Shipyards, nightlife and group—why Newcastle is value a visit

To get a way of Newcastle’s historical past, you want solely take a look at its identify. While there’s been a settlement right here for round 2,000 years, ‘Newcastle’ dates again to the eleventh century, when a Norman fortress was constructed right here beside the River Tyne — sandwiched between the North Sea, the Northumberland moors and the Scottish borders in England’s far north.

But stroll town’s streets in the present day and it’s the Nineteenth century that looms largest. Between huge shipyards, a thriving coal commerce and engineers George and Robert Stephenson’s railway workshops, town boomed through the Industrial Revolution (1760–1840). And with all that wealth, Newcastle bought a facelift, with an arresting neoclassical centre of vast avenues and honeyed sandstone. The mighty engines of trade solely slowed a century later, following the Great Depression within the Nineteen Thirties, which left a quayside lined with empty warehouses and shipyards.

But Newcastle’s story is way multiple of commercial increase and bust. The final couple of a long time have seen town shake off its mid-century malaise to develop into a various, younger and thrilling metropolis, each forward-looking and happy with its distinct historical past. Starting on the arched facade of the Victorian prepare station, the energetic metropolis centre stretches north to the Town Moor. Locals have staunchly protected this 1,000-acre inexperienced area as widespread land for hundreds of years and, even in the present day, regardless of its central location, you’re as prone to move a grazing cow as you’re a bicycle owner. To the east are well-heeled Jesmond, up-and-coming Heaton and the scenic Ouseburn River, which winds its method south to hitch the Tyne. The nice river itself, traversed by seven bridges and flowing east to the gray expanse of the North Sea, marks town’s southern limits.

With a hard-won resilience born of its historical past, Newcastle has developed a fierce sense of group and id. The locals (Geordies) are equally as famend for his or her northern hospitality as they’re for his or her distinctive dialect and dedication to the weatherproof nightlife scene — amplified by the scholars from town’s two universities. Alongside the sticky-floored golf equipment, cosy pubs, stately theatres and boisterous open-mic nights, town centre provides a packed calendar of cultural, creative and tutorial occasions. Newcastle additionally makes an awesome base for exploring the Northumberland coast’s seashores and castles, in addition to the encircling countryside, which is dotted with medieval villages and bisected by the crumpled line of Hadrian’s Wall.

What to see and do

Grainger Town
This is Newcastle’s historic metropolis centre, and it’s peppered with neoclassical structure — from the 133ft-tall column of Grey’s Monument to the Theatre Royal’s immense portico — all inbuilt creamy sandstone and glowing warmly within the early night gentle. It reaches its peak round Grey Street, which is near lots of Newcastle’s largest sights, together with the Laing Art Gallery, with its robust assortment of British works, and the Northern Stage venue, which hosts every part from comedy to literary awards. Also look out for the stays of the Norman fortress for which town was named.

The Quayside
Newcastle’s southern edge is outlined by the River Tyne, which is traversed by seven bridges starting from the elegant arch of the inexperienced Tyne Bridge (1928) to the modern, white curves of Gateshead Millennium Bridge (2001). Amble alongside the river’s northern financial institution and you’ll get pleasure from an al fresco drink, or browse the Quayside Sunday Market stalls. On the south financial institution is the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, housed in an previous flour mill with superb viewing areas overlooking the river. To its west is the sinuous Glasshouse International Centre for Music, an enormous, undulating glass construction designed by Norman Foster. It appears to be like like a cross between a cloud and an iridescent snail shell.

St James’ Park
Geordies are fiercely supportive of their soccer group — Newcastle United, often known as The Toon. On match days, town centre is draped in black and white group colors, and it echoes with cheers and groans from the centrally situated stadium, St James’ Park. If you’ll be able to’t make a sport, it’s value becoming a member of a stadium tour (autism-friendly choices out there).

Ouseburn
To the east of the centre, this former industrial neighbourhood in a river valley is now one of the vital inventive corners of Newcastle, identified for its arts venues like Cobalt Studios and The Biscuit Factory. Glimpse traces of its previous on a subterranean tour of Victoria Tunnel, which was as soon as used to move coal and later as a Second World War air raid shelter, or by admiring the Nineteenth-century viaduct hovering over Ouseburn Farm. As effectively as stylish pubs and eating places, the culinary scene right here encompasses a number of breweries corresponding to Brinkburn Street Brewery, Di Meo’s (an area establishment serving pizza and gelato) and the social impact-driven Big River Bakery, the place the proceeds from gross sales are reinvested into the group. You may also study to make stotties right here, a regional bread. Check the web site for Big River’s present tasks.

Heaton
Primarily residential Heaton, simply north east of Ouseburn, has emerged lately as an up-and-coming cultural spotlight. Dotted between the kebab spots and native cafes, you’ll discover third-wave espresso retailers like Zee’s, and The Goat, creative cocktail bars and high-end eating places, plus the classic treasure trove of Flea Circus and the huge, inexperienced expanse of Heaton Park.

Jesmond Dene
North of Heaton are the Victorian terraces and bougie cafes of Jesmond. It’s largely populated by younger households and college college students, who collectively lend it a energetic, youthful really feel. This is the place to go for antiques retailers and stylish bars, however its major spotlight is pure: Jesmond Dene, a wooded valley that leads down in the direction of Ouseburn. Keep your eyes peeled as you stroll alongside the river — should you’re fortunate you might spot an electric-blue kingfisher darting by.

