About Newcastle

Newcastle is one of Britain’s top cities, situated on the River Tyne. It has an interesting historical background, as it used to be a Roman settlement and had a thriving wool trade, as well as a major faction for coal mining. Newcastle also once had the largest ship-building areas available.

Newcastle has a population of over 180,000 and is defined by its neo-classical architecture. It has an excellent sporting reputation, too, being the home of Newcastle United Football Club, whose ground is St. James’ Park. There is also Newcastle Falcons, the Guinness Premiership rugby union side who are represented by World Cup star Jonny Wilkinson. There is the Newcastle Vipers ice hockey team and the Newcastle Eagles basketball team.

Last year, Newcastle was voted as the Best City of the North by The Daily Telegraph newspaper and has given us lots of famous names such as Alan Shearer, Sting, TV presenters Ant & Dec, Rowan Atkinson and comedian Ross Noble.


Best sites

Tyne Bridge - The Tyne Bridge is one of the greatest symbols of Newcastle’s industrial excellence. Built in 1928, the Tyne Bridge remains to this day a miracle of modern design.

Built from steel and granite, the bridge has come to portray the engineering innovation of Newcastle.

It's even been celebrated in miniature form by the artist Chris Burden who designed an exact replica for the opening exhibition at the BALTIC in Gateshead in 2002.

It's a measure of the Tyne Bridge's lasting legacy that it still shows so much passion, pride and power amongst Newcastle residents and outsiders alike.

The Gateshead Millennium Bridge - This is a pedestrian and cyclist tilt bridge which lies across the River Tyne between Gateshead on the south bank, and Newcastle on the north bank. The award-winning structure was created by architects Wilkinson Eyre and structural engineers Gifford.

The construction of the bridge won Wilkinson Eyre the 2002 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize and won Gifford the 2003 IStructE Supreme Award. In 2005, the bridge received the Outstanding Structure Award from IABSE (International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering).

Newcastle Civic Centre - This is a civic centre located in the Haymarket area of Newcastle. It is the main administrative and ceremonial centre for Newcastle City Council. It was designed by the city architect George Kenyon.

The Council Chamber forms the focal point of the centre to the Great North Road, on the axis of the tall office block at the base of the tower. The ceremonial entrance to the building is directly beneath the Chamber. North of the Council Chamber is the Reception Suite which embraces the Banqueting Hall, Lord Mayor’s and Sheriff’s Suites, and Council Members’ Dining Room, while to the south are the Committee Room Suites and administrative offices. Newcastle Civic Centre is fit for hosting events, marriages and parties.

Leazes Park – This Newcastle park lies to the west of the city centre. It is the Newcastle's oldest park, opened in 1873. It contains a lake above the course of the Lort Burn. It is next to St James' Park and the Royal Victoria Infirmary.

Exhibition Park – Yet another of Newcastle’s finest parks, this has a lot to offer to visitors. There are two croquet lawns, two tennis courts and one basketball court, if you are in the mood for sport. For the children, there is a fenced playground with safety surface containing swings, slides, climbing frames, spring toys and seating.

For water lovers, a boating lake is available with boats for hire. You can also play golf during the spring and summer months. There is even a military museum and a park café is open, too.

A skating area has been developed at the entrance of the park, so there is plenty to enjoy for everybody.

Town Moor – This significantly green part of Newcastle has a huge amount of pasture land and has been used for recreational purposes, including allotments, formal parks and sports facilities. Agricultural improvement has been recently made to the Moor, with cattle watering ponds being replaced by piped drainage and seasonally flooded wet grasslands have been infilled or drained. Restoration has also taken place on Town Moor.

Grey’s Monument – This is a site in Newcastle which was built in memory of Lord Grey. It consists of a statue of him mounted on top of a 41 metre column. A spiral staircase leads to a viewing platform at the top of the monument and its wide base is a popular spot for watching other people. It also doubles as a place for religious speakers, people championing a worthy cause and buskers.

