort is worth a visit. Consisting of a mix of ruins and some reconstructions, the fort offers the chance to experience a little of life during Roman times, along with viewing a large collection of well-preserved artifacts.

Location: Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne

Official site: www.greatnorthmuseum.org.uk

Among the many exhibits in the excellent Discovery Museum are machines ranging from traditional windmills and early steam engines to ultra-modern jet turbines. Highlights include a number of WW2-era vehicles and vintage cars. Also on show is the locomotive built by George Stephenson in 1830 for the coal mines of Killingworth and a model recreating the River Tyne in 1929.

Various ship models include the first turbine-driven steamer in the world, Turbinia, designed by Charles Parsons and launched in 1914. The museum also boasts a fine collection of artwork, including paintings and sculptures, as well as an extensive research library. A café is also located on the premises.

Also fun for kids, the Stephenson Railway Museum is just a short distance away in Wallsend. This fascinating tourist attraction offers a variety of fun things to do, including the chance to ride aboard a number of still-operational vintage steam- and diesel locomotives. A variety of hands-on displays are available, along with fun workshops.

Address: Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne

Official site: www.discoverymuseum.org.uk

If traveling with youngsters, be sure to schedule a visit to the Life Science Centre . One of the top things to do with kids in Newcastle, this world-class science and learning facility features a thrilling planetarium, live theater productions, as well as plenty of fun hands-on displays and activities for the kids to experience.

Try to include a little time in your family travel itinerary to also visit the inspirational Seven Stories . This remarkable attraction is suitable for kids of all ages, and serves as a center for original manuscripts and illustrations from some of Britain's best-loved children's authors.

Address: Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne

Official site: www.life.org.uk

Jesmond Dene, a lovely dell in the northeast of Newcastle linked to Armstrong Park, is undoubtedly one of the most attractive city parks in England. A nature trail has been laid out in the park and takes visitors past the Old Mill, in operation since the mid-1700s. Near the entrance of the park is Millfield House, which provides a range of activities and information.

Also worth exploring is Gibside in Burnopfield, a forest garden considered one of the North's finest landscapes. Gibside also features a Palladian chapel, the Column of Liberty, and numerous easy walking paths. Another nearby National Trust property to explore is Derwentcote Steel Furnace , a fully operational 18th-century steel-making furnace.

Address: Red Walk, Jesmond Dene, Newcastle upon Tyne

Official site: www.jesmonddene.org.uk

Connected to Newcastle by seven bridges, including the Millennium Bridge , the spectacularly designed pedestrian bridge that actually tilts to allow boat traffic through, Gateshead is well worth adding to your itinerary.

The town is well known for its iconic architecture, which includes the spectacular Sage Gateshead , a center for musical education, performance, and conferences; the famous Angel of the North , a huge steel sculpture of an angel designed by Antony Gormley that stands 66 feet tall with wings measuring 177 feet across; and the lovely 55-acre Saltwell Park , popular for its pleasant walks through gardens and woods, along with its boating lake and visitor center.

Also of interest to art enthusiasts is the Shipley Art Gallery , featuring a number of works from the old masters, contemporary crafts, silverware, glass, and pieces of local history.

Another must-visit Gateshead tourist attraction is the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art . Sitting just steps away from the Millennium Bridge, the "Baltic," as it's known locally, is located within a refurbished old flour mill and features a variety of visiting exhibits from across the UK and internationally.

If you're visiting Newcastle-upon-Tyne for the first time, the best place to stay is in the city center - especially near Quayside, with its popular shops, restaurants, and historic buildings. From here, attractions such as the Castle Keep, Tyne Bridge, and St. Nicholas Cathedral are within walking distance. Here are some highly rated hotels in this central location:

Luxury Hotels:

• Within walking distance of all the top city center sights, Hotel Indigo Newcastle boasts bright, modern decor and is known for its warm hospitality. Steps from Central Station, the new Crowne Plaza Newcastle - Stephenson Quarter is a great base for sports fans and sightseers.
• The hotel is within walking distance of St. James' Park (home of the Newcastle United Football Club) as well as city restaurants and entertainment.
• A short hop from Quayside, the pet-friendly Hotel du Vin & Bistro Newcastle , situated in a restored Edwardian building, is popular for its fantastic views and large, stylish rooms and suites.

Mid-Range Hotels:

• Close to Quayside, Staybridge Suites Newcastle is excellent value - especially for extended stays; its spacious suites have fully-equipped kitchens and big windows.
• In the heart of the city, near Central Station, as well as fabulous restaurants and entertainment venues, Motel One Newcastle has stylish decor and cozy rooms.
• Large, modern apartments with full kitchens; a central location; and a great grab-and-go breakfast are the top features of Roomzzz Newcastle City , set in a Georgian townhouse and only a five-minute walk from Central Station.

