Newcastle Gateshead
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Linked by seven bridges across a spectacular riverscape, Newcastle (a city on the north bank of the River Tyne) and Gateshead (a town on the south bank) have been transformed into a single, vibrant visitor destination: NewcastleGateshead.
Museums and galleries
For the newest attraction, visit the Great North Museum. Free to visit, it’s full of unique and interactive exhibits including a large-scale interactive model of Hadrian’s Wall and a planetarium.
On the art front, it’s hard to know where to start. Apart from its free exhibitions, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art also has a great room on the second floor with free internet access and space to read and relax. Try the Laing Art Gallery’s free Picture of the Month tour every Saturday at 11am to discover works by a range of artists from John Martin to Tracy Emin.
Other gems include Discovery Museum, with interactive exhibits that kids love, and the Castle Keep, which offers stunning city views as well as Roman history for just a few quid.
Theatre and film
The Tyneside Cinema offers free tours of its beautifully restored historic building; there are free viewings of archive newsreel footage daily at 11.30am; and on Tuesdays, you can see a film before 5pm for just £3.
See top-notch drama for less at Northern Stage, with deals such as two-for-one first nights, and back row seats for £5.50. At Live Theatre, tickets start from just £3, but there are also ‘pay what you can’ performances and reduced-price preview nights.
And at Dance City check out Early Bird Booking and 2-for-1 offers available on selected performances, which include work by leading international choreographers.
Shop
Time to hit the shops! Visit Newcastle’s famous Northumberland Street for high street shops and Fenwick department store. If you still have money to spend then don’t miss out on the beautifully tiled Edwardian Central Arcade (which is also home to the Tourist Information Centre).
Don’t miss the original Marks and Spencer’s Penny Bazaar in Newcastle’s 1830’s Grainger Market, a Grade 1 listed building, and be sure to check out the independent boutiques along High Bridge for specialist clothes shops, independent record stores and much, much more. A Sunday morning ritual up here is the Quayside Market, which kicks off at 9.30am and packs up at 2.30pm
Where to stay
NewcastleGateshead offers a range of accommodation, from boutique and big brand hotels to budget and backpacker hostels. Search online for accommodation including great offers at NewcastleGateshead.com
Where to eat & drink
NewcastleGateshead’s food and drink offer is as you would expect for a cosmopolitan city with everything from fusion to classic British menus on offer. Search for restaurants, bars and cafes at NewcastleGateshead.com
Getting around
One of the beauties of NewcastleGateshead is that it’s easy to walk everywhere; the city centre is compact. The Metro is quick, clean and convenient, and connects the airport and city to the nearby coast and Sunderland. The DaySaver ticket is excellent value at £3.90 (£4.80 before 9am on weekdays) and gives unlimited travel on Metro, Shields Ferry and local rail services between Newcastle and Sunderland. See http://www.nexus.org.uk/ for more details.