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Sightseeing Overview
Located on England’s northeast coast, NewcastleGateshead is the most northerly conurbation of any size before the short hop over the border into Scotland. Whilst the modern day city beats with a young-spirited verve, the region has a rich history stretching back 2,000 years.

It first came into being as a strategic defense point of the Roman Empire and it was through Newcastle that the Romans built Hadrian’s Wall which marked the northernmost boundary of Roman Britain; a large section of the original wall can be viewed at Segedunum Museum (tel: (0191) 236 9347; website: www.twmuseums.org.uk/segedunum) at Wallsend.

But it was with the arrival of the Normans and the building of the New Castle in 1080 that the region really began to grow. Buoyed by a booming coal industry, it developed into a thriving metropolis and visitors can’t fail to be impressed by the stunning 19th- and 20th-century architecture that characterizes much of the city center.

Tourist Information
NewcastleGateshead Tourist Information Center
Central Arcade, Market Street

Guildhall Visitor Information Center
Near the Tyne bridge, Quayside
Tel: (0191) 277 8000.
Website: www.newcastlegateshead.com

Gateshead Visitor Center, St Mary’s Church, Oakwellgate
Tel: (0191) 478 4222.
Website: www.gateshead.gov.uk/tourism/furtinfo.htm

Gateshead Central Library, Prince Consort Road
Tel: (0191) 433 8420;
Website: as above.

Passes
As part of a citywide initiative, many of the museums and galleries have free admission so there are no tourist discount passes currently available.

Key Attractions:

Quayside
Several bridges link Newcastle Quayside with Gateshead Quays, the most famous of which is the architecturally stunning Gateshead Millennium Bridge. Opening and closing like a gigantic eye, the bridge allows pedestrians easy access to the Southbank of the River Tyne and the Baltic Center for Contemporary Art. Located in a former grain warehouse, the latter is home to an ever-changing program of challenging visual art exhibitions. A few minutes’ walk on from the Baltic is Sir Norman Foster’s (of London’s ‘Gherkin’ fame) incredible The Sage Gateshead. With its elegant curves, this beautiful building is a cutting-edge international music center. And, one for the film buffs, the car park that was the scene of the famous car chase in Get Carter can be seen in the distance.

Baltic Center for Contemporary Art
Tel: (0191) 478 1810.
Website: www.balticmill.com

The Sage Gateshead
Tel: (0191) 443 4661.
Website: www.thesagegateshead.org

Grainger Town
Completed in 1842, Grainger Town is the old historic center of Newcastle that boasts more listed Victorian and classical Georgian buildings than anywhere else in the UK outside London and Bath. The beautiful curving slope of Grey Street was once voted ‘Best Street in Britain’ by Radio 4 listeners. At the top of the road is Grey’s Monument, erected in 1832 to commemorate Earl Grey’s Reform Act, which came to be considered a great step towards the democratization of the UK election system.

The Biscuit Factory
A good walk or short taxi ride to the east of the city is The Biscuit Factory, the biggest single art space in the UK that houses a great range of art for sale including paintings, ceramics and sculpture. Prices start from as little as £20 rising to thousands of pounds, so take your chequebook.

Stoddart Street
Tel: (0191) 261 1103.
Website: www.thebiscuitfactory.com

Laing Art Gallery
Located off the shimmering Blue Carpet Square (designed by Thomas Heatherwick, the square has been shaped like a carpet incorporating smoothed blue glass to give it its striking color) is this excellent gallery renowned for its stunning collection of watercolors and sculptures. Works by eminent Pre-Raphaelites sit alongside pieces by more recent artists such as LS Lowry and local John Martin.

Higham Place
Tel: (0191) 232 7734.
Website: www.twmuseums.org.uk/laing

Castle Keep
Castle Keep was built by Henry II in 1168-78 on the site of New Castle, which gave the city its name. Visitors can enter the Castle Keep to learn more about this period in the region’s history at the interesting exhibition, and the roof offers spectacular views of Newcastle and Gateshead.

Castle Garth, St Nicholas Street
Tel: (0191) 232 7938.
Website: www.museums.ncl.ac.uk/keep

Seven Stories
Seven Stories is a wonderful children’s books center. The only exhibition space in the UK dedicated to the celebration of British children’s literature, it displays imaginative exhibitions and puts on a variety of activities for visitors all the time. The center has a huge bookshop and a vast collection of original British children’s literature.

30 Lime Street
Tel: 0845 271 0777.
Website: www.sevenstories.org.uk

Further Distractions:

Newcastle United Football Club
Often said about many cities, but football really is like a religion on Tyneside and witnessing 50,000 Magpies’ supporters, all clad in the famous black and white home shirt, erupt when a goal is scored is an experience not to be missed. The stadium is located right in the heart of the city, and tours can be arranged on non-match days.

St James’ Park
Tel: (0191) 261 1571.
Website: www.nufc.co.uk

Angel of the North
Although it is possible to cycle there, Antony Gormley’s iconic Angel of the North sculpture is a short drive or taxi ride south from the River Tyne. Erected on the site of a former coalmine, the Angel towers 20m (65ft) high with a wingspan of 54m (175ft) and welcomes travelers along the A1 or East Coast railway as they travel in or out of NewcastleGateshead.

Eighton Banks (between the A1 and A167)
Website: www.gateshead.gov.uk

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