Best areas

Eldon Square Shopping Centre - Eldon Square is the place for shopping and dining in Newcastle. With over 150 stores, including John Lewis, Fenwick and Marks & Spencer, the shopping centre is at the vibrant heart of the city centre and is a must-see for tourist visitors and locals alike with improved, comfortable transport links from around the region.

If you are looking for the latest fashion trends, superb gift ideas and great bargains, you’re sure to find what tickles your fancy at Eldon Square.

Recently, more new shops have been added to the centre, such as Jack and Jones, Carphone Warehouse and Holland & Barrett. You can even exchange foreign currencies at the post office and Marks & Spencer.

There are many bars, restaurants and clubs to choose from if you are in the mood for an even better time.

Newgate Shopping Centre – Located on Newgate Street, this is an interesting place to look at while you are travelling around in Newcastle. There is a Russian delicatessen, a Polish cafe, a shop selling Polish goods, Halfords, a jewellery shop, The Money Shop, Jessop’s Cameras, Peter’s Bakers and a freezer centre. At Newgate Street, they also sell sewing machines and repair shoes. There is a pawnbroker’s, too.

Other shops you can find here are a Hi-Fi equipment store, a chipper and a perfume shop. There is the Games Workshop which sells board games and a bookshop with a sci-fi theme which sells videos and DVDs.

There is even an optician’s at the centre and the Hollywood Nail & Spa where the ladies can treat themselves.

Northumberland Street - This is a major shopping street in Newcastle and runs from the Haymarket and Civic Centre in the north, towards the Monument at the south.. It encompasses the entrance to the Eldon Square and Monument Mall shopping centres, and is home to retailers such as HMV, Marks & Spencer, Next, H&M, zavvi (formerly Virgin Megastore) and the flagship Fenwick department store.

Fawdon – This is an electoral ward of Newcastle which has its own shopping centre, right next to the Metro station. It is just a little over 3 miles away from the Newcastle city centre and is located at the site of three mining villages which were known as Fawdon Square, High Fawdon and Low Fawdon.

Fawdon is where the Nestle Rowntree factory is situated. It employs 600 workers and produces 40,000 tonnes of chocolate a year. It is Nestle's second largest factory after the one in York. The site makes Blue Riband, Breakaway (since

1970), Caramac (since 1959), Fruit pastilles, Rolo, and Yorkie biscuits. The Munchies brand moved there in 2006, from York.

Jesmond - This is a residential suburb of Newcastle and is just north of the city centre, next to Town Moor. The area is notable for Jesmond Parish Church, Holy Trinity Church, Jesmond Dene, the Royal Grammar School, the Osborne Road strip of hotels and bars, and the Acorn Road shopping area.

The three conservation areas which are in Jesmond are Brandling Village, South Jesmond and Jesmond Dene.

Paddy Freeman's Park can also be found in Jesmond and is a very popular park.

Gosforth – An area of Newcastle, it has a large business complex called the Regent Centre, which houses many notable organisations, including the Newcastle regional centre for the Open University..

Apart from South Gosforth, many districts of Gosforth are parks. There is Grange Park, Brunton Park, Melton Park, Grove Park, Gosforth Park (including its racecourse), Newcastle Great Park and Whitebridge Park. East of the Great North Road is Garden Village.

Gosforth has a range of suburban style housing and executive apartments and a mix of local pubs, restaurants and the famous Three Mile Inn which is exceptionally busy at 5pm partly because of its closeness to the Regent Centre office development.

Ouseburn - This quiet part of Newcastle is home to a number of pubs, such as Free Trade, The Tyne, Cumberland Arms, The Ship Inn and Tanners. Live music and real ale are the staples of these places. Ouseburn is also a centre for the arts and creative industries, including the Biscuit Factory, the Mushroom Works, Testhouse 5, North Grange Glass (stained glass gallery and cafe), 36 Lime Street and Cobalt Studios.

Best hotels

Western New Kent Hotel – Located on Osborne Road in Jesmond, this hotel is in a quiet suburban area, with a consistent reputation for good food, friendly and efficient service, in a warm and comfortable atmosphere. This is a perfect haven for tourists.

