Newcastle upon Tyne

Tyne Bridge and The Sage

Newcastle upon Tyne is a port city in the North East of England. It has a population of 250,000 but including the surrounding urban area its population is almost 1 million. It has among the best nightlife in all of Britain, and has a distinct Geordie vernacular.

Understand

Newcastle is a lively and diverse city, known for its nightlife, art, music and sports. Compact, attractive and friendly, it is one of England's core cities and is a centre of culture, architecture and business. Newcastle is a starting point for tours of the Northumberland coast and Hadrian's Wall. The city is also home to the Geordie culture, with a rich heritage of folk music and dance and its own dialect.

History

Newcastle was founded around 2,000 years ago as a Roman fort called Pons Aelius along Hadrian's Wall, a ruin of which remains at Segedunum, a short walk from Wallsend Metro station. The city developed into an important port and was at the centre of the Industrial Revolution during the 18th and 19th centuries. As heavy industry declined, Newcastle's fortunes took a dip. The city has now re-invented itself as a cultural centre and Science City, and is possibly one of the trendiest places in the UK.

Climate

Newcastle upon Tyne
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       56     6 1       39     7 1       51     9 2       52     11 3       50     15 6       55     17 9       45     20 11       61     20 11       58     17 9       57     13 6       62     9 3       59     7 2 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm See the 5 day forecast for Newcastle at the Met Office
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       2.2     43 34       1.5     45 34       2     48 36       2     52 37       2     59 43       2.2     63 48       1.8     68 52       2.4     68 52       2.3     63 48       2.2     55 43       2.4     48 37       2.3     45 36 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Tourist information

All tourist information centres have been closed down, and tourists are requested to do research online instead. It's a good thing you found Wikivoyage!

There is a tourist information kiosk near the check-in hall at Newcastle Airport.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Newcastle International Airport (NCL  ^IATA) (10 km (6.2 mi) north-west of the city). Flights are available to the interchange hubs of Heathrow-British Airways, Amsterdam-KLM and EasyJet, Paris-Air France/CityJet, Dubai-Emirates and a lesser extent Brussels-Brussels Airlines and Copenhagen-SAS. There are domestic services operated by easyJet and Eastern Airways, as well as low-cost carrier flights to Ireland and many European cities such as Nice, Barcelona and Rome. (updated Oct 2021)

Travel options into the city centre include:

• Most travellers find that the Tyne and Wear Metro is the best all-round option for getting to the city centre. The journey from the Airport station to the city centre (Haymarket, Monument or Central station) takes about 20-25 minutes and costs £3.40. There is a metro every 12-15 minutes. The first metro leaves the airport M-F at 5:37AM, Sa at 5:42AM, and Su at 6:29AM. The last metro leaves the airport to the city centre at daily 11:12PM. The first metro leaves Central station (city centre) to the airport M-F at 5:58AM, Sa at 6:19AM, and Su at 6:43AM. The last metro leaving from Central station (city centre) to the airport is at daily 11:29PM. The interior of the metro is not wide. If you have big luggage, it may barely squeeze through the aisle on the metro. Your luggage is probably ok if it protrude slightly into the aisle on the first 6 stops heading into the city due to low ridership in this area, but once you get to South Gosforth station and beyond, you may find that your luggage is blocking the way of many passengers.
• Bus services are operated by Stagecoach between the airport and the city centre, but the metro offers a much better service if running.
• Taxis are readily available outside the airport and it costs about £15 to get to the city centre.
• By car the distance to the city centre is 9.7 km (6.0 mi) and takes up to half an hour to get in. There are several car rental firms with offices in the airport terminal building, although you'll generally pay a premium over city rates. See "By car" for car rental listings.

By train

Newcastle Central station

Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

2 Newcastle Central station. Served by three long-distance rail operators:  

• LNER trains frequently connect Newcastle with London King's Cross, Edinburgh and principal destinations between (including York, Doncaster and Peterborough). Some services extend on to Glasgow, Aberdeen or Inverness.
• Cross Country Trains run every 30 minutes from Newcastle to Birmingham via Leeds/Doncaster, Sheffield and the East Midlands. Some services extend on to Reading and the South Coast, or through Bristol to South Wales or South West England. Cross Country also run north of Newcastle to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
• Transpennine Express runs direct services from Newcastle to Leeds, Manchester and Manchester Airport.
• Lumo runs twice Su-F and once Sa from London King's Cross, taking 3 hours non-stop, and continuing to Morpeth and Edinburgh. As a newcomer from Oct 2021 it's much hyped, but see Edinburgh#Get in for the reality check.

The local rail network is operated by Northern Rail, with relatively frequent services to destinations such as Carlisle, Middlesbrough, Hexham and Morpeth.

Newcastle Central Station is also served by the Tyne and Wear Metro system, for frequent services into the Newcastle suburbs, and other destinations in Tyne and Wear.

In the UK, tickets can be bought on the day at the station using cash or debit/credit card, but long-distance tickets are cheaper to book in advance. Times and fares information is available from National Rail, +44 8457 484950, or the station booking office.

By car

Newcastle upon Tyne is well signposted from the north, south and west. The city lies at the joining of the A1 (the main East Coast route from London to Edinburgh) and the A69 (a major east-west route to Carlisle and the M6). The A1 bypasses the city to the west.

There are a number of 'park-and-ride' National Park and Ride Directory points around the city to avoid the hassle of parking in the city centre. From these points, the Metro or bus will take you into the city for between £1 and £3. Otherwise, there are over 10,000 spaces in the city centre, though for stays of more than a few hours this may prove expensive. Generally, parking in the city centre costs between £1 and £2 per hour, while parking about 10 minutes walk from the centre will set you back about £0.50 per hour.

• Alamo Rent A Car, Newcastle Airport, Woolsington (Arrivals Hall), ☏ +61 24 965-0162. M-F 7:30AM-11PM, Sa 9AM 10PM, Su 9AM 1PM. 
• Avis, 7 George Street, Newcastle, NE4 7JL, ☏ +44 870 6086350. M-F 8AM-6PM, Sa 8AM-1PM, closed Sunday. Avis car rentals are also available at the Newcastle airport 
• National, 90 Westmoreland Road, Newcastle, NE1 4DZ, ☏ +44 191 219-9102. M-F 8AM-6PM, Sa 8AM-1PM, closed Sunday. National car rental is also available at the Newcastle airport 

By bus

• 3 Newcastle Coach Station, Churchill St, NE1 4EE (at the southern end of St James' Boulevard, near the Centre for Life, a short walk from the centre of town), ☏ +44 371 781 8181. Ticket office: M-Sa 8:30AM-5PM, Su 9AM-4PM, open 24 hr for coach departures. 5 bay coach station served by National Express (updated Sep 2018)
• Megabus, John Dobson Street (outside the City Library), ☏ +44 900 1600900 (premium rate). Discount coach operator - coaches must be booked in advance. (updated Sep 2018)

By boat

North Shields, 7 miles east of the city centre, has a daily ferry service to Amsterdam in Holland. Special buses run from the Central Station to the ferry terminal and are charged at £3.50 (one way). Much cheaper are local stopping buses to the Royal Quays shopping outlet down the road or the Metro (15-min walk to Meadow Well station).

