Newcastle Travel Guide
If you&rsquore considering a trip to this exciting city, our Newcastle Guide will help you plan the best things to see and do while you're there. Newcastle offers everything from world-class culture, vibrant nightlife, award winning dining, fantastic shopping and much more! Shop until you drop at Eldon Square, the UK's largest city centre shopping complex or in Europe&rsquos largest indoor shopping mall The Metro Centre. See big name performers at the Metro Radio Arena and The Sage, and some top class shows at the Theatre Royal and Northern Stage. Browse through our Newcastle Guide and discover <a href="http://www.superbreak.com/newcastle_gateshead-hotels-NE5.htm">all that this vibrant city has to offer</a>. <br /><br />The award-winning Life Science Centre, Gateshead&rsquos BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and Antony Gormley's Angel of the North are some examples of the area's passion for culture and learning. Attractions such as the 2,000 year old Tynemouth Priory and Hadrian's Wall confirm the region's rich past and complement the offering of museums such as the Great North Museum Hancock and the fascinating Victoria Tunnel, which runs directly under the city. <br /><br />There are also plenty of places to eat, drink and be merry, whether you're looking for gourmet cuisine, traditional British pub grub, cosy bars, or stylish clubs. Whether you're planning a romantic getaway, an exciting family weekend or a lively city break with friends, our Newcastle Guide provides an insight into all this wonderful city has to offer.Metros are a great way to get around Newcastle, especially if you&rsquore staying outside of the city centre. With stops throughout the city centre and all the way out to the coast, it&rsquos an easy way to travel. They&rsquore really frequent regardless of your destination, so for any guests wanting to travel around, you can buy an all day unlimited travel ticket for around £6. This way you can head to the beach during the day, back to the hotel, and then into the city centre for an evening of great food and an even better atmosphereThe Metro system is ideal to get to and from the airport as well as the Jesmond café bar scene and the coastal areas. Look out for the Metro Hopper ticket which lets you travel in zone one all day, or DaySaver which gives all day unlimited Metro travel.As one of the UK&rsquos most popular city destinations, it&rsquos important that Newcastle is easy to reach. With direct rail services running from many UK cities to Central Station, guests can visit the city from all over the country. The station is within easy walking distance of many central hotspots and is well connected by Metro, QuayLink, bus and taxis, allowing visitors to experience every highlight of the city. Whether you're seeing a show at The Theatre Royal or heading out for a celebration, having so many quality travel options only adds to the appeal of visiting Newcastle for a short break.Thanks to such a cosmopolitan city centre everything you need is in easy reach, and with fantastic transport links it&rsquos easy to explore the whole city. If you're travelling around the city centre, buses and taxi's are incredibly low cost compared to most major cities in the UK. For locations further afield, a frequent and reliable Metro service can take guests to any area of the city and its suburbs, as well as to the beautiful coastlines of Tynemouth and South Shields. Thanks to such fantastic links, visiting Newcastle is easy and allows visitors the opportunity to see everything they want to with ease.Many people visit Newcastle for its fantastic shopping scene. With Eldon Square, one of the UK's largest city centre complexes, and the Metrocentre, Europe's largest indoor shopping centre, there's a huge range to suit everybody's tastes. Eldon Square sits on the main street in Newcastle and recently unveiled a brand new wing to its complex. With huge name stores such as a four-storey Debenhams, John Lewis, Apple and Guess, it's a perfect destination for everybody to experience some retail therapy. The Metrocentre is only twenty minutes away by Metro, and it takes you directly into the shopping centre itself so you can shop as soon as you stop.Due to such a huge number of visitors from all over the world, Newcastle's restaurants offer a diversity of food to suit every palate. Restaurants in Newcastle City Centre, Grey Street Restaurants and Newcastle Quayside Restaurants are great places to eat in the North East and some of the best restaurants can be found in Newcastle. The city centre houses the best restaurants and can offer you a large variety of choices to eat, from the best Chinese restaurants in China Town, Italian Restaurants, Indian Restaurants, and Mexican Restaurants, Seafood restaurants, Thai Restaurants and Polish Restaurants.Newcastle has many things to do in the