Budget Hotels:

• A short hop from Newcastle's Central Station and the Metro, Tune Hotel - Newcastle has a contemporary feel, with friendly staff and small, clean rooms. Quayside is within easy walking distance.
• Right on Quayside, The Waterside Hotel ticks all the boxes for a cheap and convenient base with clean rooms.
• If you don't mind staying a short taxi ride from the city center, the OYO Dene Hotel offers clean, cozy rooms and apartments in a great neighborhood, with plenty of restaurants and entertainment venues nearby.

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

Great Newcastle Day Trips : A top-rated day trip from Newcastle can be enjoyed in the historic city of Durham , just 30 minutes' drive (or 15 minutes by train). Here, you'll find the country's most picturesque castle and cathedral, along with many perfectly preserved medieval buildings to explore (the delightful Beamish Living Museum is located on the way to Durham, too, and is well worth a visit). Just an hour south by train, the city of York is famous for its beautiful Minster , along with the famous winding alleys and laneways known as the Shambles. And just a little farther south, you'll find yourself in Leeds , a city known for its shopping, museums, and art galleries.

Bonnie Scotland : From Newcastle, it's easy to see the best attractions in Scotland . The Scottish capital of Edinburgh should be on every bucket list, and in addition to its famous castle, it is home to the Queen's former yacht, now a great museum attraction. The port city of Glasgow is equally interesting and is popular for its many tourist attractions and proximity to the spectacular Loch Lomond region.

England Vacation Ideas : Make sure a few days in London are included in your UK travel itinerary, especially such attractions as Buckingham Palace and the awe-inspiring Tower of London . Not too far from London, the cities of Cambridge and Oxford should also be included for their incredible old colleges, museums, and delightful historic city centers. Romantic Bath is another must, and is well-known for its Georgian architecture and the splendidly preserved Roman baths after which it's named.

More on England

A weekend in Newcastle upon Tyne: travel guide, attractions and things to do

Everything you need to know for a city break in the north east party ‘Toon’

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1. Why you should visit Newcastle

2. top attractions: things to see and do, 3. hotels and accommodation: where to stay, 4. restaurants, pubs and a ‘bottle of dog’: where to eat and drink, 5. transport: how to get there, 6. what the locals say.

Newcastle upon Tyne, commonly known as Newcastle, has developed into a “prominent” city in terms of “technical innovation and culture”, said ArrivalGuides . A “wonderful” holiday location with great shopping hot-spots, Newcastle, on the north bank of the River Tyne, and Gateshead, on the south, are united by seven bridges across a “spectacular” riverside. This forms a “single, diverse and extremely vibrant visitor destination”.

A weekend in Brighton and Hove: travel guide, attractions and things to do A weekend in Glasgow: travel guide, attractions and things to do A weekend in Edinburgh: travel guide, attractions and things to do

Renowned throughout Britain for its “thumping” nightlife, this “fiercely independent” city in north east England harbours a “spirited mix of heritage and urban sophistication”, said Lonely Planet . It has excellent art galleries, a magnificent concert hall, boutique hotels, some exceptional restaurants and, “of course”, interesting bars.

With its walkable centre and many “iconic” landmarks, Newcastle is “photogenic”, said Katie Gatens in The Times . “If you don’t fall in love with the architecture, history or culture, chances are you’ll fall for the residents. Geordies are the friendliest people in the country (that’s a fact).”

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Newcastle Castle

“Not that new anymore”, said Bryony Hatherley on Culture Trip , this medieval structure is what gives Newcastle its name. The castle is open to visitors from Thursdays to Mondays, but from 26 May to 6 June it will be open every day.

Cross the Tyne bridges

The bridge that “most symbolises the city’s identity” is the Tyne Bridge, said Bryan Dearsley on PlanetWare . When it was opened in 1928 it was “at that time the largest arch of any bridge in the world”. Crossing the Tyne on foot or on a bike via the “spectacular” Gateshead Millennium Bridge, is one of the top free things to do for visitors. Opened in 2001, it connects Newcastle’s “revitalised” Quayside area with the “trendy arts quarter” of Gateshead.

A night on the ‘Toon’

“The Geordie Nation” know how to let their hair down and have a good time like few others, said Nooruddean Choudry on Joe . A night on the “Toon” should definitely be on any weekend itinerary.

The Diamond Strip is up there with Newcastle’s “most glamourous party quarters”, said Hotels.com . It's right in the “beating heart of the city”, the venues are “slick and upmarket”, but also “rowdy and wild” once the night takes hold. Other party hot-spots to hit include Bigg Market, which is home to some of Newcastle’s largest clubs and mainstream bars; the Quayside, which offers “sleek” venues right on the River Tyne; and Dean Street, “a must-visit for beer aficionados”.

The Quayside

This is the “place to go” for pubs, clubs and restaurants, said Bryony Hatherley on Culture Trip . Now a modernised hub of arts, music and culture, “check out the Quayside market on Sundays and the area’s party atmosphere on Saturday nights”.

Sage Gateshead

This iconic concert venue by the river “looks like a giant, shiny slug (in a good way)”, said Time Out . “Like the Sydney Opera House”, it’s worth visiting even if you’re not actually there for the music.