In each room, there is a power point, instant Internet access, satellite, a television, a lamp and writing desk.

There is also a meeting and conference room available, equipped with a fax machine, photocopier, screen, slide projector and video.

The Jesmond Hotel – Also on Osborne Road, this is another fine hotel and is at the quieter end of the road. It is only five minutes’ walk from the city centre. The bedrooms available are all single, double and family size. Each one has a direct dial telephone, television, en-suite shower room and tea / coffee-making facilities.

Inside the hotel is a restaurant where famous North East chef Paul Amer prepares the latest delights. There is also a well-stocked bar that is very popular. It is open till 2am if required.

City Apart Hotel – Located on Northumberland Street, this hotel allows people to feel as if they are in their own home, because it has all the creature comforts which they need, whether they are staying for business or pleasure. Family rooms are available as well as instant access to Internet.

Each apartment has a stylish and modern interior, a lounge with a plasma TV screen, a fully fitted kitchen, a luxurious bedroom and a bathroom equipped with a power shower. If you want to enjoy yourself more, there is a DVD player and a Playstation. All the crockery, utilities and linen are provided by the hotel staff.

From your room, you can admire unbeatable views of the Newcastle cityscape.

Stag and hen parties can also be arranged at the hotel, too.

Quality Hotel – Located on Newgate Street which is at the city centre, this hotel is six-storeys long and has 93 elegant guestrooms which are decorated with bright or patterned fabrics.

The hotel really lives up to its name, because its room facilities are second to none. As well as a telephone, television, bathroom and Internet, there is a coffee maker, alarm clock, hairdryer and an ironing board. There is also a trouser press and readily available toiletries. Special hypo-allergenic bedding can be given when necessary. Entertainment is provided with in-room movies.

Each room has a baby cot and there is 24-hour security. There are specially designated smoking rooms in the hotel, too.

There is a conference room and a cocktail bar and restaurant which are on the top floor, from which you can see St. James’ Park, Newcastle United’s ground.

Attractions near Quality Hotel include the quayside and Hancock Museum.

Malmaison Hotel – Situated on Quayside, right next to the River Tyne, the Malmaison is an amazing place to stay at and offers everything which a businessman or a holiday-maker needs.

The Malmaison won a Golden Gong for Large Hotel of the Year in the North East Tourism awards, two years ago.

There are 122 rooms, most of which give you a fantastic view of the Tyne. They are large and the walls are decorated with bold colours, diamonds and stripes.

Each room has a soft bed, power shower, CD player, CD library and satellite TV. There is also fast Internet access, a laundry where you can get your clothes back on the same day you sent them out and the usual toiletries. The room service is quick, too.

There are 14 suites which are space-filled and luxurious. Each one has its own personal lounge area, with a large plasma TV, Bose sound system, roll top bath and power shower.

The suites have got exotic names like Turbinia, Mauretania and Carpathia which were ships that sailed the Tyne.

The Malmaison is ideal for business conferences and meetings. It can hold up to 18 people and a professional meeting room is available if you are planning a board meeting or an annual event.

There is a gym at the Malmaison with resistance and running machines and free weights.

Once you’ve done your daily exercise, you can relax at the spa where they have skilled therapists and fragrant aromas.

The Bar Mal is one of the hippest and trendiest drinking places around. You can have the finest selection of cocktails and wines and there are DJs to keep you entertained, as well as three plasma TVs. There are leather sofas to chill out on, too.

The Brasserie is the Malmaison’s top restaurant. The chefs serve beautifully cooked cuisine prepared with local ingredients. Perfect for business lunches, light snacks and dinners. The atmosphere in the brasserie is intimate, so you are guaranteed a quite, but stimulating time. The stairway leading to it is decorated with candles.

A private dining room is available.

There is also a love suite package to indulge yourself in at the Malmaison. You get all the delicious comforts of a champagne breakfast, drinks on ice and strawberries dipped in chocolate. There are aromatic oils and candles to fit the occasion, in addition to a romantic CD.



Best night clubs

Tiger Tiger – This is one of the smartest places to relax and socialize. Located on Newgate Street in the city centre, the people here serve a mouthwatering range of cocktails which have their own unique flavour.