Taxis are available from outside the Ferry Terminal operated by BlueLine Taxis and EastCoast Taxis. A taxi from the Terminal direct into Newcastle city centre is £11.50 for up to 4 passengers.

Get around

Chained up near Newcastle Civic Centre.

By bicycle

Newcastle is a reasonably cycle-friendly city. There are a number of places to lock a bike up in the city centre and cycle lanes exist (though these are often shared with buses or taxis). A few Metro stations also provide secure storage for bicycles, but only fold-away bicycles are permitted on Metro trains. Unless you're touring the UK on pedal power, the best use for a bike is to explore the Quayside, Ouseburn and Jesmond Dene areas, travel to out-of-town attractions or head off to more distant places such as Whitley Bay and Seaton Sluice on the coast.

The Sustrans National Cycle Network Route 1 (East Coast) passes through Newcastle from the North to the South.

Bicycle hire:

• Tyne Cycles, 19-20 Rudyerd St, North Shields, NE29 6RR, ☏ +44 191 256-2266, tynecycles@aol.com. 
• HUB (also "The Cycle Hub"), Ouseburn, Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE61BU (directly on the left (Eastern) bank of the Ouseburn where it flows into the Tyne), ☏ +44 191 276-7250, enquiries@thecyclehub.org. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa Su 10AM-5PM. A full-service place with a cafe, a shop, a workshop, and a hire with quite a lot of bikes. Definitely expensive, but very good and friendly service: You are really looked after well. half day: ₤15, full day: ₤25. 
• sportsrecycler, 307-312 South Shields Business Works, Henry Robson Way, South Shields, NE33 1RF (roughly opposite Tynemouth), ☏ +44 191 427-4615, trish@sportsrecycler.co.uk. M Tu F & Sa 10:30AM-3PM. A not-for-profit, community-oriented place which is focused on recycling bikes, but also does bicycle hire. It has not been tested by me (the person who made the entry: I arrived in Newcastle on a Wednesday), but sounds friendly and interesting and, likely, more affordable. The website is rather minimalistic, so calling them might be the best option. 

By bus

City Centre

Quaylink services run every few minutes between the city centre and the Newcastle/Gateshead quayside. Single fares are 80p and the distinctive yellow livery makes the service easy to recognise.

Suburbs

There are 2 bus stations in the city: Haymarket with services to the north of the city and Northumberland, and Eldon Square Bus Station mainly serves Gateshead, County Durham and Teesside. Some routes, including virtually all of those operated by Stagecoach, do not use the bus stations and instead use stops on streets in the city centre, such as Pilgrim Street or Blackett Street.

An extensive and efficient network of bus routes radiate out of Newcastle into the surrounding towns and suburbs. Though the services are operated by several different operators they are coordinated by Nexus, Tyne and Wear's transport authority. Maps and timetables can be found on the Nexus website, though it may be easier to use a personalised journey planner such as Traveline.

Bus operators include:

• Arriva North East, 21 Bridge St, Blyth, ☏ +44 167 036-3300. Services to North Tyneside, Northumberland, and the north of Newcastle, as well as one route to Durham and Middlesbrough. (updated Jan 2021)
• Go North East, 117 Queen St, Gateshead, ☏ +44 1207 282288. Services to Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, the Tyne Valley, and County Durham, as well as a coach service to Middlesbrough. (updated Jan 2021)
• Stagecoach Newcastle, Shields Road, Walkergate, ☏ +44 871 200 22 33. Local services around the city, as well as to Wallsend, the MetroCentre, and Ponteland. Stagecoach also provide links to parts of South Tyneside, Sunderland city centre, and Carlisle via Hexham. (updated Jan 2021)

The participating bus operators for the Plusbus ticket are: Stagecoach, Go-North East and Arriva.

By foot

Newcastle city centre is relatively compact and is therefore easy to navigate on foot. Many areas are pedestrianised. Being on the banks of the River Tyne, some areas slope quite steeply. Buses and taxis are fairly cheap and plentiful should this pose a problem.

By metro

The Tyne & Wear Metro is a fast, safe and reasonably cheap way of getting around the city and also to outlying suburbs and surrounding towns including Whitley Bay, Tynemouth, North and South Shields, Sunderland and Newcastle International Airport.

There are two lines: the Green Line runs from Newcastle Airport to South Hylton (in Sunderland) and the Yellow Line runs from St James Park to South Shields via a lengthy loop via the coastal towns of North Shields, Whitley Bay and Tynemouth. Note that the east-west and north-south sections of the Yellow Line cross at Monument Station, so if, for example, you are travelling from St James Park to South Shields, it is much quicker to transfer to the southbound Yellow Line at Monument rather than riding along the entire route. The Green Line shares tracks with the Yellow Line for the majority of the section through central Newcastle and Gateshead.

Schematic map of the Tyne and Wear Metro

Services run approximately every 6–10 minutes between 6AM and 11PM. Single tickets range from £1.80 to £3.40 depending on the distance travelled, return fares and day passes are also available. The DaySaver allows for unlimited travel on one day and costs £2.70 (one zone), £3.70 (two zones) and £4.60 (all zones). Some ticket machines only accept coins (10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2) although change is given; most stations have been fitted with new ticket machines that accept notes and credit/debit cards. Although there are no ticket barriers at many stations, the appropriate fares are still payable , it is advisable to keep your ticket handy as trains and stations are patrolled by ticket inspectors. Major stations have automatic ticket gates, but these may be left open at quiet times.

Smoking is banned on the entire system, including open-air stations. However, this rule is often overlooked and it's not uncommon to see people smoking on the trains, particularly late at night, despite the CCTV surveillance cameras.

The Plusbus ticket is not valid on the Metro.

By train

Regional rail services are regular and offer quicker access to nearby towns such as Durham, Sunderland, Hexham and Corbridge. Details are available from National Rail Enquiries or Northern Rail.