Galleries and museums

While its arts scene is often overlooked in favour of bigger cities, Newcastle is actually home to a “thriving community of galleries”, said Helen Armitage on Culture Trip . The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art is “one of northern England’s premier galleries” while The Biscuit Factory is the “biggest commercial art, craft and design gallery in the UK”. Smaller, independent galleries include The Outsiders and System Gallery.

The Discovery Museum, a science and local history museum, is an “educational and fun place for all the family”, said Time Out . “Not to mention the awe-inducing 35-metre steam turbine ship that greets you as you arrive.” At the Great North Museum: Hancock “you can learn about everything from polar exploration to space travel”.

Angel of the North

If you’re visiting by car, take a detour off the A1 to visit the Angel of the North, said David Whitley on the i news site. Just south of Newcastle in Gateshead, it’s “well worth the extra journey time”. Antony Gormley’s masterwork “looks wonderful from the road, but the curves and detailing up close offer a new perspective”.

INNSiDE Newcastle, a large, modern hotel on the Quayside, “leads the way in how to blend corporate with leisure”, said The Telegraph . It was given an 8/10 expert rating along with other highly-regarded hotels such as Jesmond Dene House, Hotel du Vin & Bistro Newcastle, The Townhouse Hotel, and The Cumberland Arms.

In her round-up of the “slickest stays on Geordie shore”, The Independent ’s Katie Gatens picks out Hotel Indigo for being the best hotel “in the heart of the action” while the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead is “best for river views”.

Restaurants

House of Tides is Newcastle’s only Michelin -starred restaurant. This “characterful Grade I listed merchant’s house” sits on the historic quayside and offers “accomplished, creative dishes”. Two restaurants – Route and Broad Chare – have been awarded Michelin’s Bib Gourmand .

From boozers to late bars, there are some great venues in Newcastle to grab a pint, said ChronicleLive . “The city has it all.” According to TripAdvisor, Boulevard Show Bar took top spot on its best pubs and bars list. “Glamour rules at this cabaret club.” “Historic boozer” Crown Posada, “little gem of a pub” The Gosforth Hotel, and “traditional pub” The Strawberry also make the list. Located next to St James’s Park, The Strawberry has for decades been the “spiritual home” of Newcastle United fans who flock there for a matchday pint, said ChronicleLive .

Order ‘a bottle of dog’

Newcastle Brown is the “drink of choice” in pubs all over town, said Katie Gatens in The Times . “Ask for ‘a bottle of dog’ and the barman will know what you mean.” The phrase “bottle of dog” was derived from the phrase “I’m going to walk the dog” – a euphemism for “I’m going to the pub”, said ChronicleLive .

Trains and Metro

Grade I-listed Newcastle Central Station is about a ten-minute walk from the city centre. Situated on Neville Street close to the River Tyne, Newcastle Central is mainly served by LNER, CrossCountry, TransPennine Express and Northern trains. The Tyne and Wear Metro is made up of overground and underground stations across Newcastle, Sunderland, Gateshead, and the coast.

Newcastle International Airport serves more than 80 destinations worldwide. With a Metro station at the airport, it takes around 25 minutes by train to Haymarket, Monument or Central Station in Newcastle city centre.

For ferry passengers from mainland Europe, DFDS operates an overnight crossing between Amsterdam and Newcastle seven days a week.

If you only eat one thing during your time in Newcastle, make it a Craster kipper, said Daniel Stables in National Geographic . This smoked herring is the “jewel in the crown” of Northumbrian cuisine, hauled in from the North Sea and cured in the town of Craster on the Northumberland coast. “It makes for a world-class way to take breakfast.”

Are you planning to stay longer than a weekend? Then venture out to one of the many “picturesque coastal villages” of Northumberland, such as Warkworth, Bamburgh, Amble and Seahouses, said Katie Gatens in The Times . All have “excellent beaches” and are within easy driving distance of the city.

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Mike Starling is the digital features editor at The Week, where he writes content and edits the Arts & Life and Sport website sections and the Food & Drink and Travel newsletters. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon. 

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Newcastle upon tyne.

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Section in Newcastle upon Tyne Do & See The Quayside is a spectacular area day and night with the iconic Gateshead Millennium Bridge, the world’s first and only tilting bridge, linking Newcastle and Gateshead for pedestrians and cyclists. Gateshead’s BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art is an art-lover’s dream, whilst Newcastle’s array of riverside bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants, paired with The Sage Gateshead’s diverse programme of musical events, ensure you will be well catered for through daylight to nightlife. Read more

The Castle Keep

Angel of The North

Arbeia Roman Fort and Museum

The Tyne Bridge

BALTIC Centre of Contemporary Art

Tyneside Cinema

Longsands Beach

Jesmond Dene Park

The Quayside

Grey Street and Grainger Town

Victoria Tunnel

Genting Casino Newcastle

Hadrian's Wall

Great North Museum: Hancock

St. James' Park

Stephenson Railway Museum

While I'm Young

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Plan Your Fun Weekend In Newcastle With This Bumper Itinerary

Europe , North East , Travel , UK | November 12, 2018

Newcastle Upon Tyne’s city centre is the perfect northern destination for a weekend city break in the UK. It’s compact, there’s a burgeoning local food and drink scene and the Geordies pride themselves on their friendly natures.

