A Focus On Newcastle and England’s Northeast
- Katherine Rupp
- Sep 3
- 8 min read
Updated: Sep 4
Nearer to and with a culture more similar to Scotland, many English residents haven’t ventured past Birmingham, let alone all the way up to Northumberland. And those that have not been “up north” are, in many humble opinions, missing out. Expanding from an Ode to the North, drink up (pun intended) these suggestions and recommendations for Newcastle, England. Never considered a trip up to the Northeast of England? Now’s the time.
Main Details
How to get there
Depending on your length of stay in England, it might be worthwhile to fly up to Newcastle from a lengthy time in London, or simply have your layover in London before arriving at your final destination of Newcastle.
The simplest way to get to Newcastle, however, is by train. Grabbing the LNER train from Kings Cross is easy and efficient as it takes between 2 hours and 50 minutes and 3 hours 20 minutes to arrive at Newcastle.
Newcastle’s train station is centrally located, making it easy to jump on a bus, subway/metro, walk, or grab a taxi or Uber to get to your destination.
Transportation
Getting around Newcastle is also fairly simple due to the extensive use of buses and subway, in addition to being an easy city to navigate by walking. The Tyne and Wear Metro has plenty of stops spanning Newcastle to Tynemouth and down to Sunderland that makes it easy to use. The Go Near East bus app will be your best friend if using buses in the area.
The streets are very walkable and many, despite being windy roads, end up connecting to other thoroughfares, leading you to a simpler route than maybe you would’ve otherwise used.
Where to stay
You’ll likely stay in the city center as that’s where most things are usually “happening”, however, don’t discount staying on the coast or up in one of the neighborhoods. Here are some spots to consider if you’re visiting Newcastle for one day or one week.
Spots to Hit
Drinking and Dining
All across the land of England, Newcastle is known for being a “night out” city. Whether it’s clubs for dancing you’re seeking out or pubs after a Newcastle United match you’re meeting mates at or simply are looking for a spot to grab a pint and dinner, the city showcases it all in an easy-to-digest (pun intended) manner. But first, and as always, make sure you pop into one of the countless Gregg's bakeries in the city; a fast food breakfast spot that was originally started in Newcastle.
City Center and Quayside
If you’re in the city center, pubs and bars abound. Looking for a spot to grab a nicer, quiet evening with your girlfriends for cocktails? WC Newcastle — a former WC (water closet/restroom) from the 1800s located below Bigg Market’s street level — and its sister bar WC Gin Closet, which is the UK’s smallest gin bar, are terrific options. If you’re looking for somewhere the complete opposite (literally), look to The Botanist, featuring rooftop views of Newcastle’s hopping city center.
Other places around the city feature pubs with dining options or bars that have small bites like The Broad Chare, Alfie’s Bar, The Hancock, The Five Swans (which is part of the Wetherspoons family), and the Percy Arms.
Although you could likely miss out on going to a Wetherspoons (though, they do have great prices on drinks!) —and quite possibly missing out on the maze that is well known throughout the country of Wetherspoons establishments having patrons walk through a maze to get to the restroom — there are other spots that aren’t to be missed that are more popular with regulars in town.
Those more local spots include the Town Mouse, Mean Eyed Cat, The Trent House, The Hotspur, and the famous watering hole just adjacent to Newcastle United’s stadium, St. James’ Park, The Strawberry.
You’re probably wondering, what about the food and dining experience? There’s plenty of that with places like The Newcastle Tap (although still heavily focused on beers and ciders, there’s a strong food menu) and a similarly focused on cocktails but with a solid food menu at Pleased to Meet You; plus spots such as Fat Hippo and Meat:Stack, which features delectable burgers at a decent price and American classics, respectively.
Left: Pleased To Meet You; Right: Meet: Stack
There’s also Kafeneon for Greek dishes, any restaurant in the one-road Chinatown nearby St James Park, Hibou Blanc for a gastropub experience, or The French Quarter for a French meal, Kaltur Wine Bar & Restaurant, or 3SIXTY Restaurant and Sky Bar (mainly for the views).
Not a far walk from the Bigg Market and the main part of the city center is the Quayside, showcasing lovely views of the River Tyne and old buildings with Brutalist, Neo-Baroque, pre-Georgian, and Georgian architecture. Stop by the Redhouse for a pie and pint and with a view of the Tyne Bridge, or Pitcher and Piano Newcastle, located on the quayside for both a great meal and great views.
Left: Pitcher and Piano Newcastle; Right: Redhouse
For more upscale dining in Newcastle, look to Blackfriars Restaurant (set in a medieval former refectory for, you guessed it, friars, dating back to the 1200s), Dobson and Parnell, House of Tides (a one star Michelin restaurant) or its sister restaurant, Solstice, a more upscale fine dining experience (also with one Michelin star) by the same restaurateur, Kenny Atkinson.
Outside of the city center, there are a handful of other options, whether it’s in Jesmond and Gosforth, the Ouseburn, or Tynemouth. Here are some to check out by the area they’re in:
Jesmond and Gosforth and Heaton
Jesmond and Gosforth neighborhoods feature Long Friday (owned by the Chef and Restaurateur, Anna Hedworth of Cook House… mentioned below in Ouseburn), Jam Jar, Wylam Brewery (located in Town Moor), and Arlo. Meanwhile, Dot Bagels, sister restaurants Nest and Hide (all on Chillingham Road) or Butterfly Cabinet (for brunch items) are located more east of the city center in Heaton.
