Things To Do In Newcastle Upon Tyne

I am very lucky living in Newcastle Upon Tyne, it is a vibrant city with plenty of shopping and night life. With Eldon Square in the centre of Newcastle and the Metro Centre an easy bus trip away you will be spoiled for choice when it comes to shopping. There are also much to see of historical interest and the city is situated very close to the seaside and the countryside. You will never be short of things to do and it is well worth planning your visit to ensure that you take everything in. There are plenty of things to do in Newcastle Upon Tyne and these are some of my suggestions.

Things to do in Newcastle Upon Tyne

The Quayside

Newcastle Quayside has undergone a lot of development in recent years and it is now a thriving vibrant area with plenty of places to eat and stop for a drink. It is lovely to walk along the quayside and view all of Newcastle’s historic bridges. In the Summer you can go for a cruise down the Tyne.

If you go on a Sunday you can visit the Quayside market which takes place from 9.30 am till 4.00 pm. Be warned if you are on a diet though, there is lots to tempt you. You can walk across the Millennium Bridge to visit the Baltic, a modern art museum in the Baltic Flour Mills with frequently changing exhibitions. There is also a stunning view across the river from the top floor.

Museums

Newcastle Upon Tyne has a number of museums that are worth a visit. The Great North Museum or Hancock Museum incorporates a collections from Hancock Museum and Newcastle University’s Museum of Antiquities, the Shefton Museum and the Hatton Gallery. It is a great mix of natural history and antiquities and provides a fascinating insight into local history as well. You can easily while away a couple of hours in here. The scale model of Hadrians Wall is well worth a look, it really does give an idea of the scale of the wall and the epic task it must have been building it.

If science is more your thing then you should check out the Discovery Museum. It contains fascinating collections showing the development of science and technology on Tyneside and around the world. You will find the Turbinia, the first steam powered ship, on display on the bottom floor. The top floor is fabulous for children with lots of hands on scientific exhibits which are great fun. Make sure you take lots of pound coins for the table air hockey which is always popular.

The Centre of Life is also well worth a visit. It is full of fascinating hands on exhibits to do with life. It shows how we evolved and how we live today as well as having frequently changing exhibitions. At the moment the Age of the Dinosaur exhibition is on which involves close encounters with dinosaurs. There is also a four D motion ride which is great fun.

If you want to go a little bit further afield it is definitely worth taking a trip to Beamish Museum.

It is a trip back in time with houses and shops from the Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian era. It is absolutely fascinating and you will need plenty of time for the visit so go early.

Outside Newcastle

If you want to leave the city and head into the countryside you will have plenty to choose from. For a walk in the forest Hamsterley Forest is worth a visit. They have different activities on for the kids so it is worth checking up before you go.  Kielder Water and Forest Park is also a great place to spend the day. There is plenty going on with water based activities as well as 250 square miles of forest to explore.

There is plenty of Roman history around Newcastle. Segedunum Roman Fort in Wallsend is the most excavated Roman fort along Hadrians Wall. As well as the fort it has a viewiing tower, museum and a reconstruction of a Roman bath house. It is definitely worth travelling along the A69 and getting off the beaten track onto the old Roman road. There are plenty of Roman forts along the road including Housesteads Roman Fort.  If castles are more your thing be sure to go along the Northumberland coastal route where you can visit Bamburgh Castle, Alnwich Castle and many others.

These are only a few of the attractions in and around Newcastle Upon Tyne. Once you arrive you will find there is so much to do that you will never want to leave.