Planning a weekend in Newcastle is also pretty affordable, with reasonably priced city centre hotel rooms and those infamous cheap-as-chips ‘trebles’ sloshed down later-remorseful necks all over the city every weekend.

I live nearby and have spent a lot of time getting to know the place, so I’ve put together this guide to what to do in Newcastle on a weekend break.

Things To Do In Newcastle On A Weekend Break

Heading to Newcastle this weekend? Whether you’re going on a hen or stag do with a mixed age party who want to descend on The Toon and you need options for partiers and the more laid-back, relaxed attendees; if you’re a solo traveller, a loved-up couple or you’re planning a little lads/lasses day out, Newcastle won’t let you down.

This Newcastle city break guide details all the best places to eat, drink and be merry in the North East’s largest and most famous city.

There’s a reason it’s often named as the UK’s best city for nightlife, so I’ve also included some of the best bars in Newcastle for daytime and  late night revelry. I’ve tried to cover a nice mix of civilised spots and rowdier places, so there’s something for everyone. Pack your coat – it’s usually freezing. (Or don’t. The Geordie lasses will respect you more without one.)

If you’re in Newcastle for two days or even just one, a good way to see the main sites and get to grips with the city is to do a hop-on-hop-off bus tour or a walking tour . Or just follow my guide to have the best day out in Newcastle ever!

1. Start with scran : Where to eat breakfast (or brunch) in Newcastle

If you hop off the train at Central Station in the early morning, you’ll probably be ‘clamming’, as they say up here. Head to one of Chloe from New Girl In Toon’s 10 best Newcastle breakfast spots  (more saliva-inducing pics like the one above in her post).

Violet’s has become something of a Newcastle breakfast institution, with its charming and cosy interior and yummy comfort food. Quay Ingredient and Olive & Bean are equally good choices.

Planning a boozy girls day out in Newcastle? Your best bet is to start as you mean to go on with a bottomless brunch. Newcastle has a few to choose from, but I believe the best are at No 28 ,  Aveika and Malmaison . I haven’t done any yet, but they’re all on my list!

2. Hit the shops : Newcastle’s shopping hotspots

If you’d prefer to get your steps count up by trawling the shops instead of traipsing around Newcastle’s tourist attractions, you’ll be happy to know that Newcastle’s best shopping areas are all within easy reach of each other.

Start at intu Eldon Square and make your way along Northumberland Street or down the other streets spanning out from Monument Station, where you can spend your pocket money on various high street and luxury fashion brands.

Grainger Market is a more unique Newcastle shopping experience. It’s a covered market with 114 shops, built in 1835 and it’s probably the best place to ‘crack on’ to locals.

Central Arcade is another must-visit, and could be deemed a Newcastle attraction in itself. The grandiose Edwardian arcade has a few shops that might be of interest, but is really just worth peeking into so you can marvel at its beauty.

If you only go to one shop in Newcastle, make it Fenwick . Bonus points if it’s Christmas time because you’ll see the shop window display, whose appearance has become synonymous with the start of the festive season in the North East. I have a guide to what to do in Newcastle at Christmas which should be handy if you’re visiting in December.

Outside of the city but not to be missed if you’ve come to shop, the intu Metrocentre  in Gateshead also provides ample opportunity for retail therapy.

3. See the canny side of the city : Cultural things to see and do in Newcastle

If you’ve come to Newcastle for culture, it’s probably staring you in the face:  Greys Monument boasts Grade 1 listed status. You can’t miss it as you head down stunning Grey Street, whose grand Georgian buildings house bars and restaurants galore.

Technically located in Newcastle’s neighbouring city, Gateshead, the BALTIC Centre of Contemporary Art is worth making a trip over the Tyne for. It’s the UK’s largest dedicated contemporary art institution and even its location packs a historical punch: it’s housed in an old flour mill. Take in the exhibition and then take in the views of Newcastle’s skyline over the Tyne.

Art lovers should head to the  Laing , which was Newcastle’s first art gallery, built in 1901 as a gift to the city.

There’s also  The Biscuit Factory , the UK’s largest independent commercial art, craft & design gallery. It’s not slap bang in the city centre, but worth heading out to Ouseburn to visit if you’re so inclined.

Those who want to delve into the city’s past might be interested in Victoria Tunnel : a fully preserved 19th century coal wagon-way and WW2 air-raid shelter. And of course, there’s Newcastle Castle .

In the summer months, you might be lucky and find that there’s an outdoor movie screening during your trip to Newcastle, at the Screen On The Green in Old Eldon Square.

Want to follow in the footsteps of the city’s many great inhabitants of past and present? Plaques dedicated to some of Newcastle’s best-loved and most successful locals are laid along the stretch of pavement from Baltic Square to the Swing Bridge. Across the river, they continue along the Quayside to the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. Take a walk!