See

Central Arcade

• The River Tyne is a short walk from the station, and has a pedestrian quayside path on the north side reminiscent of the Queen's Walk in London. There are also city walks along the river, running from May to November. Information can be found at the Tourist Information Centre, near the Monument Metro station.
• The Jesmond Dene is an artificial park around the Ouseburn river, somewhat east of the city centre. It was laid out by captain of industry and inventor Lord Armstrong in the 19th century and later donated to the people of Newcastle. Although funding for its maintenance does not seem to be available in abundance, it truly deserves its designation as an area of outstanding natural beauty. Probably the best place to go if you want to escape from the city and relax, weather permitting.
• 1 Tyne Bridge. A good example of a compression arch suspended-deck bridge famous the world over.  
• 2 Gateshead Millennium Bridge , opened in 2001, is a cyclist and pedestrian tilting bridge. It's often called the Blinking or Winking Bridge for the way the footpath deck tilts up to allow river traffic to pass. That's an infrequent occurrence: Gateshead Council lists upcoming tilts.
• Gateshead: the south bank of the Tyne is a separate city, but its main sites are along the riverside a short walk from Newcastle. For instance BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art is by the Millennium Bridge, and Gateshead also has Sage Music Centre, the Athletics Stadium, and Metro shopping centre. Angel of the North stands at the south tip of the city.
• 3 Newcastle Castle, The Black Gate, Castle Garth, ☏ +44 191 230-6300. Daily 10AM-5PM (last admission 4:15PM). Remains of the Castle Keep and the surrounding castle garth, the "new castle" of the city's name. Parts of it were built by Henry II between 1168-1178. The original castle was built by the brother of William the Conqueror in 1067. Some of the outer walls were removed to allow the railway through in the 19th century. Adults £6.50, concessions (students/seniors/unwaged) £5.50, children (5+ years) £3.90. (updated Apr 2015)
• 4 Central Arcade, Grainger Street. A beautifully preserved Victorian shopping arcade, which houses the Tourist Information Bureau and Windows of the Arcade, one of Newcastle's oldest music shops.  
• 5 Grainger Town. The beautiful and historic heart of the city. Based around classical streets built by Richard Grainger between 1835 and 1842, some of Newcastle upon Tyne's finest buildings and streets lie within the Grainger Town area of the City centre including Grainger Market, Theatre Royal, Grey Street, Grainger Street and Clayton Street. Grey Street was voted as England's finest street in 2005 in a survey of BBC Radio 4 listeners.  
• 6 Grey's Monument (At the Monument Metro station). At the heart of Grainger Town is a Grade I listed monument to Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey built in 1838. The wide base of the monument is a popular spot for people-watching, and often acts as a venue for buskers (most notably Apu with their Andean music), religious speakers and political activists/protesters. These days, unfortunately, people tend to crowd around the monument so much it is nigh impossible to view the plaques.  
• 7 St Nicholas Cathedral (Corner of Mosley Street and St Nicholas Street), ☏ +44 191 232-1939. Su-F 7:30AM-6PM; Sa & Bank Holidays 8AM-4PM. The seat of the Bishop of Newcastle. Free (suggested donation £5 for adults). (updated Apr 2015)

St Nicholas Cathedral Chancel

• 8 Chinatown is along Stowell Street, with a Chinese Arch at its north entrance off St Andrews St. Lots of Chinese, Korean and Japanese restaurants and shops, see Eat.

Galleries & museums

Vases by Jon Lewis at The Biscuit Factory

• 9 University Gallery and Baring Wing, Northumbria University, Sandyford Road, Newcastle, NE1 8ST, ☏ +44 191 227-4424, universitygallery@northumbria.ac.uk. M-Th 10AM-5PM; F Sa 10AM-4PM; Su & Bank Holidays and during exhibition changes closed. The gallery was established in 1977 as a teaching gallery and Northumbria University’s link between town and gown, the University Gallery’s policy is to present exhibitions by artists of national and international distinction, as well as less established but promising artists. Admission is free. (updated Apr 2015)
• 10 Great North Museum: Hancock, Barras Bridge NE2 4PT, ☏ +44 191 208 6765. M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 11AM-4PM. Contains fossils, mummies, stuffed animals and local history exhibits. Free. (updated Dec 2021)
• Hatton Gallery, The Quadrangle, Newcastle University NE1 7RH (Opposite Great North museum), ☏ +44 191 277 8877. M-Sa 10AM-5PM. An art gallery founded in 1925 within Newcastle University, and redeveloped in 2017. It has 3500 exhibits from the 14th century to modern work. Free. (updated Dec 2021)
• 11 Seven Stories (National Centre for Children's Books), 30 Lime Street, Ouseburn Valley NE1 2PQ (half a mile east of Manors Metro), ☏ +44 300 330 1095, info@sevenstories.org.uk. Daily 10AM-5PM. Housed in a Victorian mill, Seven Stories is the first gallery and archive in the UK wholly dedicated to the art and production of children's books. There are exhibitions and events for children. £13. (updated Dec 2021)
• 12 The Biscuit Factory, 16 Stoddart Street, NE2 1AN (Metro: Manors, 650 m), ☏ +44 191 261-1103, art@thebiscuitfactory.com. W-Su 10AM-5PM. Britain's biggest original art store is 35,000 square feet with two floors of exhibition space and artist's studios. The commercial gallery sells paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, photography, ceramics, jewellery and glass by contemporary artists hailing from all over the world. Free. (updated Oct 2021)
• Life Science Centre, Times Square NE1 4EP (opposite bus station, west side of railway station), ☏ +44 191 243 8210. Daily 10AM-5PM. Centre for Life is a research facility and within it is an interactive museum covering fields such as genetics, embryology and developmental biology, and climate science. Adult £15, conc £11, child £8. (updated Dec 2021)
• 13 Discovery Museum, Blandford Square NE1 4JA (a block west of Central Station), ☏ +44 191 232 6789. M-F 10AM-4PM, Sa Su 11AM-4PM. Science and engineering museum including Turbinia designed by Sir Charles Parsons in 1894, the world's first turbo-powered ship. Free. (updated Dec 2021)
• 14 Laing Art Gallery, New Bridge St NE1 8AG, ☏ +44 191 278 1611. M-Sa 10AM-4:30PM. Traditional art gallery built in 1901 in sort-of Edwardian Baroque. It has artistic local glass, silverware and ceramics and a notable collection of 18th and 19th century British paintings. (Contemplate the fiery Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah before heading out for a night on the town.) "The Blue Carpet" is the tiled street installation outside, expensively fitted in 2001 but only then did they realise they'd made it green. 20 years of skateboarders and other urban wear and tear have turned it blue-grey. Free. (updated Dec 2021)
• 15 Side Gallery, 5 & 9 Side NE1 3JE, ☏ +44 191 232 2208. W-Su 11AM-5PM. Documentary photography gallery and archive, also has a 50-seater cinema showing independent films. Free. (updated Dec 2021)

Further afield

A scrap of Hadrian's Wall as it re-emerges west of the city at East Denton

• 16 Wallsend is actually Wall's Beginning, as construction of Hadrian's Wall started here in 122 AD and worked west. The Roman fort of Segedunum is next to Mile Zero of the wall and Wallsend's main metro station. (Don't get off at Hadrian Road, a nondescript burb. Some Metro signage is in Latin: have your ticket ready for the vomitorium.) Hadrian's Wall pathway follows the north bank of the Tyne but is entirely modern for 14 miles west, as through Newcastle the ancient route and structures are obliterated.
• Stephenson Railway Museum: see Wallsend, though it's on the boundary with North Shields.
• 17 Tynemouth at the river outflow has a ruined castle and priory.
• The Angel of the North is the 20 m winged sculpture by Antony Gormley. It's at the south edge of Gateshead, at the junction of A1 and A167.
• Hadrian's Wall can be discerned west from Heddon-on-the Wall, though the best parts begin 20 miles further west around Hexham.

Do

• What's on? Read The Crack magazine or the Shows in Newcastle website.
• 1 River Cruises (River Escapes). Mar-Oct: Su; Jun-Sep: Tu Th Sa. Cruise from central Newcastle upriver to the countryside or downriver to the sea, or on a shorter Saturday cruise under the Tyne bridges. 1-hour cruise £6, 3-hour cruise £12. (updated Nov 2016)

Theatre

The Tyne Theatre.

