Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Sage Concert Hall, Baltic Art Centre and Catherine Cookson Country
Newcastle upon Tyne is a lively city within easy reach of Lindisfarne and Alnwick Castle of Harry Potter fame. City Centre has some of the finest architecture in the UK
Just a fifteen minute drive from Newcastle are beaches with miles of golden sand. The Metro, Newcastle's public transport system, is one of the best in Europe and can whisk you there in just a few minutes. There are magnificent castles at Alnwick and Bamburgh and the most romantic one of all at Lindisfarne on Holy Island, just a twenty minute drive away.
Newcastle - The Historic Quayside
The town itself is a compact square mile and is great for pottering around. There are indoor markets selling everything from stottie cakes (the local bread) to hung venison. Shoppers come from far and wide. Newcastle's compact city centre was described by John Betjeman as one of the finest architectural gems in Britain.
The Sunday morning open air market on the Quayside is a must and there's a riverside walk which takes you past ancient pubs and splendid old buildings. The city has its own castle right in the centre of town, which dates from 1172 . It has been lovingly restored and remains an important landmark. Good views from the ramparts.
Newcastle - Art and Culture
On the Gateshead side of the River Tyne is the Sage concert hall. It is like an enormous glittering, metallic, armadillo and inside it is equally fabulous, offering wide views of the river and the six bridges which span it. It has a national and international concert programme as well as dance, folk music, and much more.
A little further down the river is the world class Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. Originally a huge
flour mill it has five galleries and a good rooftop restaurant. It is joined to the Newcastle side of the river by the Millennium Bridge. This elegant and graceful structure is the world’s first and only tilting bridge.
Catherine Cookson Country
Close to Newcastle is the wonderful open air museum at Beamish, You can go down a coal mine, ride a tram and a steam train, and listen to a brass band in the Victorian grandstand. A great place to take the kids.
A short ride on the Metro will take you to South Shields. This is Catherine Cookson country and you can see some of the places so vividly described in her books by exploring the Catherine Cookson Trail. The Tourist Office in the Town Hall has a leaflet describing the route.
Newcastle is a friendly city. Everyone calls you "hinny" or "pet" and when they ask you how you are, they really mean it.
Related articles:
- Northumberland National Park
- Walking in Northumberland
- Lindisfarne
- The English Eden
- UK Walks - Northumberland - Hadrian’s Wall
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