This isn't your typical English city. Sure, it boasts grand history, evident in the imposing walls of its namesake castle, a stoic reminder of its medieval past. But alongside these reminders of the past lies a city that pulses with a youthful exuberance. Stroll along the banks of the River Tyne, a once-industrial artery now reborn as a vibrant waterfront.
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The iconic Tyne Bridge, a majestic feat of engineering, dominates the skyline, its steel frame, is a testament to the city's industrial heritage. Yet, beneath the bridge, trendy bars and innovative art galleries thrum with life. Catch a gig at the O2 City Hall, a venue that has seen music legends grace its stage, or lose yourself in the world-class exhibits at the Great North Museum: Hancock, where mummies from ancient Egypt share space with Roman mosaics and groundbreaking contemporary art.
Newcastle isn't just about museums and nightlife, though. For a taste of Geordie charm (the endearing local dialect), head down to Grainger Town, an architectural gem with elegant Georgian buildings housing independent shops and traditional pubs. Here, you might find yourself enjoying a pint of local ale and a hearty "stottie" (a flatbread unique to the region) while chatting with friendly locals.
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In the evening, the quayside truly comes alive. Sample fresh seafood at a waterfront restaurant, watching the sun set over the Tyne Bridge. Or, delve into the city's renowned nightlife, with its legendary Bigg Market overflowing with pubs and trendy bars catering to every taste. Newcastle is a city of contrasts – a place where history whispers tales of a bygone era while the infectious energy of the present creates an unforgettable experience.
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Nestled along the River Tyne, Newcastle Upon Tyne weaves together its industrial past and contemporary vibrancy. Once the cradle of the Industrial Revolution, this city now beckons travelers with a promise of adventure. As you step onto its cobbled streets, prepare to be enchanted by the harmonious blend of history and modernity.
The Newcastle Art Gallery is a canvas of creativity. Brushstrokes capture fleeting emotions, sculptures stand frozen in eloquence. As you wander through its halls, you’ll witness the dance of colors and forms. Art aficionados, prepare to be moved.
Gastronomic Adventures
Newcastle’s dining scene is a symphony of flavors, from aromatic curries to craft beers, every bite tells a tale. Seek out hidden gems in Eldon Square or indulge in riverside dining. The city’s culinary mosaic awaits, promising both comfort and innovation.
Urban Exploration
Beyond the city center lies a patchwork of boroughs. Quaint market towns invite leisurely strolls, while traditional pubs echo with laughter. Jesmond Dene, a verdant oasis, offers trails for nature lovers. Follow the winding waterways and connect with the heartbeat of the land.
The nearby town of Durham makes an excellent daytrip from Newcastle, just 15 minutes away. The main site there is the magnificent cathedral, built 1,000 years ago in Norman style, during the pre-gothic era. See our page about Durham for more information.
My hotel choice in Newcastle: Maldron
For more information see the Official Tourist Information website
PLACES
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art The looming presence of a former riverside industrial site, a flour mill, is not all that’s reminiscent of London’s Tate Modern. Britain’s second-largest showcase for contemporary art has even hosted the Tuner Prize, an honor that’s been afforded to the Tate since 1984. The center has no permanent collection, but hosts rotating exhibits of contemporary artists, among them Antony Gormley, Anish Kapoor, and Sam Taylor-Wood. Exhibits often play off local themes, such as American sculptor Chris Burden’s 1/20 scale model of the Tyne Bridge, looming just outside the windows. BALTIC sits on the Gateshead riverbank, by the Millennium Bridge. Designed to be a huge visual art factory , it’s second only in scale to London’s Tate Modern By the Millennium Bridge, Gateshead Quays, Wed–Sun 10am–6pm • Free •Fashioned from an old brick flourmill, Gateshead Quays are the BALTIC contemporary arts centre.
Central Arcade Grainger Town, A classy Edwardian arcade with a barrel-vaulted roof. Several high-end chain stores here include Office, Jones, Space NK and JG Windows (with its lovely window display of musical instruments).
