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Angel of the North

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Things to see in Newcastle

Tourist information: 

Newcastle Tourist Information Centre
Central Arcade, Market Street
Tel: (0191) 277 8000.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1730, Sat 0900-1730.
www.visitnewcastlegateshead.co.uk

Guildhall Visitor Information Centre
Near the Tyne Bridge, Quayside
Tel: (0191) 277 8000.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1700, Sat 0900-1700, Sun 0900-1600.
As above.

Passes: 

The Discover Pass available from tourist information centres or online at www.visitnewcastlegateshead.co.uk offers discounts and sometimes free children's admission on over 40 attractions. However it is worth noting that many of the museums and galleries also have free admission.

Angel of the North

No matter how many times you have seen Anthony Gormley’s iconic sculpture built in 1998, either in print or on film, it will not prepare you for the scale (it's 20m (65ft) high, with a wingspan of 54m (175ft) and weight of 208 tonnes) and majesty of the real thing.

Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Eighton Banks (between the A1 and A167), Gateshead, United Kingdom
Website: www.angelofthenorth.org.uk
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art

Closed and derelict for 20 years, this huge flour mill silo has been superbly restored and is home to an ever-changing programme of (often challenging) world-class visual art exhibitions.

Opening Times: Daily 1000-1800, except Tues 1030-1800.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Gateshead Quays, Newcastle, United Kingdom
Telephone: (0191) 478 1810.
Website: www.balticmill.com
Castle Keep

This sturdy keep was built by Henry II in 1168-78 on the site of the (old wooden) New Castle, which gave the city its name. What visitors see today is the atmospheric medieval update of the keep. The rooftop terrace offers spectacular views across the river.

Opening Times: Mon-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1200-1700.
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Castle Garth, Newcastle, United Kingdom
Telephone: (0191) 232 7938.
Website: www.castlekeep-newcastle.org.uk
Discovery Museum

This lively museum is a perfect introduction to the city and Tyneside, from it maritime history and world-changing science and technology to fashion through the eras, from domestic life to military history.

Opening Times: Mon-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1400-1700.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Blandford Square, Newcastle, United Kingdom
Telephone: (0191) 232 6789.
Website: www.twmuseums.org.uk/discovery
Great North Museum: Hancock

This contains the city’s largest and most all-embracing museum collection such from antiquities (spectacular objects from the Ancient Greeks and Egyptian mummies to a large-scale, interactive model of Hadrian's Wall), to the natural world (from a life-size T-Rex dinosaur skeleton to touch-screen technology and hands-on exhibits), a planetarium and much more.

Opening Times: Mon-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1400-1700.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Barras Bridge, Newcastle, United Kingdom
Telephone: (0191) 222 6765.
Website: www.twmuseums.org.uk/greatnorthmuseum
Laing Art Gallery

This excellent gallery is renowned for its 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. There are tons of fun events, such as gallery talks, family activities and artists’ events.

Opening Times: Mon-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1400-1700.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Higham Place, Newcastle, United Kingdom
Telephone: (0191) 232 7734.
Website: www.twmuseums.org.uk/laing
Life Science Centre

This exciting Millennium project draws on the city’s world-class research facilities (housed in the same “Science Village” complex). It is an interactive visitor attraction examining all aspects of life – from dinosaurs to the human body and the way different cultures live – designed mostly for kids, but adults will also get a lot from it.

Opening Times: Mon-Sat 1000-1800, Sun 1100-1800.
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Times Square, Newcastle, United Kingdom
Telephone: (0191) 243 8210.
Website: www.life.org.uk/life-science-centre
Newcastle Cathedral (Cathedral Church of St Nicholas)

Beautiful atmosphereric late-medieval building devoted to the story of the city, its diocese, and some of its heroes.

Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
Unesco: No
Address: St Nicholas Churchyard, Newcastle, United Kingdom
Telephone: (0191) 232 1939.
Website: www.stnicholascathedral.co.uk
Newcastle United Football Club

Football really is like a religion on Tyneside and witnessing 50,000 Magpies' supporters, all clad in the famous black and white home shirt, erupt when a goal is scored is an experience not to be missed. The stadium is located right in the heart of the city. Tours can be arranged on match days and non-match days.

Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: St James' Park, Newcastle, United Kingdom
Telephone: (0191) 261 1571 or 0844 372 1892 (Stadium Tours).
Website: www.nufc.co.uk
Segedunum

Segedunum (“segger-doon-um”) Roman Fort is the nearest section of Hadrian's Wall to Newcastle. It features a reconstructed bath house, a museum of artefacts and a replica full-size section of the wall which once stretched 73 miles west from here. A lofty viewing tower looks down on the site.

Opening Times: Mon-Sun 1000-1700 (summer); Mon-Sun 1000-1500 (winter).
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Buddle Street, Newcastle, United Kingdom
Telephone: (0191) 236 9347.
Website: www.twmuseums.org.uk/segedunum
Seven Stories

The only exhibition space in the UK dedicated to the celebration of British children's literature stages a continuous variety of activities for visitors and includes a huge bookshop.

Opening Times: Mon-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1000-1600.
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: 30 Lime Street, Newcastle, United Kingdom
Telephone: 0845 271 0777.
Website: www.sevenstories.org.uk
The Biscuit Factory

Britain’s biggest commercial art gallery (everything is for sale from around £25 upwards) is housed in beautifully renovated premises. The quality of its paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, photography, ceramics, jewellery and glass is consistently excellent and just looking is almost as rewarding as buying. It also offers an excellent café and restaurant.

Opening Times: Sun-Mon 1100-1700, Tues-Wed and Fri-Sat 1000-1800, Thurs 1000-2000.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Stoddart Street, Newcastle, United Kingdom
Telephone: (0191) 261 1103.
Website: www.thebiscuitfactory.com
The Sage Gateshead

Opened in 2004 as a cutting-edge international music centre, Sir Norman Foster's stunning elegant steel-and-glass curved design has made this Newcastle’s answer to Sydney’s Opera House or Bilbao’s Guggenheim.

Opening Times: Daily 0900-2100 (closes later in summer).
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Gateshead Quays, Newcastle, United Kingdom
Telephone: (0191) 443 4661.
Website: www.thesagegateshead.org
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