Newcastle and Gateshead sit opposite each other on the banks of the River Tyne. Newcastle’s Georgian city centre is full of listed buildings and is the finest in England outside of Bath.
It’s a fairly compact city and although a bit hilly is ideal for walking with most of the attractions being close together. The first class public transport system ensures easy access to the further out stuff. The city is named after its castle which although no longer new still boasts a few remnants.
Long before that the Romans were here and at Wallsend you’ll find the eastern end of Hadrian’s Wall, perhaps one of the best preserved sections and Segedum Roman Fort. A long distance footpath running the length of the wall from there opened in May 2003. It’s worth walking along part of it or exploring further using the Hadrian’s Wall Bus.
The Romans were obviously attracted here by the river and the Tyne is still a major feature of the city. Several bridges link Newcastle with Gateshead including the famous Tyne and High Level bridges.
The Millenium ‘ Winking Eye’ Bridge is the latest addition and gets its name because it closes like an eyelid to let shipping pass. Nearby a converted flour mill has become the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art a superb gallery and even if your tastes don’t stretch to art it’s still worth a visit for the splendid rooftop restaurant.
Newcastle is a major draw for serious shopaholics and even amateurs will find a plethora of Malls, chain stores mixed with the one offs and unusual. The Metro Centre is one of the largest Malls in Europe. It’s in Gateshead near the A1 and nearby on a hill stands the famous Angel of the North Sculpture, a massive female figure with outstretched wings. Back in Newcastle centre the Eldon Centre is a popular and easily accessible downtown mall. Just south of the centre, between Grainger and Market Streets is Grainger Market dating from the 1830’s, an elegant Victorian covered market. This is worth visiting for the ‘Marks and Spencer Original Penny Bazaar’. This, the smallest M & S outlet provides a look at how this British Institution started life in the early 19th century with the proud boast ‘Don't ask the price - everything's a penny’.
Newcastle was a famous seafaring centre and at the Trinity Maritime Centre in a former quayside warehouse displays recreate the atmosphere of the bustling quayside during its heyday.
Not far outside the city Beamish outdoor museum is one of the best industrial museums in the world. Travel on trams to see what life was like in the North in Victorian times. You can visit the shops, schools and homes recreated from that period, even a rather gruesome dental surgery. Also within easy reach of the city is Washington Old Hall the ancestral seat of George Washington.