city centre and the surrounding area, from attractions and events through to theatres and sports clubs. With such a diverse community, there is a large variety in the types of evening entertainment for guests to enjoy. Newcastle city centre, Grey Street and Newcastle Quayside have many attractions, cinemas, theatres, pubs, bars, clubs, museums, landmarks, tourist spots, activities, and festivals for a night out in the North East. The hidden gem of Newcastle&rsquos nightlife has to be the Tyneside Cinema. The man who built the Tyneside in 1937 thought a film should be an event and set out to design a picture palace, complete with mosaics and oriental decoration. To this day it remains a haven of culture and enrichment.Throughout Newcastle there are many clubs, pubs and bars all giving Newcastle nightlife a great name. Whether it&rsquos a quiet place to drink, a great live music gig, city centre dancing and karaoke nights or a Quayside pub crawl for hen nights or sports bars for stag parties, Newcastle City Centre has the best bars and hottest clubs in the North East. Whatever your taste in music or bar scene, the variety in Newcastle means there's guaranteed to be something to suit you. The hidden gem of Newcastle&rsquos Bar scene is definitely Opera Piano Bar & Lounge, a stunning destination with an array of musical talent providing a perfect backdrop for some of Newcastle's most innovative cocktails. From Mojito Mondays to Flirtini Fridays, Opera has something for everyone.The Newcastle and Gateshead region is made up of a diverse variety of towns, cities, coast and countryside offering a huge selection of things to do whatever your tastes. From soaking up world-class culture in the city centres, discovering thousands of years of heritage at Hadrian&rsquos Wall and visiting the biggest and best science centre in the North of England, you&rsquoll be amazed at how much the city has to offer. Don&rsquot miss The Discovery Museum in the heart of Newcastle. Discover all about life in Newcastle and Tyneside, from the area's renowned maritime history and world-changing science and technology right through to fashion through the eras and military history. The museum is bursting with interactive displays, which makes it the perfect place to learn and have fun.With an airport, many motorway links and a central train station, getting to the city is easy.Direct rail services run from many UK cities to Newcastle Central Station, which is within easy walking distance of many central destinations and is well connected by Metro, QuayLink, bus and taxi.The A1(M) passes through Newcastle linking the area to London, the South, Scotland and major routes across the country. The A69 links west to Carlisle, the LakeDistrict and, via the M6, to the South and West of England.Newcastle International Airport provides direct links from top international and UK destinations, and is only 8 miles from the city centre. The airport is connected to the Metro system which is the quickest and easiest way to get to the city centre.Bus services are plentiful and freque
nt and there&rsquos a wide variety of special travel tickets available including a Day Rover for unlimited travel by any form of public transport in Tyne & Wear, while the North East Explorer ticket can be used on public transport right across the region.Once you're in Newcastle, the central district is so compact it's great to walk around or simply jump on the quick and efficient Metro system or one of the many buses and taxis.Almost 400 taxi drivers have taken part in the ambassador programme to become important experts and representatives of Newcastle/Gateshead. Wherever you see the official sign you can be reassured that the driver will be able to help you with information about the area.Enjoy a concert at The Sage or Metro Radio ArenaVisit the Metro Centre, Britain&rsquos best shopping and leisure complex.Grab a drink along the stunning QuaysideDiscover amazing contemporary artwork at The BALTICEnjoy world-class performances at the Theatre RoyalVisit Segedunum Roman Fort, Baths and MuseumOne of the busiest airports in the UK, Newcastle International flies more than four million people to and from destinations all over the world each year. Situated just six miles from the city centre, visitors flying into the Newcastle are within easy reach of all major highlights that the city has to offer, With great Metro links from the airport to the centre, guests can be in the city within twenty minutes. Plus you can buy a single Metro ticket for around £3pp. The airport is also attached to the A1 trunk road for any guests driving there.The A1(M) passes through Newcastle and Gateshead linking the area to London, the South, Scotland and major routes across the country. The A69 links west to Carlisle, the LakeDistrict and, via the M6, to the South and West of England. Thanks to these two major roads