What to do in Newcastle upon Tyne
What activities are worth going to Newcastle upon Tyne for?
The northern English city is known for its diverse mix of historic sites and modern buildings, its beautiful coastline and, most importantly, its wealth of day and multi-day trips around the area.
Personally, we'd recommend heading to Newcastle for at least 4 full days, but if you want to explore the natural beauty of the area, go for more than a week.
Find the cheapest flights to Newcastle NCL airport
A trip to Hadrian's Wall
Without a doubt the biggest attraction near the city is one of the most famous monuments of the Roman Empire in Europe.
Over 117km long, the defensive rampart built from 122BC is superbly preserved in many places and the Hadrian's Wall Path runs alongside it.
The wall runs through a beautiful landscape of rolling hills, wide meadows and fields. Along the way, you will encounter sheep, romantic-looking farms and lakes.
The small remains of Hadrian's Wall are right in Newcastle at a site called Segedunum, which is easily reached by tube.
The most beautiful part of Hadrian's Wall, however, starts at Hexham, about an hour's train + bus ride away.
Detailed instructions on how to get there from Newcastle are described in the mini guide to Hadrian's Wall.
Walks along the River Tyne
The River Tyne divides the city into Newcastle and Gateshead, and the embankments are one of the most popular tourist spots.
Much nicer is the northern waterfront on the Newcastle side of town, which has wide pavements and long pedestrianised areas with plenty of restaurants and stalls.
The walks along the water are very photogenic. The river valley is deep and both Newcastle and Gateshead town centres are well above its level, hence the 5 high and 2 low bridges spanning the river .
In the centre you will see these bridges:
- Redheugh Bridge - the modern and least interesting motorway bridge
- King Edward VII Bridge - the railway bridge, completed in 1906
- Queen Elizabeth II Metro Bridge - the distinctive blue metro bridge completed in 1978
- High Level Bridge - a combined train, car and pedestrian bridge completed in 1849
- Swing Bridge - the low and most famous bridge, which has to rotate 90° on its axis when a ship needs to pass, completed in 1876
- Tyne Bridge - the largest bridge with a massive steel arch, completed in 1928
- Gateshead Millenium Bridge - modern pedestrian swing bridge, beautifully lit at night
Beaches and swimming
Northern England is certainly not known as a major holiday destination for seaside breaks. Even in July and August the North Sea temperature barely exceeds 15°C, yet Newcastle is one of the most popular beach destinations.
Its eastern suburbs have several beautiful beaches ideal for relaxing on warm, sunny days.
Some beaches are lined with promenades with restaurants and cafes - for example, the longest Whitley Beach or Long Sands Beach - others boast photogenic settings and clifftop locations, such as Cullercoats Beach.
Culture - museums, concerts and theatres
At the turn of the millennium, Newcastle underwent a transformation from a former industrial city to one of the most important cultural centres in the north of England.
You can visit several important cultural institutions here, which we write about in more detail here:
- Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art - Modern Art in the Old Flour Silo Building
- The Glasshouse - the Concert Hall and Newcastle's most famous modern building
- Life Science Center - an interactive science centre great for children
- Theatre Royal - Northern England's most famous theatre venue
Sights and history
Newcastle's history dates back to BC, when the Romans had dominion over this part of the British Isles.
We've already mentioned the famous Hadrian's Wall above, but there's another Roman fort , Arbeia, in the suburb of South Shields.
The 10 best hotels in Newcastle
But there are many other sights to see in the city. Some of the most famous include these:
- Grey's Monument - The most famous landmark in the city centre
- Newcastle Cathedral - the main Anglican church in the north of England
- Tynemouth Priory and Castle - the remains of a fortified Benedictine monastery on a stunning site above the sea
- St. Mary's Lighthouse - the beautiful former lighthouse, accessible only at low tide
- Newcastle Castle - 12th century castle divided by a railway viaduct
A trip to the historic city of Durham
Just 15 minutes by train from Newcastle Central Station you'll discover the small but significant historic town of Durham.
The magnificent centre sits on a peninsula formed by a meander of the River Wear, and the town's two main monuments are located at its highest point:
The cathedral in particular is one of the most important landmarks in the whole of the UK, with breathtaking views from its 66 metre high tower.
Buy train tickets - thetrainline.com
Surfing
The coastline off Newcastle is very open and big waves often appear off the coast.
That's why Newcastle is one of the UK's favourite destinations for beginner surfers.
The main surf schools, where you can pay for lessons or hire surfboards, are located at Long Sands Beach.
A trip to Northumberland National Park
Take a day trip, or even a few days, to Britain's most remote national park, with the lowest population density and furthest from the big cities.
The landscape of the border between England and Scotland, where the national park is located, is magical, brooding, bleak in bad weather and inspiring in good weather.
The gently rounded hilltops offer far-reaching views of vast pastures, meadows and forests.
Northumberland National Park is the least visited of Britain's 13 parks, so you often won't see anyone on the footpaths during the day.
The National Park is located approximately 35km north-east of Newcastle and, due to its very low population density and therefore lack of good public transport, is best reached by hire car.
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