• 2 Theatre Royal, 100 Grey St, ☏ +44 191 244-2500, boxoffice@theatreroyal.co.uk. The theatre is an easy walk from the city centre or the train station (it is closest to the Monument station on the Metro). It opened in 1837, and presents more than 380 performances a year. It is the third home (after London and Stratford-upon-Avon) of the Royal Shakespeare Company, which usually does several shows there in the autumn.  
• 3 Tyne Theatre, 117 Westgate Rd, ☏ +44 191 243 1171. This Grade 1 listed building is both beautiful and functional, with a capacity of up to 1,100. It has played host to an assortment of events from opera to theatre shows, from comedy to pantomimes, concerts to conferences. The theatre opened in 1867. (updated Aug 2017)
• 4 Live Theatre, 27 Broad Chare, Quayside NE1 3DQ, ☏ +44 191 232 1232. Small independent theatre producing new works by writers from the North East. (updated Dec 2021)
• Northern Stage (Gulbenkian Studio Theatre), Barras Bridge NE1 7RH (NU campus next to Hatton Gallery), ☏ +44 191 230 5151. This has three performance spaces and hosts various independent productions. (updated Dec 2021)
• 5 People's Theatre, Stephenson Road, Heaton NE6 5QF, ☏ +44 191 265 5020, venuemanager@peoplestheatre.co.uk. Long-established amateur theatre company with 500-seat auditorium and 90-seat studio. (updated Dec 2021)

Music venues

Sage Music Centre

• See Gateshead for Sage Music Centre. It's easiest accessed from Newcastle by walking across the low-level swing bridge.
• 6 Metro Radio Arena, Arena Way, ☏ +44 844 493 4567. This is the largest music venue in Newcastle actering for 12,000 during concerts, situated in the south of the city centre near the Centre for Life.  
• 7 O2 Academy Newcastle, Westgate Rd, ☏ 0905 020 3999 (premium rate), boxoffice@o2academynewcastle.co.uk. A large venue featuring big-name musical acts from the UK and around the globe.  
• 8 Newcastle City Hall, Northumberland Road, ☏ +44 191 277-8030. A venue right in the heart of the city hosting concerts, comedy acts and musicals. (updated Aug 2018)
• Northumbria and Newcastle University have large venues in their unions' for mainstream and indie acts alike and attract some of the biggest names from across the UK and abroad.
• For smaller, indie gigs check out Head of Steam, The Cluny and Tyne Bar

Events

• 9 The Hoppings, Town Moor. every June. The largest travelling fair in Europe, taking place most years in late June. (updated Apr 2018)
• The annual MELA held every August bank holiday weekend is a celebration of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi cuisine, music and art.
• The city hosts popular Chinese New Year celebrations every year.
• At Christmas the city centre has decorations, the large department store Fenwick hosts a famous window display and there is a Continental Christmas Market.
• The city hosts a summer gay pride event called Northern Pride.
• Great North Run is a half marathon, staged between Newcastle and South Shields in September. The next is 10 Sept 2022.

Sport

• Watch football: Newcastle United play at 10 St James Park, half a mile north of the railway station. They play soccer in the Premier League, England's top tier. Since Oct 2021 they are by some distance the world's richest club, having being bought by the Saudi Arabian sovereign investment fund. Great things are expected of them once this largesse translates into talent on the field.
• Watch Rugby Union (15-a-side) at Newcastle Falcons. They were promoted in 2020 so they now play in the Premiership, the top tier of English rugby union. Their home ground is 11 Kingston Park in the north of the city.
• Watch Rugby League (13-a-side) at Newcastle Thunder, who also play at Kingston Park. They're in the Championship, that game's second tier; the RL season is Mar-Sept.
• Watch basketball at Newcastle Eagles who play at Northumbria University's "Sport Central".
• 12 Newcastle Racecourse is in the north of the city at High Gosforth Park NE3 5HP. It's an artificial Tapeta surface, with flat-racing held year-round and jumps races Oct-March. It's a mile north of South Gosforth metro station.
• Watch motorcycle speedway at Newcastle Diamonds. Their home track is 13 Brough Park Stadium in Byker in the city's east end.
• Go to the dog track, also at Brough Park - the dogs chase round the outer track, the bikes race within.
• Watch athletics at 14 Gateshead International Stadium, south of the river with its own Metro station. This multi-use stadium hosts other events, and its sports facilities can be used by members.
• Watch cricket at 15 Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street, 10 miles south. This is home to Durham County Cricket Club, one of the 18 "First Class Counties", the top tier of English cricket. County matches normally last 3-4 days. The stadium also hosts international or "Test Matches", lasting up to five days. The stadium is 200 yards from the railway station, frequent trains take ten minutes from Newcastle.

Cinema

• 16 Cineworld, The Gate, Newgate St NE1 5TG, ☏ +44 330 333 4444. Chain multiplex showing mainstream releases. (updated Dec 2021)
• 17 Tyneside Cinema, 10 Pilgrim St NE1 6QG, ☏ +44 191 227 5500. Art-deco cinema with 3 screens showing independent and mainstream films. (updated Dec 2021)
• Everyman, 75 Grey St NE1 6EF, ☏ +44 1233 555642. Delightful salon-style cinema where you recline on sofas and are served food and drink. Obviously that's reflected in the ticket prices. Adult £13, child £9. (updated Dec 2021)
• Side Cinema is within Side Gallery, see above.
• 18 Star and Shadow, Warwick Street NE2 1BB (by City Stadium), ☏ +44 191 261 8315, info@starandshadow.org.uk. Volunteer-run indie cinema and performance venue. (updated Dec 2021)
• Odeon is in the Metrocentre (see Buy) in Gateshead. Vue Cinema is in central Gateshead.

Learn

There are two universities and a college in Newcastle:

• 1 Newcastle University, ☏ +44 191 222-6000. One of the most important and respected universities in the UK and Europe, near the city centre. An easy walk from the Haymarket metro station, their small Museum of Antiquities is open to the public.  
• 2 Northumbria University, ☏ +44 191 232-6002. The Poly; with more of a focus on vocational courses such as fashion, design and IT, also near the city centre. It also incorporates Newcastle Business School. The Northumbria University Student Union is a popular venue for visiting bands.  
• 3 Newcastle College, ☏ +44 191 200-4000. A large campus on Rye Hill in the Elswick area west of the city centre. It features purpose built facilities for engineering, sport, performing arts, food and leisure, science as well as various A level courses.  

Work

As with the rest of the UK, European Union nationals have the right to work without a UK work permit, but most other nationalities require one. There are a lot of call centres in and around Newcastle which provide an easy supply of short term work. You may find employment in Newcastle's many pubs, clubs and bars.

Buy

Newcastle is the top shopping destination in the North East with a multitude of shops ranging from high-street department stores to designer boutiques.