driving to Newcastle is pretty simple, and with fantastic scenery and landmarks along the way, it&rsquos a rather pleasant drive too. Once you arrive in Newcastle, there are a variety of central car parks that are situated only a short distance from both routes and are well signposted.Frequent direct rail services run from many UK cities to Newcastle Central Station. East Coast Rail operate the mainline from London King's Cross to Scotland via Newcastle and the CrossCountry route links the region with Scotland, the Midlands and the South West. Northern Rail operate from Carlisle, Teesside and beyond, while TransPennine Express services run from Manchester, Liverpool and stations across Yorkshire. A new London King's Cross service to Sunderland is operated by Grand Central Trains too. Trains to and from LondonThanks to a large student population there is a huge selection of taxi firms in Newcastle, and all at low prices. Main taxi ranks are situated at Central Station, The Gate and The Life Centre, but there is a huge choice for pre-booking. The cheapest firms are Blueline (0191 262 6666) and Budget (0191 298 5050), and you can usually travel from one side of the city centre to the other for less than £5. Most firms will also text you when they arrive so you know when to head outsideThere are many buses that visitors can take to visit each area of the city. The QuayLink is the perfect bus to take if you&rsquore heading down to the quayside. Buses are very frequent at every eight minutes and it only takes ten minutes to get there. The main buses are part of the Stagecoach company, and have incredibly reasonable prices for city centre travel. You can also buy a weekly ticket for unlimited travel if you are staying a little longer.Top 5 Clothes Shops in NewcastleTop 5 High Street Must Visits in NewcastleTop 5 Speciality Shops in NewcastleTop 5 Family RestaurantsTop 5 International Restaurants in NewcastleTop 5 Evening Restaurants in NewcastleA family store originally from Newcastle that has become one of the UK&rsquos leading luxury fashion outlets.Four floors of the leading department store  with a strong presence in key product categories including womenswear, menswear, health and beauty and much more.A veritable Aladdin&rsquos cave of cheesy treasures, Matthew&rsquos Cheese Specialists offer the choice of over 100 English and Continental cheeses &ndash and they have been doing so for over 50 years.Authentic Belgian food and a wide selection of traditional Belgian beers. Great value with an atmosphere to matchTake the metro from the airport. It takes you directly to the city centre for a low priceThere&rsquos nowhere quite like the Marco Polo restaurant and bar. Seriously stunning fresh food makes Marco&rsquos one of Newcastle&rsquos premier places to eat, see and be seenSpecialising in Latin and Mexican food, Las Iguanas is always buzzing with customers. With gorgeous food and amazing cocktails, it&rsquos a great place to dine out.Taxis are great value in Newcastle so don&rsquot hesitate to use them, especially BluelineNewcastle&rsquos latest entertainment venue where Burlesque meets Broadway! Spectacular productions with female impersonation, outrageous comedy, amazing dance routines and stunning costumes with a great barSee the world's first and only tilting bridge! At night, it lights up to create a rainbow of colour over the River Tyne. Surrounded by bars and restaurants, it&rsquos perfect for an evening stroll.Serving a wide range of delicious, home-cooked tapas as well as offering a great selection of Spanish wines, beers and of course home-made Sangria.On trend fashion at bargain prices, Primark Newcastle is expanding to become one of the largest in the country.Keeping it local is important to Cake and the suppliers they use are all based in the region and wherever possible they use organic ingredients.With breathtaking views of Newcastle's quayside and the river Tyne and a menu as stunning to match, The Hotel Du Vin & Bistro is a very elegant place to spend the eveningFrankie & Benny&rsquos brings together the best of classic American and Italian in both style and cuisine, topped off with excellent service.Enjoy some of the biggest new films at this huge cinema, situated at the top of The Gate complex and surrounded by bars and restaurants.If you&rsquore arriving by train, a handy taxi service is available just outside the main exitIf you&rsquore travelling around a bit, buy an unlimited day ticket for the MetroJust kick back, relax and enjoy the friendly culture, with classic Pac Man, Ginger Mojitos, Curly Wurlys, Strawberry Beers, late night music, or move and groove to top tunes.An international home for music and musical discovery, housing two main stages of acoustic excellence for visitors to enjoy.One of the largest in the country, this leading high street fashion store has a wide selection of styles for