white and brown building near body of water during daytime

Things To Do In Newcastle, UK That Will Make You Love The City



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Newcastle city centre is a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful architecture in Newcastle, quaint pubs and restaurants, and museums. The whole city has a relaxed vibe that we can only imagine if you’re from somewhere else in the country!

We might be biased, but there are so many great Newcastle city centre attractions that it’s no wonder it’s such a popular spot for both tourists and residents. If you have never been to Newcastle upon Tyne before, here are some things that you need to do once you get there.

After reading this list, you will definitely fall head-over-heels in love with the city! Read on for more details about some fantastic activities that you can enjoy in this beautiful corner of the world.

Table of Contents

Visit the Tyne Bridge

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There’s a good chance that you have seen pictures or videos of the Tyne Bridge. This is one of the most iconic places in Newcastle. It’s a suspension bridge that spans the River Tyne. The bridge was built in 1913.

It’s a stunning structure that is a defining feature of Newcastle. This is a busy bridge that sees a lot of traffic. It’s a lovely place to visit.

There are a lot of things to do in the city, but visiting the Tyne Bridge is definitely one of them. You can visit the bridge from either side.

From the West End, you can get a beautiful view of the whole bridge. You can also visit the bridge from the East End. From here, you can get views of the bridge from the other side. It’s a great place to visit in the city.

Explore Newcastle Castle

Take a step back in history by visiting Newcastle Castle. This Norman fortress in the centre of town is an impressive sight and is an absolute must-visit. Visiting offers you the opportunity to learn more about the long history of this iconic Northern city.

You are able to enter the castle and explore the interior. Tickets are available at the door and you are also able to book online so there are plenty of options for you.

Another highlight of this attraction is the incredible views of Newcastle it offers, allowing you to appreciate the whole city from above.

Explore Jesmond Dene Park

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There are a lot of things to do in Newcastle, but visiting Jesmond Dene Park, one of the best parks in Newcastle, should be at the top of your list. It’s Newcastle’s largest park, and it’s absolutely stunning.

It’s a peaceful pace in the heart of a city, following the River Ouseburn through a wooded valley of ancient woodland. It is the perfect place to come and get away from all the hustle and bustle.

The park has a lot of walking trails, gardens, and places to sit and relax, making it a great scenic walking area to enjoy native wildlife in a wildlife corridor through the city.

The park is close to a lot of places that you might want to visit, like Newcastle University and the city centre. This is also a great place to visit during the summer. It gets really busy.

However, it’s worth visiting while it’s still quiet! You can’t visit without visiting Jesmond Park. It’s a truly stunning place with historic features like the Jesmond Dene waterfall and Jesmond Dene falls.

There are also places to stay and eat in the area like the Jesmond Dene cafe.

The Jesmond Dene visitor centre provides more information on the park’s history, stretching back to when it was developed by Victorian industrialist Lord Armstrong. Kids will also love the Jesmond Dene petting zoo at Pets Corner (also known as pet’s corner).

Other highlights of things to do in Jesmond include browsing the shops along Jesmond high street. Jesmond Dene postcode is NE7 7BQ for your GPS. There are also a lot of things to do here, but visiting Jesmond Dene Park is one of them. Learning more about the fascinating Jesmond Dene history is well worth it.

Eat your way through Newcastle

Newcastle has some of the best restaurants in the country. If you’re in the city, we recommend eating at one of these places. You can’t visit without eating at the River Tyne Brewing Company.

This is one of the best places to eat in the city. It’s a brewery and a restaurant that features a lot of local and homemade dishes.

The restaurant is also dog-friendly. Be sure to visit during the summer. The city is full of events that you can attend. There are a lot of things to do in Newcastle, but visiting these restaurants is one of them.

Here are some other recommendations for places to eat in Newcastle:

  1. Peace and Loaf Jesmond
  2. Fern Dining Room
  3. Hibou Blanc
  4. Aidans Kitchen
  5. Lezzet Turkish Restaurant

Drink your way through Newcastle

clear drinking glass with brown liquid on brown wooden table
Photo by Dan Barrett on Unsplash

Newcastle is home to some great pubs and bars. If you’re visiting the city, we recommend trying these places out.

You can’t visit Newcastle without visiting the Newcastle Brown Ale House. This is a local favourite and is a beautiful building. There are a lot of things to do in Newcastle, but visiting this pub is one of them.

If you’d like to try a different type of drink, then try the Newcastle Gin Distillery. It’s a gin distillery that is owned by Newcastle University. There are a lot of things to do here, but visiting this gin distillery is one of them.

Places To Stay In Newcastle

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Newcastle has some absolutely fantastic places to stay. With such a busy city, it’s important to have somewhere to come back and relax. You need somewhere comfortable to stay, and I would say this is one of the most important parts of enjoying your trip.

With such great nightlife on offer, you’re definitely going to want to stay for at least one night, if not more.

Here are our top recommendations for places to stay in Newcastle:

  1. Dream Apartments Quayside
  2. Maldron Hotel
  3. Motel One
  4. Royal Station Hotel
  5. County Hotel

Visit an art gallery or museum in Newcastle

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There are a lot of places to visit in Newcastle. However, the best way to explore the city is by visiting some of the art galleries in Newcastle and museums. Newcastle has a thriving creative quarter with venues like the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art.

The Grainger Town area is also known for its stunning Georgian architecture, especially along Grey Street. There are a lot of things to do here, but visiting some of these places is one of them.

You can’t visit without visiting the Discovery Museum and the Tyne & Wear Archives and Museums. The Discovery Museum is filled with objects that are from different parts of the world.

The museum also has regular exhibitions. The Tyne & Wear Archives and Museums are filled with artefacts that are from the Tyne and Gateshead. There are a lot of things to do in Newcastle, but visiting these museums is one of them.

Some other great green spaces and picnic spots to visit in Newcastle include Leazes Park, Exhibition Park, and Town Moor. St James’ Park, the football stadium, is another iconic landmark. The Victoria Tunnel is a hidden gem for history buffs to explore. And of course a day trip to the coast at Tynemouth is a must.

Check Out Why You Should Visit Newcastle

Still unconvinced? Check out The Magic Geekdom’s great video on Newcastle and why you definitely need to visit this great city.

Frequently Asked Questions

Newcastle is one of the smaller cities in the UK, so it is absolutely walkable. Especially due to the fact that much of it is pedestrianised.

Newcastle is most famous for its brown ale, it’s industrial history, its unique culture and its football club.

Newcastle is a great day trip to make if you’re staying in the area. However, to really make the most of the city, I would recommend staying for at least 2-3 days.

Newcastle has some really iconic and stunning sights. Probably the most famous of these is the famous Tyne Bridge, a great example of Newcastle’s industrial architecture.

The best time to visit is between April and August, as these are the warmest months in the year. Being so far north, Newcastle can get colder than much of the UK so if you do decide to come in the winter months then make sure you come prepared to wrap up warm.

silhouette photo of city beside sea things to do in newcastle

Final Words

Newcastle is a truly beautiful city with lots of things to see, do, and eat. There are a lot of things to do in the city, and we hope that this article has given you plenty of ideas for things to do.

We hope that you fall head-over-heels in love with the city like we did. If you have any questions about visiting the city or any activities that you would like to do, then please feel free to ask in the comments section below.

If you want to explore another modern northern city in the UK, make sure to check out my post on Liverpool.

Thank you so much for reading my post and I hope to see you back here again soon.

Ta-ta for now! x

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