• 1 Northumberland Street. Newcastle's main shopping street (pedestrian zone) is known as the "Oxford Street of the North." Shops include Next, HMV, Marks and Spencer and the flagship Fenwick department store, the most successful independent department store outside London. Outside of the capital, the area is the most expensive place to own a shop.  
• Old George Yard, ☏ +44 191 281-0609. Features design stores and vintage clothing shops. 
• Ophelia Boutique, 3a Clayton Road, Jesmond, ☏ +44 191 281-0609. A boutique that offers fine cashmere clothing and luxury lingerie. 
• 2 Grainger Market. M W 9AM-PM; Tu Th-Sa 9AM-5:30PM; Su closed. A restored indoor market dating from 1835. It is a lively working market that includes the Victorian Marks & Spencer.  
• 3 Eldon Square. Shopping centre is in the centre of Newcastle, boasting a wide array of shops. Home to John Lewis and a wide range of smaller chain stores. (updated Dec 2021)
• 4 Metro Centre. A 15-minute bus or train ride from the city centre to Gateshead. Constructed in the 1980s and expanded in the early 1990s and again in 2005, this is Europe's largest shopping centre and leisure complex. Flagship stores include Marks and Spencer and House of Fraser. Parking here is plentiful and free, but traffic can be heavy, so make use of the frequent public transport links. Despite its name, the Metro Centre is not served by the Tyne and Wear Metro, only by national rail. (updated Jan 2021)
• 5 Royal Quays. An outdoor complex consisting of outlet stores in nearby North Shields with a range of shops. It is accessible by walking from the Meadow Well Metro station, but has good bus services and is next to the Ferry Terminal.  
• Farmer's Market (At Grey's Monument). An outdoor food market with local products that are raised, grown or produced within 50 miles of the location of the market. First Friday every month 9:30AM-2:30PM. (updated Apr 2015)
• There are five department stores: Fenwick (one of the largest department stores outside of London), John Lewis (still popularly referred to as Bainbridge's), Marks & Spencer and TJ Hughes.

Eat

Chinatown is along Stowell St, and Bigg Market has an eclectic mix of eateries. The Quayside and Central Station areas have plenty more.

Budget

• 1 Francesca's, 134-136 Manor House Road, Jesmond NE2 2NA, ☏ +44 191 281 6586. M-Sa noon-2:30PM, 5PM-9:30PM. Friendly budget Italian. (updated Dec 2021)
• Pani's Cafe, 61-65 High Bridge NE1 6BX, ☏ +44 191 232 4366. M-F noon-3PM, 5PM-9PM, Sa noon-10PM. Budget Italian specialising in Sardinian. (updated Dec 2021)
• Uno's, 18 Sandhill NE1 3AF, ☏ +44 191 261 5264. Daily noon-10PM. Cheerful trattoria on Quayside. (updated Dec 2021)
• El Coto, 21 Leazes Park Rd NE1 4PF, ☏ +44 191 261 0555. Daily 11AM-11PM. Lively tapas restaurant near the football stadium. (updated Dec 2021)
• Lau's Buffet King, 92-98 Newgate Street,, ☏ +44 191 261-8868. Daily 11:45AM-10:30PM. Chinese all-you-can-eat buffet, offering a choice of over 60 dishes. 
• Zapatista Burrito Bar, 28 Ridley Place NE1 8JW, ☏ +44 191 261 7769. M-Sa 11AM-8PM, Su 11:30AM-7PM. Good quality Mexican, great value. There's another branch within County Hotel by the station. (updated Dec 2021)
• Pizza Express, 7 St George's Way NE1 7JD (within Eldon Sq Shopping Centre), ☏ +44 191 232 3228. Daily 11:30AM-9PM. Reasonably priced Italian chain. (updated Dec 2021)

Mid-range

• Zizzi, 42 Grey St NE1 6AE, ☏ +44 191 261 8360. Daily 11:30AM-11PM. Reliable mid-price Italian chain. (updated Dec 2021)
• Marco Polo, 33 Dean St NE1 1PQ, ☏ +44 191 232 5533, manager@marcopolonewcastle.com. M-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight. Stylish and popular Italian. (updated Dec 2021)
• Khai Khai opened in 2021 is Indian at 29 Queen St, open M-F 12:30-2:30PM, 5-10:30PM, Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-9:30PM.

Splurge

• Blackfriar's Restaurant, Friars St NE1 4XN, ☏ +44 191 261 5945. M-F noon-2:30PM, 5:30PM-10PM, Sa 09:30AM-10PM, Su 09:30-4PM. Great reviews for what may be the UK's oldest restaurant. You sit at long tables in a 13th-century monastery refectory, and consume better monkfish than ever the locally-sourced Black Friars got to eat. (updated Dec 2021)
• Sachins, Forth Banks NE1 3SG (south side of Central station), ☏ +44 191 232 4660, info@sachins.co.uk. M-Sa noon-1:30PM, 5PM-9:30PM. Upscale Punjabi restaurant, gets very busy with the post-match crowd. (updated Dec 2021)
• 21, Trinity Gardens, Quayside NE1 2HH, ☏ +44 191 222 0755. Tu-Sa noon-2:30PM, 5:30PM-9PM. Slick restaurant serving quality British and French bistro food. The same group runs Café 21 within Fenwick's on Northumberland St. (updated Dec 2021)
• Landmark Oriental, 20 Stowell St NE1 4YB, ☏ +44 191 261 0882. Tu-Th 5PM-9PM, F Sa noon-2:30PM, 5PM-9:30PM, Su noon-8PM. Great reviews for this high-class Chinese restaurant and bar in Chinatown. (updated Dec 2021)
• And see Sleep for Jesmond Dene House.

Drink

A pint of beer.

Newcastle is (in)famous for its culture of social drinking, and is a popular destination for hen and stag parties, hence all the friendly-mad people dressed-up in fancy dress in the middle of Winter. No trip to Nukie would be complete with a night out on the Toon.

The Bigg Market, the Quayside and the Central Station area with its "Diamond Strip" of new upmarket bars, are the centres of nocturnal activity in Newcastle, though you'll find a wealth of bars and pubs all around the city. Popular clubs include Digital in Times Square, Liquid/Envy near Northumberland Street and Tiger Tiger in The Gate leisure complex.

Newcastle is home to rather commercialised Newcastle Brown Ale, called by the locals Broon, Nukie or 'Dog'. There are a significant number of less well-known breweries producing real ale that is widely available and of good quality. Local bewers to look out for include Mordue, Wylam and Big Lamp.

Bigg Market

A no-holds-barred area where you won't find much in the way of culture, but you will find a lot in the way of drink. A selection of bars are as follows:

• City Vaults, 11-13 Bigg Market, City Centre, ☏ +44 191 221-0850. M-W-Th-Su noon-1AM, Tu-F-Sa noon-3AM. This spacious club features three bars, different music in different rooms, and big screens for showing football on match days. Topless dancers and scantily clad bar staff abound. As if all that wasn't enough, they serve food, including sandwiches, burgers, salads, and curries. £2-5. 
• Idols, Newgate Shopping Centre, ☏ +44 191 232-3887. M-Th 8PM-midnight, F Sa 7PM-2AM (may change due to football), Su 8PM-12:30AM. Tucked away downstairs in the shopping centre, the main attraction at the bar are the girls dancing on it. After a couple of discount cocktails and some retro music to get you in the mood, you might feel like joining them. If you can take your eyes off the singing, dancing staff, you can watch football. Idols shows every Newcastle United game live. £1-3. 
• Pop World, 14 Bigg Market, ☏ +44 191 232-0058. M and W-Th 7PM-11:30PM, F 7PM-1AM, Sa 7PM-2AM, Su 7PM-12:30AM, closed Tu. Disgustingly awful 
• Rewind, 31 Groat Market, ☏ +44 191 261-0924. M-Th 7-11PM, F 7PM-1AM, Sa 7PM-2AM, Su 7PM-12:30AM. This popular, seductively lit and stylishly furnished bar features a different soundtrack practically every night, with DJs playing anything from 1980s hits to indie music. £1-3. 