Newcastle also has plenty to offer in terms of live entertainment. Before your trip to Newcastle, check out what’s on at Theatre Royal , Live Theatre , Metro Radio Arena , City Hall and the Sage .

Football lover? Book a tour of the Toon’s Stadium .

4. Get ‘nebby’ : Find the best places to relax in Newcastle city centre

The best things in life are free, and one of the best free things to do during the day in Newcastle is people watching on the Quayside. In the summer months, see if you can bag yourself a deckchair at the Quayside Seaside , a pop-up beach on the banks of the Tyne.

On Sundays, you can grab something tasty from the adjacent Quayside Market and feel the sand beneath your feet.

If you’re lucky, you might get to see the Millennium Bridge ‘wink’ as it lifts to let ships pass. The unusual site is one of Newcastle’s top attractions and it stops quayside strollers in their tracks!

If your weekend in Newcastle is blessed with sunshine, why not cross the bridge and sit outside The River Brew Co , a shipping container village where local food vendors feed the masses at weekends.

If the urban scene isn’t really your thing, you can always head out to Jesmond Dene . A 15 minute taxi ride from Central Station towards Newcastle’s east end transports you to a calming green oasis, complete with free petting zoo!

5. Get some ‘bait’ , the Geordie term for dinner

If it’s local delights you’re after, try to find a menu offering pease pudding. It’s best served with ham on a stottie cake!

Newcastle has loads of good lunchtime restaurants but it’s worth booking ahead at weekends, especially if you’re visiting in a large group.

The best lunch places in Newcastle are often disputed, but new-ish pasta join Zucchini gets rave reviews. I also love Lola Jean’s (chintzy decor and a strong menu).

There are plenty of casual restaurants in Grey’s Quarter of Eldon Square too, so take a walk through there if you’re struggling to choose (or if it’s raining!)

6. Divvent wait until the neet : Where to go for casual daytime drinks in Newcastle

If it’s too early to hit the clubs, calm doon pet , Newcastle has a plethora of buzzing daytime bars. There are plenty of cheap n’ cheerful boozers like The Beehive keeping day drinkers hydrated. You won’t get fancy cocktails there, but you will get four drinks and change from a tenner.

Other cosy city centre boozers include Bridge Tavern   and  Crown Posada .

The Tyne is a pleasant walk along the Quayside and people sprawl across its large outdoor area on sunny days.

Prefer exotic concoctions and Instagram-friendly decor? Some of my favourite Newcastle cocktail bars are Pitcher and Piano on the Quayside and  The Botanist for elaborate cocktails in a floral themed greenhouse. The Glass House and Pleased To Meet You are also lovely.

Ready for my number one recommendation? Recently opened STACK is the creative social space that Newcastle was crying out for. With eateries like Cluck Cluck Moo and Sushi Me Rollin’  and a beautiful floral gin bar, this is one place you shouldn’t miss if you’re in Newcastle for a lads or lasses trip. STACK is a great place to go for groups visiting Newcastle, because there are long benches you can spread out on.

If the sun is shining during your trip to Newcastle, head to one of local travel blogger Stephanie Fox’s favourite Newcastle bars and pubs with outdoor terraces .

7. Ready for a brew? Where to get the best Afternoon Tea in Newcastle

Ladies of leisure visiting Newcastle might prefer something more elegant: afternoon tea in one of the city’s eateries. I recommend  The Great British Cupcakery for Instagram-worthy interiors and scrumptious cakes, but other highly recommended options are Six at The BALTIC for afternoon tea with a view of Newcastle (I’ve only been for dinner, but you can read my Six at The Baltic review if you’re interested), or The Vermont . Afternoon tea is a lovely option for a ladies day out in Newcastle.

If you’re prepared to travel a little outside the city centre (we’re talking a few minutes in a taxi here), I have a review of afternoon tea at Jesmond Dene House that might entice you.

8. Time for a ‘sitty doon’ : Dinner in Newcastle

For an evening meal, head to one of Newcastle’s excellent restaurants. Money saving tip: try to time your weekend in Newcastle with NE1’s Restaurant Week, when diners can eat at some of the city’s fanciest restaurants for £10 or £15 per head.

Foodie blogger Scran On The Tyne posts local restaurant reviews, if you’re in need of some inspiration for where to eat in Newcastle.

One of the best meals I’ve had in the city centre was at Malmaison’s Chez Mal , which is perfect for couples planning a romantic meal in Newcastle. Ask for the window seat for a view like the one pictured above!

9. Get mortal : The best clubs and night time bars in Newcastle

I actually prefer daytime sessions in Newcastle so I can get back home on the last metro (lol am I 70?), but there’s no shortage of nighttime venues in The Toon. There’s all the Geordie Shore haunts, of course, like Perdu, House of Smith, Floritas and Bijoux.

If you’re not planning on going radgie , skip the ‘Diamond Strip’ (Collingwood Street) and go to one of the more sophisticated bars. Or try Lane7 , where you can do some bowling while you drink.

Personally, I like Tokyo – especially because it’s just steps from Central Station.

I also highly recommend Boulevard for an evening show, where I had probably the best Newcastle night out ever.