Ouseburn
In an up and coming spot along the small river, Ouseburn has a lot of strongly recommended spots such as the Free Trade Inn, Tyne Bar, Donzoko Brewing Company, Brinkburn St Brewery, Bar, & Kitchen, Ship Inn, and The Tanners Arms for drinks and/or delicious pub food (example: Free Trade Inn only has potato chip options but often has a food truck vendor outside for patrons), the Kiln Cafe and Northern Rye for pastries and breakfast items, and Cook House, from Chef Anna Hedworth, for a more fine dining option.
Top left: Brinkburn St. Brewing; Top right: Free Trade Inn; Bottom left: Tyne Bar; Bottom right: Northern Rye
Tynemouth
Further east on the North Sea you’ll find fewer options but they’re very well beloved. Riley’s Fish Shack on Tynemouth’s King Edward’s Bay beach (literally on the beach) has a restaurant option while also setting up comfy beach chairs on the sand to devour both the sea views and the food. Two other options include The View looking south to Long Sands Beach in Tynemouth and Trenchers in Whitley Bay, famous for its fish and chips.
All: Trenchers Restaurant
Touristy places
Although there’s an abundance of things to do and see in the city center of Newcastle, there are up and coming burgeoning pockets of the city that are worth checking out, including Gateshead (across the River Tyne on the south side) and Ouseburn.
City Center and Quayside
Besides the food and drink, there are bountiful things to do and see in the Newcastle area. If you’re in the mood for something indoors and historical or art-forward, check out the Natural History Society of Northumbria and the Newcastle Castle (which features spectacular views of the city) or the Biscuit Factory Art Gallery (a bit further east of the city center located amongst Newcastle University and Northumbria University student housing buildings or the Laing Art Gallery, close to the middle of all that’s happening on Northumberland Street.
If you’re in the mood for doing some shopping, or simply want to get out of the weather on a rainy day, consider Grainger Market or The Lit & Phil Library.
Additionally in the center of the city, in a football mad town such as Newcastle, take advantage of the history of the sport and city together by heading over to Newcastle United’s St. James’ Park for a stadium tour.
Left: Newcastle United's St. James' Park; Right: Newcastle Castle
Jesmond and Gosforth and Heaton
For outdoor lovers, head on over to Jesmond, just north east of the city center. The area has a large and winding park, Jesmond Dene, filled with large tree cover, picnic areas, and even a few waterfalls. Over on the opposite side of town more near Newcastle United’s stadium is the Town Moor. This grassy pasture is open to the public for people to mosey around for walks or jobs, while it also calls home to some cows that graze.
Ouseburn
Near the hip area with breweries and boutique shops is a relic from the Second World War. Victoria Tunnel Tours showcases what it was like during air raids, while also gaining an understanding of what coal miners’ lives looked like.
If you’re looking for more of an outdoor experience, up north on Lime Street is the Ouseburn Farm. The Farm is, from their website, “a registered charity” that provides “over 40,000 visitors a year the opportunity to learn about the origins of food and care for nature through engagement with farm life”.
Left: Jesmond Dene; Right: Victoria Tunnels
Gateshead
Across the River Tyne is Newcastle’s sister city of Gateshead. Although it’s not nearly as built up for tourists and visitors, there are a handful of spots to consider seeing if you’re in the area. These include the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and The Central Bar, Hilton Newcastle Gateshead (for visiting accommodations if you don’t want to be in the middle of the action), By The River Brew Co. brewery and the Lock and Quay Pub.
Tynemouth
Before you hit the city center that will likely be the place you’ll stay in accommodations, make sure to head out to the coast where you can breathe in that salty fresh air from the North Sea at Tynemouth’s or Whitley Bay’s beaches. To get to these spots, look up the Transportation section of Newcastle (just a few paragraphs up from this one) and utilize public transportation. Don’t miss taking photos of the Fiddler’s Green Sculpture or the Mooring Buoy Art Monument on the south end of Tynemouth, while also ensuring you grab a few snaps at the Tynemouth Priory and Castle on the Sea’s edge.
If you’re really looking for some fun and adventure, go swimming or surfing at Long Sands Beach while also heading over to the Tynemouth Aquarium, just across the road from the beach. Not done yet with the North East coast? Just head a few minutes by car, past Cullercoats Beach, north to Whitley Bay where there’s shops and restaurants, and a few more pubs. Interested in history on your way back into town? Head to the Segedunum Roman Fort and Museum for a dive into the history of the area.
Left: Tynemouth Priory & Castle; Center: The Central Bar; Right: Tynemouth Beach and Priory & Castle
Whether you’re in Newcastle for a day trip, a long weekend, or have an extended stay in the area, make sure to take advantage of all that the north of England has to offer. There’s history, culture, sports, nature, and much more to enjoy, just a few hours away from the Big Smoke that is London. Just remember that although you might not understand all the words from those that live up there as Geordie’s have a distinct accent, embrace the “Howay the Lads” culture as much as possible. Who knows, you might not want to leave.
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