Tourist Information Centre, This office, like many in the UK, has been closed by the government.
Chinatown along Stowell Street
Discovery Museum Blandford Sq; h10am-4pm Mon-Fri, 11am-4pm Sat & Sun) Tyneside’s rich history is explored at this unmissable museum.
Gateshead Quays, South Shore Rd. 0191/478-1810. Free. Daily 10am–5pm. Gateshead, an amalgamation of the two conurbations straddling the Tyne. Visitors are encouraged to think of the city as Newcastle
Grainger Market (Mon–Sat 9am–5.30pm, nearby, was Europe’s largest covered market when built in the 1830s now home to the smallest branch of Marks & Spencer, known as the Original Penny Bazaar.
Grainger Town. The heart of the city is known as Grainger Town, one of the best-looking city centres in Britain.
Great North Museum A handsome neoclassical building on the campus of the University of Newcastle houses a curiosity cabinet of collectibles that sweep through ancient history, with two excellent mummies, and the natural sciences, with tanks of sharks and pythons. Large-scale standouts are a recreation of Hadrian’s Wall that points out every fort and guardhouse along its 73-mile length, providing an excellent introduction if you’re planning on seeing the real thing, and magnificent recreations of a Tyrannosaurus rex and an African elephant.
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Grey Street, the area is known for its classical stone facades lining splendid, wide streets a curves gracefully downhill toward the river, creating a pleasant cityscape that inspired 20th-century poet laureate Sir John Betjeman to enthuse, I shall never forget seeing it to perfection, traffic-less on a misty Sunday morning. Not even Regent Street, even old Regent Street London, can compare with that descending subtle curve. You may well agree as you make your way down to Quayside.
Grey’s Monument A walk around Newcastle should begin in the Georgian and Victorian blocks that fan out from and are known collectively as the Monument and also as Grainger Town—the latter for Richard Grainger, the early 19th-century architect and real-estate developer who put together what is still considered some of the finest architecture in Britain. The monument itself is a column topped with a statue of Charles, the Second Earl Grey, known for lending his name to the popular tea blend but also an ardent political reformer who abolished slavery in the British empire. In the monument’s shadow are such fine Newcastle landmarks as the Theatre Royale and Grainger Market , where butchers and fishmongers now share space under the glass arcades with jewelers and fashion designers.
Laing Art Gallery, situated on New Bridge Street West is a cultural gem. Here are some key details about this remarkable gallery: Design and History: The Laing Art Gallery was designed in the Baroque style with Art Nouveau elements by architects Cackett & Burns Dick. It stands as a Grade II listed building and exudes elegance and artistic flair12. The gallery houses an internationally important collection of art, with a focus on British oil paintings, watercolors, ceramics, silver, and glassware. Exhibitions and Events: The Laing Art Gallery hosts regularly changing exhibitions that span historic, modern, and contemporary art. Notable displays include: Northern Spirit Newcastle in Watercolor 100 Years of Collecting The Pursuit of Beauty Chris Killip: The Last Ships Entry to the café, shop, and these displays is free, with donations welcome. Currently, an exciting exhibition titled Turner: Art, Industry & Nostalgia features over 20 works by the renowned artist J.M.W. Turner. It runs from 10 May to 7 September 202434. Visitor Information: Opening Times: Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Closed on Sundays and bank holidays.
Literary and Philosophical Society 23 Westgate Rd, Mon, Wed & Thurs 9.30am–7pm, Tues 9.30am–8pm, Fri 9.30am–5pm, Sat 9.30am–1pm • Free • Known as the Lit and Phil, this temple-like public library and learned society occupies one of the city’s finest Georgian buildings: the domed roof, stucco ceilings and wrought-iron galleries are well worth a look.