every occasion.From pop up shop to Newcastle&rsquos most popular shopping district, Independent Fashion Space is the best place to find unique, urban clothing from the North East's most talented emerging designers.Pick up the latest Apple Mac and iPod products all with great advice from their expert sales team at the Apple Store.Since opening its doors in April 2009 Ruby & Frank has rapidly established itself as a 'must visit' fashion gem in the North East.Enjoy a unique blend of Japanese cuisine and oriental culture, set in an atmosphere that captures the very essence of Japan … It is called the Fujiyama ExperienceNewcastle&rsquos celebrated Bar and Asian Fusion Restaurant. Many dishes will have familiar basic ingredients, but a finished look and taste which will be totally fresh and new.Nando&rsquos is the home of the legendary, Portuguese flame-grilled, Peri-Peri chicken&hellipa place for people with an appetite for life and a passion for great foodWitness one of the UK&rsquos best basketball teams the Newcastle Eagles. Since 2010 they have played all home games at the 3,000 capacity Sport Central arena at Northumbria University in the city.The QuayLink bus service is incredibly efficient for taking a trip down to the quayside from the centre.If you&
;rsquore driving and need somewhere to park, Eldon Square car park is the cheapest for city centre parkingBar 42 is a chic and snug basement bar, ideal to unwind with a drink after a long day at work. The buzzing and lively atmosphere on the weekends makes it a popular place for drinks with friends.A gorgeous beach isn&rsquot something you&rsquod necessarily associate with Newcastle, but Tynemouth is as good as they come. Golden sandy beaches with rocks, dunes and cliffs, plus one of the nicest ice cream shops you&rsquore likely to find.Live music venue and club, Digital is incredibly popular with a strong loyal following. With two huge floors dedicated to different types of music, it&rsquos a great night out whatever your tasteNo other apparel company in the world has the same singular focus on rugby as Canterbury of New Zealand. Check it out and pick up some limited edition sports wear.With over 30 years experience, Andrew Campbell is the only specialist Antique Silver dealer in the North East of England.A vast selection of original vintage clothing from the Victorian era to the 1980's, specializing in 1930's/70's. Also a selection of furniture, lamps and decor from the 1950's/70's.The first Polish restaurant in the North-East of England, Gospoda serve Polish Dumplings and fancy Sausages, Goulash, Hunter's Stew, Sauerkraut Salad, filled Pancakes and much moreInspired by the elegant charm of a classic Italian ristorante with a contemporary buzz and a modern, stylish interior, Gusto brings the true "taste and enjoyment" of Italy to its guestsBig bold flavours and a fun-filled atmosphere, TGI have all the classics, like the famous Loaded Potato Skins, Chicken Fajitas, Surf & Turf and the Jack Daniel's Monterey Burger.An international home for music and musical discovery, bringing about a widespread and long-term enrichment of the musical life of the North East of England.Experience a real sense of your past at Beamish and discover what life was like in North East England in Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian times.For the more up-market visitor, the Parisian styled Jalou is a very sophisticated and chic Bar and Restaurant. It has a certain Je ne sais quoi!Clas Ohlson is a Swedish modern hardware store with a range of unique products for you home and garden. Over 10,000 product lines are sold in store.With hundreds of decorative printed mirrors as a rare specialty, you could almost be forgiven for not noticing the rest of the goods on offer in this treasure trove.Skirt is a unique, funky boutique selling stylish and unusual womens clothes and accessories. Preferring to sell clothes that have a "story", Skirt is a very individual and quirky boutique.Hei Hei combines classic Cantonese food with new dishes from lesser known but highly respected culinary Chinese traditions for you to tryImagine divinely tasty, beautifully presented cuisine prepared with incredible local ingredients and served up with genuine passion, surrounded by luxurious interiors and high class serviceTraditional Italian dishes from calzones to carbonara, alongside more contemporary courses such as Salmon Lemon, Gamberoni All'aglio, Steak al Pepe, T-bone steak and Pollo Isabella.Showcasing the finest acts from around the world, be it rock, pop, comedy or musicals, you'll find the biggest names in the business playing at the City Hall.Housed in a landmark industrial building on the south bank of the River Tyne in Gateshead, BALTIC is the biggest gallery of its kind in the world, presenting a dynamic, diverse and international programme of contemporary visual art.Celebrating the beginning