Central Station

Central Station is the central stop to start out a night of drinking.

• Centurion, Neville St (in Central Station), ☏ +44 191 261-6611. Daily 10AM-late. An impressively designed bar and restaurant set in the restored Victorian lounge of the Central Station, the Centurion is a favourite stop for commuters. Live sports on a drop-down big screen. Choose from the bustling Grand Room Bar or the more intimate Grants Bar. £5-10. 
• Floritas, Collingwood St, ☏ +44 191 230-4114. M-Sa 11AM-2:30AM, Su noon-midnight. Miami-style beach party kitsch comes to Newcastle. Frequent live music including funk, house, R&B, and soul. Big garden area for BBQs and lounging, a welcoming island feel, and tropical cocktails served in real pineapples, coconuts and watermelons. £3-6. 
• 1 Revolution, Collingwood St, ☏ +44 191 261-8901. M-Th 11:30AM-1AM, F Sa 11:30AM-2AM, Su noon-1AM. This spacious, ultra-modern vodka bar will impress you with its architecture (pillars, high sculpted ceiling, stainless steel bar and huge windows) as well as its selection of flavored vodkas and cocktails. Dress is "smart casual", which means no baseball caps or hoodies. Music ranges from pop to indie to R&B to house. £4-8. 
• 2 The Bodega, 125 Westgate Road, City Centre (next-door to the Tyne Theatre), ☏ +44 191 221-1552. M-Th 11AM-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-10:30PM. A beautiful victorian pub with ornate stained glass domes, friendly bar staff and a great selection of real ales and premium lagers. 
• 3 The Forth Hotel, 17-23 Pink Lane, City Centre (near to St Mary's Church and Central Station), ☏ +44 191 232-6478. M-W noon-11PM, Th-Sa noon-1AM, Su noon-midnight. A popular and cosy pub with a great selection of real ales, imported beers and wines. Food served M-Sa noon til 10PM & Sunday noon til 9:30PM, Sunday Roasts served all day. DJs Th-Su. 
• 4 The Head of Steam, 2 Neville St (50 yards from Central Station), ☏ +44 191 230-4236. Su-Th noon–2:30AM, F Sa noon-3:30AM. On the first floor, you'll find a wide selection of real ales, lagers, cider, wine and spirits in a comfortable atmosphere. In the basement, which holds something like up to 50 people, is a live music venue showcasing up-and-coming bands on most nights. Stop in for a pint and you might hear the next band to make it big. The cover charge is usually £4-5. As of July 2015, it was no longer possible to get tickets in advance except via seetickets.com, but events apparently sell out only rarely, so simply showing up is usually safe. £2-5. 
• The Telegraph, Orchard St (on the corner of Orchard Street and Forth Street, behind Central Station), ☏ +44 191 261-8991. M-Sa 11AM-midnight, Su noon-10:30PM. A local favourite at the back of the station, with a great roof terrace for sunny days, they serve beers, cocktails, wines and food. DJs Thursday- Sunday, live bands on Wednesdays, and occasional Monday quiz nights. 
• 5 Tilleys, 105 Westgate Rd (next-door to the Tyne Theatre), ☏ +44 191 232-0692. Su-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight. A traditional, but modern pub, with a huge selection of real ales, craft and premium lagers and ciders. The food is very good, with the menu consisting of standard pub fare such as burgers, fish and chips, sausage and mash, chilli, along with sandwiches and wraps. DJs play a mix of Rock'n'Roll, Blues, Soul and Funk at the weekend. The pub also has regular free film screenings from its extensive DVD collection. 
• Tokyo, 17 Westgate Rd (opposite the station), ☏ +44 191 232-1122. M-Th 4PM-midnight, F 4PM-1AM, Sa 1PM-1AM, Su 1PM-midnight. A stylish, modern venue with an elegant rooftop garden bar and a good selection of cocktails, spirits, wines and beers. Gamblers will love their "dice club", 4-8PM nightly. Roll an even number and win 2 drinks for the price of one; roll a six and win a free round! £4-6. 
• 6 The Mile Castle, 19–25 Westgate Road & Grainger Street. One of 4 Wetherspoon's pubs in the city centre. Large 3 storey bar with food - big enough to find a seat at the weekend. Pints from £2.50, meals from £5.. (updated Sep 2018)

Quayside

A pub crawl favourite among young revellers, Quayside is packed full of bars, including:

• The Quilted Camel, 36 Sandhill. F Sa 6PM-1AM. A renovated cocktail bar providing around 30 cocktails. Quirky interior that includes several very unusual decorations such as a marble statue from a European church among others. £3-5. 
• 7 The Bridge Tavern, 7 Akenside Hill, ☏ +44 191 261-9966. A great craft brewpub: reasonably priced and always busy. 10+ taps on the bar which change regularly. Food served as well. Situated directly under the Tyne bridge, hence the name. 
• Flynn's Bar and Diner, 63 Quayside, ☏ +44 191 232-7218. M-F noon-3PM & 5-11PM, Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-6PM. With three bars, this pub is known for its cheap trebles and is often overrun with stag/hen parties. It has had a number of run ins with the licencing authorities and is best avoided £4-6. 
• Pitcher & Piano, 108 The Quayside, ☏ +44 191 232-4110. M-Th 11AM-midnight, F 11AM-1AM, Sa 10AM-2AM, Su 10AM-midnight. An extensive list of beers, wines, shooters and cocktails made with fresh ingredients. The glass fronted building has two floors and a rooftop terrace, perfect for gazing out at the river and the Millennium Bridge. DJs and occasional live music, too. £5-8. 
• The Akenside Traders, 3 Akenside Hill, ☏ +44 191 230-3465. M-Th 5PM-11PM, F 11AM-1AM, Sa 10:30-1AM, Su 10:30AM-11PM. A chilled out pub during the week with a small group of regulars, this bar becomes a wild party at weekends. There's a good view of the river and Guild Hall from the front, and a DJ provides the music. A great spot for watching live sports on weekdays. 
• The Crown Posada, 31 The Side, ☏ +44 191 232-1269. M-W noon-11PM, Th 11AM-11PM, F 11AM-midnight, Sa noon-midnight, Su 7PM-10:30PM. One of Newcastle's oldest bars, dating back to 1880. It's a well-preserved room, long and narrow, with stained glass windows and a gorgeous wood-paneled ceiling. A gramophone in back cranks out vintage tunes, and it's a great place to try real ales from local breweries. 
• Thirty 3i8ht, Exchange Buildings (corner of Queen Street and Lombard Street, near the Monument station), ☏ +44 191 261-6463. M-Sa 10AM-1AM, Su noon-1AM. New management guarantees it will be badly run £3-5. 

