Newcastle & Gateshead Guide

Talk of the Toon: Take in the cool and cultured sights of Newcastle & Gateshead

Daniel Allen

Like many of Britain's other central and northern cities, Newcastle has been busy transforming itself from a heavily industrialized metropolis bereft of attractions into a vibrant cultural hotspot just begging to be explored.

To associate it solely with Brown Ale and flat caps, as some in the south are still wont to do, would be to ignore some idyllic countryside, pristine coastline, a thriving nightlife, and as many castles as you can fire a cannonball at.

Tyne Bridge, Newcastle, England, UK — Tyne Bridge, connecting Gateshead on the south bank of the River Tyne and Newcastle on the north bank, England

Gateshead Millennium Bridge, England, UK — The Gateshead Millennium Bridge connects Gateshead and Newcastle across the River Tyne in northeast England

Newcastle & Gateshead History

Over the past two decades, Newcastle and Gateshead have ploughed more than £250 million into developing regional culture. This much-needed financial injection has been the catalyst for the regeneration and redevelopment of existing buildings, and also the creation of a gamut of new cultural venues, public art spaces and leafy parks.

Home of the famous "Geordie", Newcastle's locals are some of the most hospitable and lively Brits around. Geordies are a fiercely independent bunch, united by history, adversity and an impenetrable dialect, the closest language to 1500-year-old Anglo-Saxon left in England. They are also proud, hard-working and indefatigably positive - and invariably make visitors feel right at home.

Gateshead, the main town of the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead and historically once part of County Durham, is located on the southern bank of the River Tyne. It has a population of over 200,000 people. Gateshead is connected to Newcastle by seven bridges across the Tyne, including the Gateshead Millennium Bridge.

Castle Keep, Newcastle, England, UK — Castle Keep, Newcastle, England

Newcastle & Gateshead Attractions

Originally a Roman fort, Newcastle-upon-Tyne lays claim to a rich history and culture. From the famous Tyne and Millennium bridges that span the River Tyne, to the Monument statue located in the heart of the city, this is reflected in the stunning blend of modern and historical architecture seen throughout the city. Other iconic sights not to be missed include the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and the dazzling The Sage Gateshead (now The Glasshouse International Centre for Music), both of which can be found in Gateshead on the Tyne's south bank.

Blackfriars, Newcastle, England, UK — Blackfriars, Newcastle, England

Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business. — Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business

Baltic Flour Mills, Gateshead, England, UK — BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in the former Baltic Flour Mills, Gateshead, England

Tyneside Museums

Newcastle's Roman roots have endowed the city with a rich culture and heritage. Tyne & Wear Museums is a collection of museums in and around Newcastle, appealing to a variety of tastes and interests. Those visiting the Stephenson Railway Museum can step on board some of the most famous steam engines in Great Britain, including George Stephenson's "Billy", a forerunner of the world-famous "Rocket".

At the larger Discovery Museum, Tyneside's rich history is presented through a fascinating series of exhibits. Spread across three floors of the former Co-operative Wholesale Society building, these surround the impressive, 30 meter-long Turbinia, the fastest ship in the world at the turn of the twentieth century.

There's also a fascinating section dedicated to Tyne shipbuilding, an interactive science maze for kids, and a "Story of Newcastle" section giving the low-down on the city's history, from Pons Aelius (Newcastle's Roman name) through to Cheryl Cole.

Built in 1168, and giving the city its name, Castle Keep is a reminder of the powerful castle once situated in Newcastle. Situated in the centre of the city, this historical landmark allows visitors to step back in time to the twelfth century. The Keep is renowned for being haunted, so keep your eyes peeled for paranormal activity.

Housed in a landmark industrial building on the south bank of the River Tyne in Gateshead, BALTIC is a major international centre for contemporary art to rival London's Tate Modern. Unlike the Tate, there are no permanent exhibitions, but the constantly rotating shows feature the work and installations of some of contemporary art's biggest names.

The BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art complex also boasts artists in residence, a performance space, a cinema, a bar, a spectacular rooftop restaurant (requires reservations*) and a ground-floor restaurant with riverside tables. There's also a viewing box for admiring the finest of Tyneside panoramas.

*The Michelin-accredited, rooftop restaurant Six Rooftop unfortunately closed in February 2026.

Keeping to the art theme, Newcastle's Biscuit Gallery houses the country's biggest art shop, where you can browse and buy work by artists in a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, glassware and furniture, much of which has a northeast theme. Make sure to check out the excellent restaurant here too (Brasserie Black Door).

