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Newcastle Travel Guide

About Newcastle

Firmly ensconced as one of the most vibrant cities in northern England, Newcastle upon Tyne continues to flourish as a visitor destination. Once a struggling post-industrial centre, it now boasts a fabled nightlife scene and some top cultural attractions, set within a compact city centre.

The warmth and humour of the Geordie spirit is legendary (as is the citywide passion for Newcastle United Football Club, or “The Toon”) and visitors can expect an animated experience.

On the outskirts, Antony Gormley’s instantly recognisable Angel of the North looms over the landscape, its broad steel “wings” recalling the area’s industrial past. The theme continues in the city itself: much of Newcastle's renaissance has emerged around the River Tyne with smart new hotels and restaurants looking out onto attractions such as the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art (a former mill) and the still-iconic arch of the Tyne Bridge.

Alongside these, however, gleaming projects such as the Millennium Bridge and the remarkable Sage Gateshead bring things spinning into the present day. Collectively, Newcastle and Gateshead have helped stimulate cultural interest in the north east.

For history buffs, the city has plenty to offer too with a heritage dating back to Roman times. Newcastle has close links to Hadrian’s Wall and remnants of the stone barricade still survive around the city. Elsewhere, the Castle Keep dates back to the 12th century, while the beautiful Georgian and Victorian facades of Grey Street, including the Theatre Royal, are among the finest in England.

That much-vaunted nightlife scene shows no signs of dimming in intensity either - the Bigg Market area is the best known for its after dark antics, but it’s by no means the city’s only hotspot. Then there’s the designer shopping, riverside markets and a lively events calendar that all contribute to Newcastle being one of England’s greatest cities.

Key facts

Population:
292200
Latitude:
54.977840
Longitude:
-1.612917
A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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Featured Hotels

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Grey Street Hotel

Situated inside a Grade II listed building, this wonderful boutique hotel offers suitably classy accommodation with high ceilings, elegant Georgian bedrooms and triple-glazed windows. Rooms come with free Wi-Fi, plasma TVs, DVD and CD players and beds worth spending time in. Its onsite restaurant, The Living Room, is rather good too.

Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel

The huge 254-room Hilton enjoys a superb riverside location 10 minutes from the city centre and close to the Baltic, the Sage Gateshead and the Millennium Bridge. Facilities at the hotel include a gym, swimming pool, spa and sauna, but the real draw is the stunning panoramic views of the quayside area. Excellent value off-season.

Copthorne Hotel

The Copthorne Hotel Newcastle is situated on the cosmopolitan Quayside and affords spectacular views of the River Tyne and its famous bridges. This hotel offers 156 comfortable guest rooms and a restaurant offering panoramic views over the river. There is also a gym, swimming pool and a steam room.

Staybridge Suites

This modern skyscraper offers good rates for travellers in the thriving commercial district of Itaim Bibi with fabulous vistas towards Moema district from the corporate top floor rooms. The Staybridge is also conveniently incorporated into an open mall with a cinema, gym and restaurants, so there's no need to risk life and limb crossing busy surrounding roads to go out.

Mercure Newcastle County Hotel

Located opposite Central Station, this attractive hotel makes the most of its listed, 19th-century features with 114 sympathetically restored rooms. There are also 18 premier executive rooms to choose from. The informal onsite restaurant is very good and guests are granted free access to the nearby Body Zone fitness centre.

Express by Holiday Inn

Slap bang in the middle of town, and with the Holiday Inn stamp of familiarity, this modern 3-star hotel features 130 comfortable bedrooms with flatscreen TVs, free Wi-Fi and tea and coffee making facilities. It underwent a beautifying refurbishment in 2015 and also has a fully licensed bar. Breakfast included.