Ouseburn

A few laid-back alternative bars are based here:

• The Cluny, 36 Lime St, ☏ +44 191 230-4474. M-W 11:30AM-11PM, Th 11:30AM-midnight, F Sa 11:30-1AM, Su noon-10:30PM. Local and national live bands nearly every night, with styles from jazz to rock and admission from free to £15. A great range of real ales and lagers, and an art gallery off of the main bar showcasing local artists. £4-6. 
• The Free Trade Inn, St. Lawrence Rd, ☏ +44 191 265-5764. M-Th 11AM-11PM, Sa 11AM-midnight, Su noon-11PM. A cosy, traditional pub overlooking the Tyne, with an excellent selection of beers including 8 real ales that vary weekly. A free jukebox supplies the music, and a local deli supplies fresh sandwiches. With two small beer gardens, the river views are the best around. £4-6. 
• The Tyne, Mailing St, ☏ +44 191 265-2550. M-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-10:30PM. A down-to-earth bar a little way out of the centre, where the Tyne meets the Ouseburn. Taste a selection of real ales from local independent breweries and enjoy their beer garden, which is tucked beneath Glasshouse Bridge. Shelter from the bridge makes it a great place to drink, even in rainy weather. There are even customer-controlled heat lamps! Free live music at weekends, and bands in the garden during summer. £4-6. 
• The Cumberland Arms. Very possibly the best pub in Newcastle. Stands on the hill overlooking the Ouseburn. Great ales, a roaring fire and live music and events. Large outside seating area with heaters. 

Jesmond

A trendy area, with many bars connected to hotels and what tends to be a more upmarket local clientele.

• Bar Berlise, 102 Osborne Rd (part of the Cairn Hotel), ☏ +44 191 281-1358. M-Th 5PM-11PM, F Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10:30PM. A tiny bar that can be one of the quieter bars on the strip, it features a Happy Hour Machine and two large plasma screens for football & rugby games. £4-8. 
• Bar Blanc, 38-42 Osborne Rd (part of Whites Hotel), ☏ +44 191 281-5126. M-Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10:30PM. Connected to an Indian restaurant and attracting a younger crowd of locals and hotel guests, shiny decor and a large outside seating area gives Bar Blanc a cosmopolitan feel. £4-8. 
• Bar Polo, 61 Osborned Rd (above Scalini's), ☏ +44 191 240-7777. M-Th 5-11PM, F Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10:30PM. A cosy wine and cocktail bar with a Mediterranean feel and Mediterranean appetiser platters to share. £4-6. 
• Osbornes, 61-69 Osborne Rd (part of the New Northumbria Hotel), ☏ +44 191 240-7778. M-F noon-11PM, Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-10:30PM. This very spacious bar shows live sports on widescreen TVs and has an outdoor beer garden. £4-8. 
• The Lonsdale, Lonsdale Terrace, ☏ +44 191 281-0039. M-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-11PM. A traditional pub with a relaxed atmosphere. Quiz nights, digital juke box, and monthly live music. £2-4. 
• The Bar at the Brandling, Brandling Village, ☏ +44 191 281-0067. M-Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10:30PM. Popular with students and pretty much everyone else thanks to its great prices, happy hour games, and the fact that it's a great pre-party option. £3-5. 
• Collingwood Arms. Situated in the Brandling Village area of Jesmond it has an oldy worldy feel and does fantastic ales as well as the standard booze. Good if you're fed up of Osborne Road, i.e. drinking off a hangover! 
• Brandling Arms (Next to the Collingwood). Has a massive beer garden and great food at reasonable prices. 

Centre for Life/Pink Triangle

Newcastle has a thriving gay scene around the Centre for Life and the Metro Radio Arena. The pubs and clubs in this area are generally lively, colourful and friendly to all persuasions.

• @ne, 1 Marlborough Crescent, ☏ +44 191 260-3841. Daily 11AM-1AM. This trendy bar features live musicians and DJs, plus wonderful two-for-one drink deals Sunday-Thursday evenings. During the day, it's a great place to stop for a coffee and take advantage of free internet access. £3-6. 
• Baron and Baroness, Times Square, ☏ +44 191 233-0414. M-Sa 11AM-1:30AM, Su 11AM-midnight. There are organ pipes above the bar, but the Gothic feel stops with the decor. DJs play a wide array of music nightly, and there's plenty of room for dancing. Quieter during the day, it's favoured by visitors to the Centre for Life. There's also a large seating area outside in Times Square. £3-6. 
• Eclipse, 48 Clayton St, ☏ +44 191 230-2795, eclipse@thedogandeclipse.co.uk. Daily 11AM-12:30AM. Formerly Heroes, this bar has been given a head-to-toe makeover, including shiny wood floors. A handful of beers on tap and a decent selection of cocktails and bottled beers. A massive selection of hot & cold food is served daily until 4PM. £2-5. 
• Powerhouse, 7-19 Westmorland Rd, ☏ +44 191 261-5348. M 11PM-3:30AM, Tu-W closed, Th 11:30PM-3:30AM, F 11PM-4AM, Sa 11PM-6AM, Su 11:30PM-3:30AM. Newcastle's longest running and biggest gay dance club, with four floors of music from the 1990s to disco and more. Admission is £6-10. £3-6. 
• The Dog And Parrot, 52 Clayton St West, ☏ +44 191 261-6998. M-W noon-11:30PM, F-Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-10:30PM. Newcastle's indie rock n' roll bar, dedicated to good live music and good cheap drinks. They host local bands with fantastic haircuts, as well as quiz nights and an award-winning comedy night. £2-5. 

Other assorted bars

Beyond the main pub crawl destinations, there are plenty of bars and pubs all over Newcastle, including:

• Bacchus, 42-48 High Bridge, ☏ +44 191 261-1008. M-Th 11:30AM-11PM, F Sa 11:30AM-midnight, Su 7PM-10:30PM. This pub gives a nod to Tyneside's old shipbuilding days with its ocean liner decor. A long drink list includes wines, cask ales and microbrews. Popular with the after-work crowd. £3-8. 
• Bar 55, ☏ +44 191 230-5569. Su-Th noon-midnight, F Sa noon-1AM. Dance floor, juke box, lots of outdoor seating and multiple TVs! £3-7. 
• The Five Swans, 14 St Mary's Pl, ☏ +44 191 211-1140. Daily 8AM-11PM. Formerly Luckies Corner Bar, enlargened and renovated into a large, pleasant looking pub that is now part of the JD Weatherspoons chain, offering value for money drinks and food. £2-5. 
• The Hancock, 2a Hancock St, ☏ +44 191 281-5653. M-W 11:30AM-11PM, Th-Sa 11:30AM-1AM, Su noon-10:30PM. At this student bar next to both universities, you'll find multiple juke boxes, pool tables, big screen TVs and game machines, plus an array of DJs four nights a week. £2-6. 
• The Strawberry, 7-8 Strawberry Pl (opposite St James' Park), ☏ +44 191 232-6865. hours vary. The pub generally opens 11AM-11PM, but can open as early as 9AM if Newcastle United have a lunchtime kick off. The pub also has licence to remain open until 2AM, though it rarely does. Directly opposite the Gallowgate End of St James' Park, this friendly pub is a shrine to Newcastle United, displaying a huge amount of club memorabilia from down the years. Naturally, it is packed when Newcastle play at home with a great atmosphere. Non matchdays find it a little quieter, though still popular. As well as real ales, bar meals are also available. The pub has big screen TVs, a jukebox, pool table and a roof terrace. £2-5. 
• The Trent House, 1-2 Leazes Ln, ☏ +44 191 261-2154. M-Sa noon-11PM, Su 6-11PM. Close to the City Centre and Newcastle University. A great selection of real ales, beers and spirits, but most famous for their free jukebox playing soul, rock and 1970s music. Pub-goers can even suggest tracks online to be added to the jukebox's playlist! Very busy when Newcastle are playing football at home. £2-5. (updated Oct 2016)
• World Headquarters. Great place to go clubbing for the night with cheap drinks and a crazy audience who are up for it. 