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Newcastle Castle Mon & Thurs–Sun 10am–5pm • Charge, purchased at the Black Gate • http://newcastlecastle.org.uk The pile of stones that gave the city its name looks a bit woebegone these days, rising as it does out of the sprawl of the railway station and tracks. With a little imagination, and informed by the heritage center inside, you might be able to picture the fort the Romans built here to guard over the River Tyne and the wooden castle ( New Castle ) erected by a son of William the Conqueror after one of many campaigns against the Scots. The current keep dates to 1177, and the fortified entrance, Black Gate, was added in 1250. The Great Hall and Chapel are solidly medieval and are said to be haunted.
Ouseburn area, a short walk along the river, the old industrial home to an alternative cultural scene, interesting galleries, the excellent Seven Stories children’s museum and some popular bars.
Quayside is where you’ll find much of the city’s nightlife. The city splits into several distinct areas, with just a few minutes’ walk between them. The Quayside is a lively stretch along the River Tyne, home to the landmark Gateshead Millennium Bridge. Once a commercial dock, the area is now a nightlife hotspot with stylish bars, restaurants, and clubs. On Sundays, Quayside Market sells local produce, crafts, and street food.
Sage Gateshead St Mary’s Square, Gateshead Quays, Daily 9am–late; hours vary widely • Sitting on the riverbank, the Sage Gateshead is an extraordinary billowing steel, aluminium and glass concert hall complex there’s something on most nights – from music concerts to workshops and lectures,
Segedunum Roman Fort, Baths & Museum Surrounded by suburban sprawl, these remains of a Roman fort and a section of Hadrian’s Wall are not as evocative as what you’ll encounter of the Roman presence farther west at Vindolanda and Housesteads (p. 463–464), but they’re transporting nonetheless, and only a metro ride away from the center of Newcastle. The Romans built a complex overlooking a crossing in the River Tyne here around a.d Buddle St., Wallsend. www.twmuseums.org.uk. June–Aug daily 10am–5pm, Sept–Oct daily 10am–4pm, Nov–Mar daily 10am–2:30pm, Apr–May daily 10am–4:30pm. Metro: Wallsend.
St Nicholas Cathedral At the junction of St Nicholas St and Mosley St, Mon–Fri & Sun 7.30am–6pm, Sat 8am–4pm • Free, donation requested • St Nicholas Cathedral, dating mainly from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, is remarkable chiefly for its tower; erected in 1470,
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Stowell Street. Follow the ruins of the old city wall and medieval towers along centre, a compact area bordered roughly by Grainger St to the west and Pilgrim St to the east,
Tynemouth Castle and Priory. A sense of forlorn isolation surrounds these weather-battered ruins on the shores of the North Sea near the mouth of the River Tyne. Walking among tombstones and jagged walls of a priory and castle, taking in the sweeping views of the wind-buffeted coast and sea, it’s easy to imagine just how hard life here could have been, and a risky business, too. Seafaring Danes attacked repeatedly, massacring monks and nuns, until a castle was heavily fortified in the 11th century, then eventually left to decay. The grounds were used as a coastal defense until the end of the 20th century. Pier Rd.,
Victorian Tunnels Beneath your feet in Newcastle runs one of the world’s first subways, a 2½-mile-long wagon way dug out in 1842 to transport coal to the banks of the Tyne, where it was loaded into ships Though the tunnel was not used for transport after the 1860s, it came back into service as an air raid shelter during World War II. You can traverse the low, narrow, white-washed passageways on 2-hour tours that are informative and surprisingly entertaining. Guides will explain the Victorian heydays when the city flourished with dockyards and factories, adding fascinating bits like how Newcastle was the first city in the world to install electric street lighting—the manufacture of incandescent bulbs was once big business here. They also show off parts of the tunnels fitted with the beds and crude toilets that provided safe accommodation during World War II bombings, though Newcastle was spared the devastation that leveled many other British industrial cities. Entrance at Stepney Bank, Arch 6 in Byker Bridge. Thurs 6:30pm, Fri 10:30am and 1:30pm, Sat 10am, 1, and 3pm, Sun 1pm, some Wed 10:30am or 1:30pm. Metro: Byker.