Essential information for your city break in Newcastle

Where to stay in Newcastle

Some of my favourite city centre hotels in Newcastle are Roomzzz  (great for groups!), Malmaison and Hotel Indigo . All three are very well located and you could definitely stumble home to save on taxis.

Read my Roomzzz Newcastle review

Read my Malmaison Newcastle review

The usual budget chains like Premier Inn have options in Newcastle too.

If you’re open to staying outside of the city centre and want something more luxurious, Jesmond Dene House is a cosy hideaway and it’s just on the outskirts.

Read my review of Jesmond Dene House

Check all Newcastle hotels prices and availability 

How to get to Newcastle

You can fly to Newcastle International Airport from London or get the train to Newcastle Central. If your hotel is closer to Monument Station, get off there.

Flying in? Book a private airport transfer from Newcastle Airport to the city centre so you can get your weekend in Newcastle off to a hassle-free start.

More places to visit in the North East

If you’d like to explore more of the North East’s best destinations, you can book a half day tour to Hadrian’s Wall or spend a day in beautiful Durham.

More North East England travel inspiration

My guide to the best spa hotels in the North East

My Newcastle city guide for stags and hens

Tees Valley foodie’s guide

The best romantic accommodation in Northumberland

My review of Rockliffe Hall Hotel

What it’s like to sleep in a castle in North East England

My Forty Winks Durham review

My Matfen Hall review

What to expect when you visit Beamish

More UK travel inspiration

How to have a romantic weekend in Berwick-Upon-Tweed

Liverpool city break guide

Leeds city break guide

Is Madame Taussaud’s Blackpool worth visiting?

Best cities for a weekend in break in Northern England

How to plan an Autumn weekend break in Cheshire

The most stunning glamping yurts in Scotland

What to do in & around Falkirk, Scotland

Weekend guide to Whitby in North Yorkshire

Bristol weekend break guide

Manchester girls’ weekend guide

Howay, there’s loads of fun things to do in Newcastle. Are you planning a weekend there soon? If you’re a local, please comment with your favourite places in the Toon! I only moved to the North East a little while ago so Geordie insight is always welcome!

Click here to join my UK Travel Deals group on Facebook. We share lots of great ways to save money on UK trips and fun ideas for days out and places to visit in the UK.

Please feel free to share this post on social media. You can follow While I’m Young on Facebook , Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter if you’d like to see more of my travel tales from the UK and further afield. I also have a travel Youtube channel .

Melis Living says

November 12, 2018 at 2:18 pm

I love your guide, showing there’s loads more to do here than just a crazy night out. So much variety and you’ve covered it all! Melis

newgirlintoon says

November 14, 2018 at 7:02 am

Fantastic guide! Can’t believe how much you’ve covered!

Ruth Hall says

November 17, 2018 at 8:58 am

Pani’s on High Bridge Street has amazing Sardinian food, super fast service and great staff. Blake’s Coffee House is open very early for breakfast. The Tyneside Cinema shows a range of excellent films from around the world and has art deco tearooms and other bars and cafés. The Side Gallery on the Quayside is a hidden gem – fantastic photography exhibitions. The Lit and Phil is a beautiful library by the station. For kids: The Centre for Life, The Discovery Museum, Seven Stories, The Great North Museum, Ouseburn City Farm…. So many fab places in the Toon!

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Newcastle Upon Tyne travel guide

Dominating the northeast is Newcastle upon Tyne, a sprawling former shipbuilding city cel­e­brat­ed for its resilient natives (“Geor­dies”), whose dialect borders on im­pen­e­tra­bil­i­ty, and for its potent brew, New­cas­tle Brown (pronounced broon ) Ale. Newcastle has a large university and a thriving arts and folk music scene. In the city itself, the striking Gateshead Millennium Bridge links Newcastle Quayside with the new developments on Gateshead Quays.

Places to visit in Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Baltic centre for contemporary art.

Gateshead Quays, South Shore Road

tel: 0191-478 1810

www.balticmill.com

One of the biggest art spaces in Europe, the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art is housed in a converted flour mill on the south bank of the River Tyne. It has no permanent collection, instead hosting an constantly changing programme of exhibitions.

Sage Gateshead

Gateshead Quays

tel: 0191-443 4666

www.thesagegateshead.org

This Norman Foster-designed venue is home to both the Northern Sinfonia and Folkworks, a company dedicated to traditional music, song and dance. There are a variety of concerts, classes and workshops on offer.

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Newcastle upon Tyne: The Complete Guide

Newcastle upon Tyne, often shortened to simply Newcastle, is the most populous city and metropolitan borough in North East England. It forms the core of the Tyneside conurbation, the eighth most populous urban area in the United Kingdom. It is situated on the northern bank of the River Tyne.

The city developed around the Roman settlement Pons Aelius around a fort was built on a site close to the present Tyne Bridge. The city was named after the castle built in 1080 by William the Conqueror’s eldest son Robert Curthose. In the 14th century, the city grew as an important center for the wool trade and later became a major coal mining area. The port developed in the 16th century and, along with the shipyards lower down the River Tyne, was among the world’s largest ship-building and ship-repairing centers.