Sleep

And see Gateshead accommodation south bank of the river

Budget

• 1 Albatross Hostel, 51 Grainger St NE1 5JE, ☏ +44 191 233 1330, info@albatrossnewcastle.co.uk. Large youth hostel in a former bank near Central Station. Basic but clean, 24 hr reception. Dorm from £17 ppn. (updated Dec 2021)
• Jurys Inn, Scotswood Rd NE1 4AD (west side of station), ☏ +44 191 201 4400. Boxy modern hotel, cleanliness erratic. They have another in Gateshead. B&B double £60. (updated Dec 2021)
• Premier Inn Quayside, Quayside NE1 3AE, ☏ +44 333 321 1347. Budget chain offering, very central, a bit grubby. They also have two other city hotels, one in Gateshead, one at Metro Centre and two next to the airport. Double (room only) £70. (updated Dec 2021)
• 2 Rooms Inn, 40 West Parade NE4 7LB, ☏ +44 191 273 3034. Basic hotel in a residential area, value for what you're paying. Double (room only) £45. (updated Dec 2021)
• 3 Village Hotel Newcastle, Cobalt Business Park, West Allotment NE27 0BY (Exit A19 onto A191), ☏ +44 191 270 1414. Comfy place with pool and gym, just off eastern bypass. B&B double £90. (updated Dec 2021)
• Hansen Hotel, 131 Sandyford Road NE2 1QR, ☏ +44 191 281 0289, hansenhotel2002@hotmail.co.uk. Small budget hotel near Jesmond metro station. Poor reviews in 2021. (updated Dec 2021)
• 4 YHA Hostel, 17 Carliol Square. Hostel with dormitories, private rooms and cafe. There is no self-catering kitchen. (updated Dec 2021)

Mid-range

• Britannia Hotel, Ponteland NE13 8DJ (by the airport), ☏ +44 871 222 0028. A business hotel equipped with wireless internet and a 400-person conference hall. Double (room only) £40. (updated Dec 2021)
• Holiday Inn Express, Waterloo Square, St James Blvd NE1 4DN (west side of station), ☏ +44 191 224 685, fax: +44 870 428 1477, info@expressnewcastle.co.uk. Comfy central place, pet-friendly. Parking is in the public multi-storey. B&B double £50. (updated Dec 2021)
• 5 Hotel Novotel Newcastle Airport, Ponteland Road, Kenton NE3 3HZ (junction of A1 and A696, three miles from airport), ☏ +44 191 214 0303, H1118@accor.com. In 2021 this is acting as asylum-seeker accommodation. (updated Dec 2021)
• Royal Station Hotel, Neville St NE1 5DH (at Central Station), ☏ +44 191 232 0781, info@royalstationhotel.com. Opened by Prince Albert and Queen Victoria in 1858, this is a grand old Victorian railway hotel. Modern interior, gets good scores for comfort and service. B&B double £90. (updated Dec 2021)
• County Hotel (formerly Thistle), Neville Street NE1 5DF (by Central Station), ☏ +44 191 731 6670. Comfy place in Victorian pile, very central, the downside is street noise and lack of parking. B&B double £80. (updated Dec 2021)
• Travelodge (Newcastle Central), Forster Street, Quayside NE1 2NH, ☏ +44 871 984 6164. Reliable chain hotel, inevitably they get a lot of stag and hen parties. Travelodge have two other central sites plus one in Gateshead and three further out by racecourse, airport and Seaton Burn. Double (room only) £80. (updated Dec 2021)
• Vermont Hotel, Castle Garth, Quayside NE1 1RQ (by castle), ☏ +44 191 233 1010. Decent central mid-price hotel. They don't accept stag / hen parties. B&B double £120. (updated Dec 2021)

Splurge

• Copthorne Hotel, The Close, Quayside NE1 3RT (one block south of station), ☏ +44 191 222-0333, sales.newcastle@milleniumhotels.co.uk. Good central hotel with river views, some railway noise. B&B double £110. (updated Oct 2021)
• 6 Grey Street Hotel, 2-12 Grey St NE1 6EE, ☏ +44 191 230 6777, fax: +44 191 230 6888, enquiries@greystreethotel.com. Great value in this central hotel on elegant Grey St. B&B double £145. (updated Oct 2021)
• 7 Jesmond Dene House, Jesmond Dene Rd NE2 2EY, ☏ +44 191 212 3000, info@jesmonddenehouse.co.uk. A leafy boutique hotel, great reviews for service, comfort and cuisine. B&B double £160. (updated Oct 2021)
• 8 Malmaison, 104 Quayside NE1 3DX, ☏ +44 191 389 8627, theteam@malmaison.com. Smart upscale hotel, very central. B&B double £160. (updated Oct 2021)

Connect

As of July 2021, Newcastle has 5G from EE and 4G from the other UK carriers.

Stay safe

Newcastle is generally quite a safe city to stay in. As with all other cities around the world, one needs only to use one's common sense and to keep a low profile. Beware of the usual nuisance of petty theft in crowded places. The whole city can get rowdy on Fridays and Saturdays but is still quite safe. Take care after a big football match; though there has been no significant violence for some years, emotions tend to run high amongst supporters. It is a good idea not to wear the colours of Sunderland football club when in central Newcastle, and vice-versa so as not to attract any unwanted attention. Also, confusing a Geordie and a Mackem (a Sunderlander) could potentially lead to some abuse and is easily done.

Still, the crime in this city is generally lower than other cities the same size in Britain, but some inner-city areas in the west and east ends are best avoided at night, but those areas are far from any tourist attractions.

Cope

Newcastle folk are generally very friendly and safe. In fact, Newcastle is renowned throughout Great Britain for its 'family-like atmosphere' and can totally shatter the classic stereotype of 'reserved English' . A peculiarity among Geordies is that they can be found to wear t-shirts and mini-skirts in the middle of freezing winter, so just go with the flow - tourists are spotted by how much clothing they wear but will probably be most welcomed with a big smile or a kiss.

Go next

• Tynemouth, a short Metro ride east, stands on the coast with a ruined priory and castle.
• Hadrian's Wall starts just east of the city at Wallsend, but the best of it is 25-40 miles west between Hexham and Brampton, with sites such Vindolanda and Houseteads.
• Alnwick is a charming small town with a fine castle and gardens, and Alnmouth is a picturesque village on the coast. The railway station is between them, with a connecting bus.
• Rothbury, Cragside and Blinkburn Priory: see Alnwick.
• Durham is only 20 min by train. Its castle and cathedral are set in a well-preserved old town centre.
• Beamish has an extensive Open Air Museum depicting northern town life circa 1913.
• Northumberland's coastal highlights are Dunstanburgh Castle north of Alnwick, Bamburgh castle near Seahouses, and the tidal Holy Isle of Lindisfarne.
• Northumberland National Park has forests centred on Kielder reservoir, with activities such as abseiling, canoeing, hiking and mountain biking.

Routes through Newcastle upon Tyne

Edinburgh ← Morpeth ←	N  S	→ Washington → Leeds
Edinburgh ← Berwick-upon-Tweed ←	N  S	→ York → London