NewcastleGateshead

Newcastle and Gateshead, on opposite banks of the River Tyne, together form the vibrant and cosmopolitan NewcastleGateshead.

At its hub is the Quayside, the cultural heart of the city. The skyline is dominated by the iconic Tyne Bridge and the award-winning Gateshead Millennium Bridge, which leads to BALTIC: Centre for Contemporary Art, and The Sage Gateshead international centre for music.

Newcastle takes its name from its Castle Keep. A wooden fort in Roman times, the present “new castle” was re-built in stone by Henry II in 1168.

Grainger Town is an historic quarter renowned for its Georgian architecture. Standing at the top of Grey Street, you can see why Radio 4 listeners voted it ‘Best Street in Britain.’

Nearby you’ll find the oldest dining room in the UK: Blackfriars, which dates back to the 13th century. And you’ll find hundreds more contemporary places to eat too, from laid-back bistros to sophisticated restaurants serving fine local produce.

Famous for its shopping, NewcastleGateshead offers an abundance of big names and eclectic independent stores. The famous MetroCentre Gateshead is Europe’s largest shopping and leisure centre with over 300 stores. In Newcastle, Eldon Square and Northumberland Street are the main shopping areas, and don’t miss New Bridge Street for cool music stores and vintage clothing.

NewcastleGateshead has more theatres per person than anywhere in the UK. Worth a look are the Theatre Royal, Journal Tyne Theatre and City Hall. The Live Theatre on the Quayside has an excellent reputation for new writing and local plays.

The award-winning Angel of the North sculpture, designed by Antony Gormley, stands just outside Gateshead and welcomes visitors to the city with open wings.