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21 Trinity Gardens, Parisian-style bistro with crisp white tablecloths, leather banquettes, a classic French menu and slick service. Expect dishes like confit of duck with Lyonnaise potatoes or smoked haddock with softly poached hen’s egg, and delicious desserts – the Florentine doughnut with strawberry jam and crème Chantilly is particularly good. £ http://21newcastle.co.uk.
Blackfriars Friars St, Housed in a beautiful stone building dating to 1239, Blackfriars offers superb traditional British dishes made with local ingredients. Mains could include pork loin with a bacon and cheese floddie (potato cakes, originating from Gateshead, and traditionally eaten for breakfast) or a Doddington cheese and onion Wellington with chive cream sauce. For afters, dig into sticky toffee pudding with green grape ice cream and Brown Ale caramel. Book ahead. ££–£££ http://blackfriarsrestaurant.co.uk.
Bridge Tavern Modern British An on-premises microbrewery, with the product dispensed directly from the taps, is the draw at this 200-year-old Quayside hideaway tucked beneath the stanchions of the Tyne Bridge. Exposed pipe and brick combined lend a touch of industrial chic to the welcoming, mens-club surroundings, where you can nibble your way through crispy pigs’ ears and fried mussels to a full-blown casual meal of fish and chips or steak and fries. 7 Akenside Hill. www.thebridgetavern.com. 0191/261-9966. Mains £9–£14. Mon–Thurs noon–midnight, Fri–Sat noon–1am, Sun noon–11pm.
Broad Chare Gastropub 25 Broad Chare; mains £9-27, bar snacks from £4; hkitchen noon-2.30pm & 5.30-10pm Mon-Sat, noon-5pm Sun, bar 11am-11pm Mon-Sat, to 10pm Sun) Spiffing English classics and splendid cask ales are served in the dark-wood bar and mezzanine of this perfect gastropub. www.thebroadchare.co.uk;
El Coto 21 Leazes Park Rd, Cute and cosy, this great tapas place has an extensive, good-value menu featuring all the usuals, such as patatas bravas and marinated sardines. ££ http://elcoto.co.uk
French Quarter Arch 6, Westgate Rd,. One third each deli, wine bar and French restaurant, this cosy spot showcases the best things about French cuisine – flavour and quality of cookin. http://frenchquarternewcastle.co.uk
House of Tides 28-30 The Close; tasting menus lunch £65, incl wines £130, dinner £80, incl wines £150; h6-8.30pm Wed, noon-1.15pm & 6-8.30pm Thu & Fri, noon-1.15pm & 5.30-8.45pm Sat) A 16th-century merchant’s house is now the home of Newcastle’s most celebrated restaurant, the Michelin-starred House of Tides. Established by acclaimed Newcastle-born chef Kenny Atkinson, 0191-230 3720; www.houseoftides.co.uk
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Nan Bei Grainger Market, If it’s cheap eats you’re after, there’s nowhere better in Grainger Market than this lovely hole-in-the-wall joint, which serves magnificent Chinese dumplings, buns, and a wide range of teas. Savoury options include chilli beef, roast pork, and scrambled egg and mushroom; wontons and noodle soups are also available. For something sweet, try the lotus bean, custard or smashed bean buns. A world-class way to have lunch. £ http://bit.ly/NanBeiDumplings.
Olde Ship Inn Traditional British If you’re driving from Alnwick up to Lindisfarne, the tiny harbor at Seahouses is a nice place to breathe in some sea air and enjoy a pint at this traditional pub. The wooden floor is ships’ decking, and every inch of wall space is taken up with ships’ figureheads, diving helmets, ships in bottles, and other nautical bric-a-brac. The centerpiece is a replica of the lifeboat The Grace Darling, named after the daughter of a Victorian-era lighthouse-keeper’s daughter who saved 13 people from a shipwreck. Soup, sandwiches, and a few seafood dishes are available, as well as steak and ale pie and some other old pub standards. Guest rooms and apartments are available.