of the busiest couple of months of the year, the majority of businesses will stay open late and be joined by street performers and other entertainment in the lead up to Christmas.One of only nine Grade I Listed theatres in England, the theatre Royal offers a wide variety of shows from opera to ballet, children's shows to classical drama and light entertainment.Newcastle&rsquos leading rock venue hosts the best in world rock music over three levels, with a very cosy VIP area.The Metro Radio Arena Newcastle is the largest concert and exhibition venue in the North East and hosts some of the biggest names in world music, theatre and comedy.A bar for every occasion. Located next to the award winning Millennium Bridge and opposite the Baltic ArtsMuseum, the glass fronted building is within walking distance of the city centre.The Angel of the North is Britain's largest and one of the most iconic sculptures. The rich red/brown colour comes from the weathering steel which can withstand winds of more than 100 miles per hourEnjoy an extra chilled pint or a fruity cocktail at one of three bars, a tasty meal at Freya's Restaurant, state of the art gaming and gambling on the live tables, great nightly entertainment, or relax and unwind in the Beauty Salon.Styled like a theatrical boudoir, with a shocking pink, black and cerise colour scheme, bold print wallpapers and black crystal chandeliers and lavish &lsquobed booths&rsquo for decadent lounging, it remains a Quayside favourite.For an exciting and educational day out visit the life Science Centre. Filled with exhibitions, events, theatre shows and the biggest planetarium in the North of EnglandFrom beginner&rsquos nights to some of the best-known names in comedy, The Stand aims to be the best comedy club in the country.Revolution Newcastle is a luxurious bank conversion with original 30ft ceilings, marble pillars and classic wood features, perfect for 2-4-1 cocktailsHighlights include a large-scale, interactive model of Hadrian's Wall, major displays showing the wonder and diversity of the animal and, objects from the Ancient Greeks and mummies from Ancient Egypt and a life-size T-Rex dinosaur skeleton.Jesmond Dene is a unique haven of peace and tranquility for the people of Newcastle. It is a narrow wooded valley that follows the river Ouseburn, just minutes away from the City Centre.Aside from being voted the best UK Student Union, Northumbria S.U hosts big up-and-coming artists, comedians and actors as well as great food and drink.Newcastle&rsquos most popular nightclub venue, Riverside hosts live performers, the best music in the current charts and a huge selection of drinks. Very popular with local 'celebrities'.First built in 1830, the UK&rsquos largest remaining indoor market is full of wonderful stalls and shops, with gorgeous fresh produce and anything else you can imagine. A truly bizarre BazaarLocated on the cosmopolitan Quayside, this is one of the region&rsquos most prestigious hotels, boasting 3 restaurants and a fully equipped gym with indoor heated swimming pool. Close proximity to major shopping and the Theatre Royal makes this hotel the perfect choice.Nestled between the city&rsquos shopping district and the river front in the heart of the quayside, Babucho is a New York style Italian brasserie and bar, with fantastic rustic dishes and cocktails just the way you like themThere&rsquos a massive choice of high-street fashion stores available at Eldon Square and the Metro Centre. Also check out the fashionable boutiques in the suburb of Jesmond.A fantastic chance to sample the best of local breweries in the North EastContemporary cuisine or home-cooked goodness, there&rsquos loads of options on the menu. For something a bit different try <a href="http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/site/food-and-drink/blackfriars-restaurant-and-meeting-rooms-p63701#ProductList-/site/food-and-drink/blackfriars-restaurant-and-meeting-rooms-p63701">Blackfriars</a>, housed in a Medieval monastery in the City Centre.Celebrate Spanish and Portuguese cultures in this popular international festivalThere&rsquos a wealth of bars, pubs, clubs, theatres and music venues within easy reach of one another. The Gate indoor complex houses a cinema, casino and numerous bars and restaurants.Join in or support runners in one of the largest half-marathons in the worldSoak up the classy atmosphere of the trendy
bars on the Quayside, such as Pitcher and Piano which has great views of the Tyne and the tilting Millennium BridgeDon’t miss Europe’s largest and longest-running public science eventTake a look at the creative work and exhibitions from leading designersNewcastle Guide – A City Guide to Newcastle – SuperbreakBrowse our Newcastle Guide and make the most out of your break. You'll find tips and inspiration on the best attractions, events, restaurants and hotels in Newcastle.