Where to eat

Dumpling & Bun
Located in Alley 1 of coated Grainger Market, which dates again to 1835, Dumpling & Bun serves one of many metropolis’s least expensive and quickest lunches. The tiny stall, seating as much as 5 diners, provides hand-filled Chinese dumplings in addition to buns and noodle soups. Try the pan-fried pork and cabbage home particular dumplings, or a meat-free choice like tofu and greens, earlier than ending up with a custard-filled steamed bun.

The Magic Hat
This central cafe crafts creative, every day altering menus from meals that may in any other case be wasted — largely utilizing surplus elements from native retailers and wholesalers. The Saturday Dining Room occasion is especially good worth: for a flat charge of £15, a mixture of imaginative dishes are served sharing-style to visitors alongside one lengthy desk, they usually hold coming till the kitchen’s empty.

Rebel
This small Heaton restaurant’s playful tasting menus rejoice the variability and high quality of northeastern produce. Expect dishes like punchy house-made wild garlic kimchi, Lindisfarne oysters with ponzu, or vibrant, tangy sea buckthorn sorbet, served with a natural- and British-focused wine flight. Later, spherical off with a nightcap at sister bar Ro down the street.

Where to sleep

Hotel Indigo Newcastle
This spot, close to the station and Grainger Market, makes an awesome price range base. Inside, the design nods to town’s historical past, with industrial black lighting fixtures to enhance the geometric prints, daring orange accents and playful artwork. There’s additionally a small gymnasium and an informal restaurant specialising in rooster dishes.

Hotel du Vin Newcastle
Based between Ouseburn and the Quayside in a transformed Edwardian constructing, this lodge was once the headquarters for the Tyne Tees Steam Shipping Company. The model’s trademark darkish woods and comfortable leathers really feel proper at dwelling within the industrial red-brick area, with rooms crammed with patterned wallpaper and velvet throw pillows. Book the Bridge View Suite for prize views of the river from a rolltop bathtub.

Jesmond Dene House
This unbiased boutique lodge sits in a lovingly maintained Nineteenth-century constructing with a hodgepodge of architectural types, from gothic to mock-Tudor. Its location within the leafy Dene river valley lends it a country-house really feel; e-book a room within the Arts and Crafts-style principal constructing, or unfold out in one of many New House’s junior suites, which have separate bedrooms and seating areas.

Where to buy

Fenwick
This family-owned division retailer chain was based in Newcastle within the Eighteen Eighties and the unique department close to the Laing Art Gallery retains a contact of old-school glamour. It’s the go-to for every part from designer-label garments to ornamental tins of biscuits and themed brunches — and, come the tip of the 12 months, the revealing of the Christmas window show.

END Clothing
Now a street-style style juggernaut with a number of brick-and-mortar areas within the UK and Milan, END was based in Newcastle in 2005. The flagship is in a Grade II-listed constructing, its unique ornamental home windows contrasting with the modern steel-and-marble inside the place trainers, streetwear and skincare are displayed with a museum-like reverence.

1b Books
This small, unbiased bookshop in Heaton at all times has an intensive vary and is very identified for its well-curated number of LGBTQ+ titles. If the climate’s good, take your new e-book and a takeaway espresso from one of many close by cafes to Heaton Park to get pleasure from.

Explore Newcastle like an area

Star and Shadow Cinema
This volunteer-run group area features a DIY cinema, cafe, bar and occasions venue, and runs a joyfully unpredictable and different programme. It’s effectively value seeing what’s on while you’re on the town — it may be a punk gig, artwork present, knitting membership or traditional Hollywood starlet double-bill.

Jesmond Food Market
The vast avenue of Armstrong Bridge, in leafy Dene, makes a scenic setting for Jesmond Food Market on the primary and third Saturday of every month. The stalls promote contemporary fruit and greens, artisan merchandise like sourdough bread and native cheeses, and avenue meals — every part from banh mi and bagels to grilled fish and gyros.

The Lit & Phil
Dating again to 1793, The Lit & Phil is arguably Newcastle’s prettiest library, with its elegant domed skylights and complex iron railings. Though solely members have borrowing rights, guests can go searching, and attend occasions like lectures, readings, live shows and excursions — each the common selection and a ‘haunted’ model.

Where to go after hours

Wylam Brewery
Built in 1929, the Palace of the Arts constructing within the Moor’s Exhibition Park space, simply north of the centre, has been dwelling to Wylam microbrewery since 2016. It’s a summertime staple due to its artwork deco constructing, expansive inexperienced area and scrumptious IPAs and porters — the zingy Lush pale ale and hoppy Jakehead Supercharged IPA are perennial favourites.

WC Newcastle
With its saturated nightlife scene, Newcastle’s bars want to seek out some technique to differentiate themselves. This cocktail bar’s USP is its location: a transformed, subterranean Victorian gents’s public rest room set beneath a glass dome. The menu has a botanical theme — attempt the candy, tangy English Meadow or the strawberry-centred Red Rose. The women’ up the street is now the 15-seater WC Gin Closet — sister to WC Newcastle and arguably the UK’s smallest gin bar.

The Cluny
One of the North East’s most necessary venues for rising musical acts, with a much-loved bar serving hearty pub meals and native ales, The Cluny is an Ouseburn staple. Its renown typically attracts huge names, too. Artists together with Arctic Monkeys, Solange Knowles and New York Dolls have all performed this intimate 300-seater venue.