Discovery Museum, Newcastle, England, UK — Discovery Museum, Newcastle, England

Newcastle Entertainment

Newcastle more than holds its own where music is concerned. A musical stomping ground, the city caters for all tastes and budgets. For live bands the Newcastle O2 Academy offers a musical smorgasbord, but has a reputation for showcasing the best rock, indie and alternative bands, with the likes of New Order, Kaiser Chiefs and The Vaccines performing to sellout crowds.

If grooving the night away to your favourite DJ sounds more appealing, make a beeline for Newcastle's Digital Nightclub (ranked the world's 12th best club in 2011 and the UK's best large club in 2010). Top name DJ's regularly take to the decks here and keep the crowds rocking till well into the early hours.

For an eclectic range of genres - popular, jazz, world, classical, dance, brass bands, experimental, folk, traditional and more - The Sage Gateshead (The Glasshouse International Centre for Music) offers not only the chance to hear leading performers such as the Northern Sinfonia Orchestra, but also runs a popular "Join In and Make Music" programme where visitors can learn to play a variety of instruments.

Grainger Market, Newcastle, England, UK — Grainger Market, Newcastle, England

Newcastle Restaurants

From Portuguese to Japanese - Newcastle has an exceptional range of cuisines. Hosting the biannual Newcastle Restaurant Week, today the city centre is one of the best places in northern Britain to dine. At Blackfriars, the area's top eatery, chef Troy Terrington serves up a cuisine described as "modern medieval". Beautifully presented, this consists of hearty, locally sourced fare, with breads, pastries, ice creams and sausages all made on site.

Pie and peas may be a dish more suited to the football terraces of nearby St James' Park - the home of Newcastle Football Club (tours available) - but the Red House has turned it into an art form. One of the Newcastle's oldest pubs and formerly the haunt of dockworkers and ladies of the night, a change of ownership means there's now excellent pie to be had here. Choose from half a dozen varieties - the excellent spiced mutton and apricot is the perfect antidote to a chill winter evening.

Newcastle is one of the hottest shopping spots in the North, with great high street stores, top designer boutiques, award winning independent shops and much more. intu Eldon Square is the heart of shopping in Newcastle featuring an impressive list of over 150 high street names and specialist shops.

For more idiosyncratic retail therapy, Newcastle's Grainger Market hasn't evolved much from being a crowded Victorian shopping experience. Beyond the endless blocks of butchers and greengrocers' stalls, today curious visitors get to peruse an eccentric spread of boutique businesses, vinyl hordes and a verdant expanse of house plants.

intu, Eldon Square, Newcastle, England, UK — intu, Eldon Square

Access - Getting to Newcastle

Central Station is Newcastle's main station with First TransPennine Express trains to Manchester Piccadilly in Manchester, Manchester Airport and Liverpool Lime Street.

East Coast has trains to Waverley Station in Edinburgh, Glasgow Central in Glasgow, King's Cross in London, Inverness, Aberdeen, Durham, Darlington, Northallerton, York, Doncaster, Newark North Gate, and Peterborough.

There are CrossCountry trains to Darlington, Durham, Newcastle Central, Berwick-on-Tweed, Edinburgh Waverley, Glasgow Central, Dundee and Aberdeen.

Central Station, Newcastle, England, UK — Central Station, Newcastle

Services south on CrossCountry include trains to Durham, Darlington, York, Leeds, Wakefield Westgate, Doncaster, Sheffield, Derby, Birmingham New Street, Bristol Temple Meads, Exeter St Davids, Plymouth, Penzance, Reading and Southampton.

First TransPennine Express has services to Manchester Piccadilly Station, Manchester Airport and Liverpool Lime Street as well as at Chester-le-Street, Durham, Darlington, Northallerton, York Station in York, Leeds, Huddersfield Station in Huddersfield and Manchester Victoria.

The Sage Gateshead, England, UK — The Sage Gateshead (since 2023 The Glasshouse International Centre for Music)

Northern Rail has rail connections to Cramlington and Morpeth with limited services to Chathill at peak hours. Middlesbrough, Heworth, Sunderland, Seaham, Seaton Carew, Billingham, Hartlepool, Stockton and Thornaby. There are trains from Newcastle to Carlisle calling at MetroCentre, Prudhoe, Hexham, Haydon Bridge, Haltwhistle, Brampton, Dunston, MetroCentre, Blaydon, Wylam, Prudhoe, Stocksfield, Riding Mill and Corbridge.

Long distance National Express buses run nationwide from the bus station at St James's Boulevard while more local buses use Haymarket bus station.

The Tyne and Wear Metro (Metro) is a light rail network serving Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Sunderland. There are two lines: the Green Line, which runs between Newcastle Airport and South Hylton via Newcastle upon Tyne city centre, Gateshead and Sunderland and the Yellow Line, between St James and South Shields via North Shields, Tynemouth, Whitley Bay, then back via the city centre, to Gateshead and Jarrow.