Newcastle is renowned throughout Britain for its vibrant nightlife, and its large 42,000-strong student population. Geordies, the people of Newcastle are proud of their city and many are fanatically loyal supporters of the local football team and the local ale.

Visiting Newcastle upon Tyne for the first time and wondering what are the top places to see in the city? In this complete guide, I share the best things to do in Newcastle upon Tyne on the first visit. Top help you plan your trip, I have also included an interactive map and practical tips for visiting!

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35 Best places to See in Newcastle upon Tyne

This complete guide to Newcastle upon Tyne not only tells you about the very best sights and tourist attractions for first-time visitors to the city but also provide insights into a few of our personal favorite things to do.

This is a practical guide to visiting the best places to see in Newcastle upon Tyne and is filled with tips and info that should answer all your questions!

Great North Museum: Hancock

Grey's monument, laing art gallery.

Theatre Royal, Newcastle

Grainger Market

Edwardian Central Arcade

Blackfriars Restaurant

Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 4 – Westgate Road

Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne

St nicholas cathedral.

Discovery Museum

Pons Aelius

Newcastle castle, bessie surtees house.

Life Science Centre

Historic quayside, biscuit factory.

The Tyne Bridges

Sage gateshead.

BALTIC – Centre for Contemporary Art

Victoria tunnel.

Seven Stories – The Centre for Children's Books

Jesmond Dene Park

Hadrian’s wall – milecastle 6 – benwell grove, benwell roman temple.

Condercum Fort

Hadrian's Wall - Milecastle 2 - Walker

Hadrian's wall - milecastle 1 - stott's pow, hadrian’s wall – milecastle 8 – west denton.

Washington Old Hall

Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 16 – Whitchester

Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 21 – Halton Shields

Tours and Activities from Newcastle upon Tyne

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Newcastle Solo Travel Guide

Planning a solo trip to Newcastle , England? Here’s everything you need to know for your visit:

QUICK FACTS

• The northernmost city of England, with a metro population of about 820,000 .
• Officially known as Newcastle Upon Tyne , the city blossomed in the 16th century as a major hub for shipbuilding .
• The city is known in England for its eclectic culture, art, sports, and nightlife.
• Nickname: Locally known as “The Toon.” Locals are called Geordies .

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

• Currency:  British Pound  (GBP).
• Spoken languages:   English .
• Best time to visit: from May to August  (when weather is mildest and driest).
• Arriving from the airport (Newcastle International Airport): the Metro system can take you directly from the airport into the city centre for 3.40 GBP . A taxi ride costs around 20 GBP .

WHERE TO STAY

• Best hostel for solo travelers in Newcastle: Albatross . Located right in the city centre (perfect for exploring the city). Clean, safe, comfortable, friendly staff, big kitchen and great facilities. Overall, great value – as long as you book ahead!
• The majority of the more upscale hotels are centered around Central Station or Grainger Town , while budget options can be found throughout the city.

GETTING AROUND

• Walking is perhaps the best option of them all, as Newcastle is a compact city – unless you want to visit an out-of-town attraction, you can walk pretty much everywhere.
• The Metro is one of the favorite options of getting around Newcastle. Quick and convenient. A day pass costs 3.60 GBP (one zone). See zone map here.
• Distinctive yellow buses  run from the city centre to the quayside to save you from the hilly walk (a ride is 80p).

NEWCASTLE NIGHTLIFE

• Drinking age is 18 , and last call is 4 AM .
• The Bigg Market has a large selection of clubs – if you’re looking for cheap drink over culture this is the place to head to.
• An area known as the ‘diamond strip’ near Newcastle’s Central Station is where the upmarket hotspots are.
• If you’re seeking a more alternative night out, try some of the bars in Ouseburn .  Jesmond  is home to many trendy bars.
• Great bars for solo travelers: The Dog & Parrot (gets crowded on weekends), The Town Mouse, Mean-Eyed Cat (people watching), and The Black and White Bull.
• Need to go clubbing ? Head to Digital (younger crowd).

UNIQUE LANDMARKS TO VISIT

• The ruins of the Castle Keep built in 1067 are an interesting visit – it is the keep that gave the city its name! The oldest structure in the city, it is not to be missed.
• The Angel of the North  is a signature monument by artist Anthony Gormley. Standing 20 meters tall, it is a distinctive structure (located in Gateshead, 3 miles south of Newcastle).
• Newcastle has an abundance of free museums, including the Laing and Baltic   Art Museums , the Discovery Science Museum , and the Hancock Museum .
• Day trip idea: visit  Hadrian’s Wall , built by the infamous Roman emperor. There are also remains of Roman forts to visit at  Segedunum (in Wallsend) and  Arbeia (in South Shields).

INTERESTING WALKS

• The quayside makes for a fantastic walk. Walk along the River Tyne, and inspect the city’s famous bridges, the Sage music center, the Baltic Art Museum, and many quayside cafes and restaurants.
• Make sure you go for a walk at night – the city’s charm comes out as the bridges are lit up.