Pani’s Café 61–65 High Bridge St, On a side street below the Theatre Royal, this lively Sardinian café has won a loyal clientele for its good-value sandwiches, pasta and salads. ££ http://paniscafe.co.uk.
Pink Lane Coffee 1 Pink Lane, The best coffee in town: their beans are slow-roasted and the milk is Northumbrian Pedigree. Exposed light bulbs, reclaimed furniture and brickwork tiling make for an uber-hip interior. ££ http://pinklanecoffee.co.uk.
Quay Ingredient 4 Queen St, Quayside, Teeny-tiny and popular, so it’s best to arrive early for brunch at weekends. Full English or eggs benedict, plus sandwiches, salads and delicious cakes are among the menu highlights. Great coffee, too. ££ http://quayingredient.co.uk.
Seahouses. www.seahouses.co.uk. 01665/720200. Mains £10–£11. Mon–Sat 11am–11pm, Sun noon–11pm.
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Tune, The location in Quayside is well-poised for eating drinking and exploring Newcastle. http://www.tunehotels.com/
Motel One, 15–25 High Bridge http://motel-one.com. This modern 222-bed budget chain hotel has retained period features while embracing modern style.
Hampton By Hilton, in central Newcastle an easy walk to dining the train station and the iconic Quayside Pub. The Discovery Museum and the Life Science Center are a 10-minute walk away and Utilita Arena and St. James Park are within a mile. We offer free hot breakfast and WiFi. Enjoy our lounge and fitness centre featuring a Peloton® bike with toe cages.
Indigo Hotel, Indigo Newcastle is inspired by Grainger Town and our design and decor celebrate its culture and the area’s neoclassical architecture. Glass and iron columns in our lobby emulate local Tyneside styles with a modern twist and artwork in our guest rooms depicts our history.
Maldron, Whether it’s a trip with friends or a solo getaway experience this amazing city to the fullest at Maldron Hotel Newcastle. Enjoy your stay right from the start and choose from our range of bright and spacious rooms. Whether you’re here for a city break or business trip each room is equipped with all you need to refresh and recharge for your adventures ahead.
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Malmaison, Located in the lively Quayside district Malmaison Newcastle offers a distinctive blend of luxury and comfort in the heart of the city. Housed in a striking Grade II listed building our hotel was once a Co-operative Society warehouse. We're perfectly situated to offer you effortless access to a collection of Newcastle's top attractions including the Gateshead Millennium Bridge the Sage Gateshead music venue and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. Furthermore we are just a stroll away from some of the city's best shopping dining and entertainment locales. Comprising of 122 elegantly designed rooms and suites this Newcastle hotel also houses the exquisite Malmaison Bar & Grill a serene spa offering a variety of relaxing packages and treatments and more promising a memorable and comfortable stay.
Premier Suites, Thornton House Thornton Street Situated in the heart of this friendly iconic Northern city PREMIER SUITES Newcastle is home to 28 serviced apartments. All our apartments are bright and contemporary in style providing both corporate and leisure travelers a unique alternative to a traditional hotel stay.
Royal Station, Set inside a beautiful Grade I listed building this historic venue features 145 classically designed and comfortable rooms with a range of modern and convenient amenities including the Empire restaurant and bar Newcastle city-centre parking free Wi-Fi flat-screen TVs indoor swimming pool sauna and a fitness centre. Located in the heart of the city centre
Sleeperz, Located in the heart of this vibrant city with many attractions on our doorstep we’re just three minutes from central rail and metro stations. With relaxed spaces and well-appointed rooms we’re the perfect choice for both business and leisure stays. Book direct for best rates guaranteed. For extra benefits become a Sleeperz Select Member to save 15% on stays and enjoy other exclusive benefits to make your stay with us even better.
Grey Street Hotel, 2–12 Grey St Newcastle Newcastle locations come much better than Grey Street whose splendid Georgian architecture includes this boutique hotel. http://greystreethotel.co.uk.
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