Officially Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle is the largest city in North East England. It is recognisable by the iconic Gateshead Millennium Bridge which spans the river Tyne. Once the manufacturing hub of the industrial revolution, Newcastle is now a university city where science, business, and the arts flourish. It is renowned for culture and architecture. To university students, Newcastle is notoriously home to the top party university in the UK. From friendly Geordies to the city’s thriving nightlife, here’s what you can expect from a visit to Newcastle.
The Quayside
A city located by the river will surely take advantage of it. Newcastle has plenty of riverside spaces, all centred in The Quayside. Overlooking the Tyne, this space was originally a commercial dockside. Now, it is lined with restaurants, pubs, and bars, where you can enjoy a pint with a view.
Even if you’re not there to eat, The Quayside is still perfect for a leisurely stroll at any time of day. The Quayside Sunday Market is a great way to end the week, exploring local products in the stretch between the Swing Bridge to the Millennium Bridge.
A bustling nightlife
Newcastle isn’t only the UK’s top party university, it is also a popular destination for hen and stag nights. It can’t be the centre of parties without plenty of pubs, bars, and clubs to choose from. Newcastle offers you many places for dancing and moshing, where DJ’s spin tunes from a wide range of genres for you to drink and dance the night away to.
Digital is one of the city’s go-to nightclubs located in the Times Square city centre. Entry is only 80p on Mondays, with house drinks at £1 each. Rock and roll plays on Rebel Thursdays, and dance tunes blare on Saturdays. You can count on Digital for a good night out at budget-friendly prices.
For a more premium nightclub experience, visit Tup Tup Place on Saint Nicholas Street. The nightclub and events space offers a VIP experience, with table and bottle service. The venue has welcomed a slew of major international artists like Drake, Cheryl Cole, and Ed Sheeran.
Historic architecture
While Newcastle is a modern city, it has preserved most of its streets and buildings which date back to the 1830’s.
Travellers who come to appreciate architecture can observe and admire the Georgian buildings in the Grainger Town area. Grey Street is also worth walking down. It is a beautiful stretch of road flanked by preserved architecture, comparable to Regent Street in London.
Newcastle also boasts seven bridges on the waters, with the oldest, High Level Bridge, being finished way back in 1849. The Gateshead Millennium Bridge is also known as the tilting bridge or the blinking eye, tilting to the left ever so often to create passage for ships underneath.
An appreciation for the arts
Being the centre for the arts, Newcastle also has an abundance of art galleries and museums to choose from for those who would like to take in some art in their travels.
The Laing Art Gallery features British oil and watercolour paintings as well as glassware and silverware. It showcases artists the likes of Stanley Spencer, Henry Moore, and Gauguin.
Contrary to what its name suggests, The Biscuit Factory is actually a gallery, and not just any gallery. It is the UK’s largest design and arts & crafts gallery featuring over 200 artists and creators.
The Discovery Museum highlights Newcastle’s accomplishment in the sciences and technology, displaying vintage cars, traditional windmills, and jet turbines. The Turbinia, the first ever steamer ship powered by a turbine launched in 1914, also rests in the museum. By far the biggest thing in city is the local football team Newcastle United, nicknamed ‘The Magpies’. If you in the area visiting when they are playing at St James Park be sure to try and get match tickets, Seat-Compare.com have a good selection.
Statues and Landmarks
In addition to the bridges across the waters of the Tyne, there are also many iconic monuments across Newcastle.
The Angel of the North is a sculpture in Gateshead standing 20 metres tall. The angel’s wing spans 54m. The artist Sir Anthony Gormley chose an angel to commemorate the miners who had worked beneath the grounds in Gateshead for centuries.
Originally a parish church, St Nicholas’ Cathedral was built in the 14th to 15th centurie. It only upgraded to cathedral status in 1882. The spire serves as both landmark and navigation point for ships that have sailed down the Tyne over the past five centuries.
Finally, Newcastle Castle is a historic 12th century castle. Its Norman Fort was built by the son of historical figure William the Conqueror. Travellers and tourists can enjoy views from the castle’s rooftop and explore the gatehouse.