LOCAL WISDOM

• The locals in Newcastle are very friendly , and may shatter the stereotype of all Brits being reserved!
• Newcastle has a subtle rivalry between its home football team and that of Sunderland – be careful not to confuse a Geordie (from Newcastle) with a Mackem (from Sunderland).
• Nearby Whitley Bay and Tynemouth have sandy beaches on offer. If you’re feeling adventurous, this could be a place to try out surfing .
• Great restaurants to try: Chilli Padi (Malaysian), The Bake One (Lebanese), Peace & Loaf ($$$ – Modern British), Thai House Cafe, Las Iguanas, and My Delhi Newcastle.
• Where to find good cheap food : good food can be found all over the city. There are many different ethnic cuisines to choose from – look around for small restaurants and cafes.
• Dangerous areas : Newcastle is a safe city. Use common sense, and try to stay in well-lit areas at night.

Recommended trip duration:  1-2 days

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This article was written by the Great British Mag editorial team.

Newcastle Upon Tyne is up there as one of the most exciting cities in Britain. It is the eighth most populated urban area. It is named Newcastle because the city has an impressive one, which was built in 1080. The second part of its name comes from its proximity to the River Tyne.

The city was central to the industrial revolution. The bounty of that era can be seen around the city, including in around the city’s centre, which is lined with elegant, listed classical buildings.

The locals are called Geordies and are regularly voted as the friendliest people in the UK. You may not understand their accent though, which apparently has influences from Germanic and Scandinavian Europe.

The city is a student’s playground with its lively night life, cool art scene and fashion forward boutiques. So it’s not surprising the city has 40,000 students and lays claims to two outstanding universities – Newcastle University and Northumbria University.

Did you know?

1) The British actor, Rowan Atkinson, widely known as Mr Bean, studied Engineering at Newcastle University.

2) The students’ favourite bakery shop Gregg’s opened its first branch in Newcastle in 1951. And today there are more Gregg shops in the UK than McDonalds.

3) Next time you reach for a bottle of Lucozade to give you energy, remember that it was invented in Newcastle by chemist Thomas Beecham.

4) Newcastle Brown Ale is America’s most imported British ale. It is a brown, alcoholic ale and you may have seen it in shows like The Big Bang Theory.

5) Music legend Jimi Hendrix used to busk on the streets of Newcastle. Chas Chandler, a Geordie music producer, brought him back to Newcastle after discovering him in New York.

What to do?

One of the most iconic symbols associated with the region is the Angel of the North sculpture. Designed by Antony Gormely and constructed in 1998, it represents a symbol of resurgence and regeneration after the city after its decline as a manufacturing hub.

You’d never know that over 2.5 miles of tunnel run beneath your feet when you’re pounding the streets of Newcastle. The Victoria Tunnel was built between 1839 and 1842 to transport coal and was later used as an air-raid shelter during World War II. Take a tour to find out more about the tunnels and the coal industries importance to Newcastle.

No trip to Newcastle would be complete without visiting the fortress that gave the city its name. Built by Henry II the stone of Newcastle Castle remains well kept and largely intact. From inside the castle walls you can look out over three of Newcastle’s main bridges, including the curved arch of the Tyne Bridge.

The Baltic Art Gallery  is Newcastle’s cultural gem. Set upon the south bank of the River Tyne in an old flour mill, it is a major centre for contemporary art. It features ever-changing exhibitions from a range of cutting-edge and somewhat controversial artists.

Where to eat?

Dig in to the staple of Northern cuisine Pie, Peas & Mash at  The Red House . The pies are handmade by the award-winning Amble Butchers and pair well with a pint of the brown stuff – Newcastle Pale Ale.

Quilliam Brothers’ Teahouse  is not just a place to enjoy a good brew. The hip hangout also hosts free film nights in their downstairs  cinema  and regularly showcases local artists work in their gallery space. Make sure to order eggs Florentine served on stottie cake, a heavy, north-eastern flat bread that is a Northern delicacy.

Dating back to 1239 the former banquet hall  Blackfriars  still houses its original communal, oak banquet table and stained-glass windows. Order the  Pan Haggarty , a classic dish in Newcastle which is made up of thinly sliced potatoes, onion and cheese.

Quayside market, held each Sunday from 9pm – 4pm, gives you the chance to dine al fresco on the water’s edge. Pick your way through its large collection of local food producers, ceramic artists and buskers for a vibrant end to your weekend.

Night owls can head to Nitehawks where the low-lit vault serves up an eclectic cocktail list. If fancy, fruity beverages aren’t your thing then order a dram from their impressive whisky list.

Where to shop?

INTU Eldon Square  is one of the UK’s biggest city centre shopping malls and the original Fenwick department store can also be found in the city centre. But if you are looking for something quirky and original, head over to  The Biscuit Factory , which is the UK’s largest independent art, craft and design gallery.

If you are a bargain hunter and want great prices on a great British brand for water-proof coat’s, head to the Barbour Factory Outlet store.

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