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 Centre for Contemporary Art. Located in a former grain warehouse, the latter is home to an ever-changing programme 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 centre. 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 Centre 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 centre 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 democratisation 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 colour) is this excellent gallery renowned for its stunning collection of watercolours 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 centre. 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 centre 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