Newcastle: MY Top Pick of the Week!

I decided on a particularly dull Thursday afternoon to take a spontaneous day trip somewhere over the weekend. My only stipulations were that it had to be near, accessible and, in the favourite words of my Art History teacher, "cheap as chips." My decision was somewhat arbitrary - I looked at googlemaps and just chose the Northern-most English city, closest to Edinburgh which didn't sound boring or dangerous.

And so Newcastle it was!

Newcastle is just 1.5hrs away from Edinburgh, and you can get single tickets for as low as £5.60. I packed up chocolates and a very pixellated and low-resolution map which I had found online, and went to catch the 7.30am train out of Waverly station.

As the train approached Newcastle, I spied rows upon rows of uninspired looking maroon houses all with the same ugly chimeney fixture. My heart sank, and I thought 'Oh God, I've arrived in the heartlands of the Industrial Revolution.'

But thankfully, in this case, my first impressions were almost immediately squashed. Gone are the greasy shipyards and grimy factories belching smoke - the once declining industrial town has undergone a cultural renaissance, and Newcastle has emerged feverishly H.I.P.!



Newcastle has a little bit of everything. Grainger Town, the historic heart of Newcastle, is full of regal old-world buildings. It also houses Grey Street, which was apparently voted by Radio Four listeners as their favourite street in England.


It's certainly very elegant, flanked on either side by stately looking architecture, leading up a gentle curve to the imposing Grey Monument, commemorating Charles Grey, the second Earl Grey - yes, the tea is named after him!

Crowds gathered at the base of Grey Monument listening to a guy with pink hair championing a Socialist Revolution

And once you've had your taste of old-world charm, go soak up the breezy, ultra-stylish vibe that positively throbs through the Quayside. It's an amazing place!

I cannot stress it enough, Newcastle makes a fantastic citybreak within the UK. Perhaps The Times wasn't too off the mark when it described Newcastle as the 'New Capital of Britain.' It's got everything I imagine a topclass city would have. Here were some of the highlights of my day:

1. Zipping through the Bridges along the Quayside

My absolute favourite part of the day. You must go to the Quayside and stroll along the banks of the River Tyne. Check out the public art on either side of the River; best of all, stand and admire the renowned bridges which dot the River Tyne.

There's the Tyne Bridge:


And of course, the quintessential symbol of the new Newcastle...the Gateshead Millenium Bridge!


It's supposed to look like a giant eyelid apparently. An interesting piece of architecture to marvel at! Walk along the bridge to get excellent views of the city and the River Tyne.

2. Walking around Grainger Town: Grey Street, and the Grey Monument

Mentioned above already. It was the street I used to orientate myself when in Newcastle. The tourist information point also lies somewhere off Grey Street, through this lovely Central Arcade:

If only shopping centers were all this beautiful!

3. Art Venues

There's no doubt about it - Newcastle's cultural scene is exploding. There are a vast array of art galleries, most of which are FREE which is excellent. When at the Quayside, I sampled the BALTIC Gallery which houses a rotating collection of modern art, and popped into the Sage Gatehead - a premier venue for musical performances.
The Sage Gateshead complex

Check out the Sage even if you aren't attending a concert there. It's an intriguing structure, characterized by curves, glass and stainless steel. The interior is as impressive as the outside, with a large concourse offering a good view of the River Tyne. It's not a conventionally pretty building, but I think in this day and age, structures with the ability to surprise, shock and provoke discourse/thought are way more interesting that those which simply look "nice." Art should not provoke a bland, monolithic response - it should challenge!

(I like the Scottish Parliament building for the same reason, even though it's been decried by some as a blight on the landscape haha.)




Make the BALTIC gallery a must-see on your trip to Newcastle. Even if you can't appreciate modern art, head up to the 5th floor viewing gallery of this converted flour mill to get excellent views of the Quayside. The exhibits constantly rotate, so you'll always be in for a surprise when you visit. When I went, there was a themed exhibition about 'Conflict and Peace.' Very interesting pieces there, which included several cinematic works. I also really liked the gallery's eco-friendly policies - they encourage you to return exhibit brochures and leaflets to the counter, where they are then reissued to new visitors to save on paper. The ecowarrior in me approves wholeheartedly!

4. The Angel of the North

The Angel of the North stands, a faceless sentinel over the adjacent freeway, silently overlooking the scores of vehicles which trickle into the nearby Gateshead.

You have to head about 20 minutes out of the Newcastle City center to see this, but I really recommend it. Not for nothing is the Angel of the North deemed one of the 'Icons' of England. Its an immense piece of public art/sculpture with an inherent 'wow' factor due to its sheer size.


The width of the Angel's wings make it wider than the Statue of Liberty is tall. Truly impressive. Worth the detour and 3.20pound return bus fare!

5. Away from the Maddening Crowd

If the shopping crowds along Northumberland Street start to make you edgy, skip on down to Blackfriars, a literal oasis of calm in the middle of the city.



It's not really a park or garden, but a little courtyard bound by the walls of an old monastic building. It's a really tranquil spot if you want to escape from the hubbub of the city. Even the neighbourhood it's situated in is remarkably peaceful.

This is just a sampling of what Newcastle has to offer - there's really quite a bit you could do and see, and practically all the attractions are free! It's an amazing city...it tired me out, but all the same, I really loved it!

Verdict: Newcastle sizzles. And not just for Newcastle UFC fans. You really must go if you can, especially if you're keen on culture and the arts. Go, go, go!