There are rooms, bars and a restaurant at Tiger Tiger where you can indulge in lunches, early evening drinking and dancing away the late nights.

Each dancefloor has a DJ and the many delights of Tiger Tiger include a vodka sledge and a chocolate fountain. The beer and wine are of a high quality here.

Ideal for gatherings in the middle of the week and the weekends.

Trent House – Situated on Leazes Lane right next to Leazes Park and near the Eldon Shopping Centre, this serves the best booze during the day and night and the atmosphere is extremely friendly. The staff dress code is informal, which is one of the reasons why Trent House has its own identity.

The music is often very laid-back and the alcohol prices are regularly cheap.

There is a special jukebox and a pool table.

You can expect summer parties, live bands and specially themed nights at Trent House, so why not check it out?

Idols – If you’re looking for bags of fun, liveliness and a party atmosphere, then this is the place to come. There are excellent bargain offers for the drinks here.

Entertainment is provided by DJ's playing a mix of party music from 60's to what’s in the charts today. A team of talented staff create added entertainment with the help of nightly dance sessions.

Student Nights are held every Monday and Wednesday. Idols gets the party started for thousands of students every week, before they make their way onto their favourite club nights.

Every Friday night, there’s the Big Party with Martin O’Grady mixing the best in classic songs from the past 50 years.

Liquid & Envy – Right at the heart of the city centre on New Bridge Street West, this is as hip a place you will find with pumping dancefloors, beautiful dancers galore and even a podium which you can move your body around.

On Thursday nights, the music that is often played is hip-hop.

Every Friday and Saturday nights, you get a bigger selection of stuff to listen to, from Dance, R&B, Indie, Chart to Funky House and Commercial Dance.

On Fridays, entry is free before 11pm and on Saturdays, before 10.30pm. On both Fridays and Saturdays, selected drinks cost only £1.50 before 11.30pm.


Trillians – If you would like to taste some guitar music that’s heavy and hard-hitting, then why not try this place? Trillians can be found at Princess Square which is behind Northumberland Street. The food is good and it is known for its special vodka cocktails, as well as serving lager, cider, Guinness bitter wines and soft drinks.

Many live, unsigned rock bands play at Trillians and every Sunday from 2pm, you can watch both old and new horror films for free!

Trillians is open Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 11pm and Fridays and Saturdays, from 11am to 1am. Sunday hours are 2pm to 11pm.

Best festivals

The AV Festival – An event which takes place twice every year and celebrates electronic arts. Visual arts and moving images are presented to the audiences, accompanied by music.

The Evolution Festival – A festival held at the Newcastle quayside which has acts performing from the world of rock, indie and dance music.

The Hoppings - This is held on the Town Moor in Newcastle upon Tyne during the summer. It is said to be Europe's largest travelling fun fair.

A special dance is performed, which has its origins in the 19th century.

The Ouseburn Festival – A weekend family festival which has a Family Fun Day and a Carnival Day among its delights.

The Newcastle Mela – Held during the late summer, this is an annual two-day multicultural event which gives you the best in different cultures. The lifestyles of Punjabi, Pakistani, Bengali and Hindu people are celebrated and there is a bit of everything, including music, drama and food, from the spicy and savoury to the sweet.

International Arts Fair – This displays the works of highly reputable modern and contemporary art galleries from the UK and Europe.

Many collectors from the world and buyers of art attend the fair every year to admire the exhibition galleries. Between 6000 and 8000 people turn up to this prestigious event and here, there is so much to choose from – paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs and limited edition prints.

The Newcastle Science Festival – This is for those who want to learn more about human life and how the mind and body work. Themes that are often covered are evolution, intelligence, the complexities of human nature and psychology.

The Newcastle Comedy Festival – They say laughter is the best medicine and you’ll get it at this show. Stand-up routines and sketches are the order of the day. In the past, top comedians like Omid Djalili, Phill Jupitus, Pete Firman, Paul Tonkinson, Steve Steen and Steve Frost have appeared on the show.