Newcastle City Guide
Eating
Newcastle offers an exciting array of restaurants, bars and cafés,
with vast choices of both traditional and modern venues and with prices to
match everyone’s budget, you won’t be disappointed! If you are
looking for more of a cheap snack than a gourmet meal you could head to the
Bigg Market area where several restaurants can be found. The Quayside boasts
several stylish smart restaurants at slightly higher prices. If you head to
the student suburb of Jesmond you will find a variety of laid-back bars and
cafes and some good alfresco options!
Budget: “Blake’s” (53 Grey
St.) offers a superb range of sandwiches and light meals all on a budget.
With a great atmosphere it can be extremely busy so make sure you arrive early
for lunch!
Mid-Range: There is a huge variety on offer in
the city centre and along the Quayside area, but “Blackfriars”
(Friars St.) comes highly recommended by many. Serving a fusion of British
and International cuisine in a stylish, attractive and completely smoke free
atmosphere. Or you could try “The Living Room” a part of the every
popular chain offering good quality food in trendy relaxed surroundings. “La
Tasca” (Quayside) provides great value tapas in one of the best locations!
Luxury: If you want to splash out on some gastronomic
delights then book into “Treacle Moon” (5-7 The Side, Quayside).
With a cosy and intimate design, the restaurant is famed for its use of the
freshest produce and excellent service.
Drinking & Nightlife
Newcastle is famous for its wild nights out, there are many cheap pubs, bars
and clubs a plenty with something to suit everyone. For the fashionable, stylish
option visit the “Apartment” (28-32 Collingwood Street), based
around the design of a Manhattan apartment many believe it has bought something
completely new to the city, combining drinking, dining and socialising in
this unique setting.
For a traditional pub visit “Offshore 44” (40, Sandhill) serving
beers and cocktails at reasonable prices. “Pitcher and Piano”
(108 The Quayside) is extremely popular in a fantastic location, serving food
and drink late into the night. The Gate development, which houses a variety
of leisure facilities and various bars including “mood” a good
location with both R&B and Dance music on most night. Later on the “Attic”
(25-27 Mosley St) gets very busy, a four floor bar and club complex with various
music genres. “Sea” (Quayside) a popular club with a slightly
older crowd (mainly over 21’s), playing varied music into the early
hours.
Things To See And Do
Hancock Museum: (Barras Bridge, NE1, 0191 2226765). A natural history museum
housing exhibitions of insects, dinosaurs and various aspects of nature. The
museum if free other than for visiting collections.
- Baltic Mill: Contemporary art museum situated south of the Tyne on Gateshead
Quays.
- Beamish Museum: An open air museum re-creating life in the early 1800’s
and 1900’s, Beamish is located in Durham.
- Angel of the North: Designed by Antony Gormley OBE, the massive structure
welcomes visitors to Tyneside from its hilltop location in Gateshead.
- Wet ‘n’ wild: The UK’s largest water park, located approximately
15 minutes drive from the city.
- Gateshead Millennium Bridge: The only tilting bridge in the world! An engineering
spectacle that links Newcastle and Gateshead, fantastic nightime views can
be had along the Quayside.
Shopping
A good starting place is Eldon Square which is a large shopping centre housing
a John Lewis and Fenwicks. Nearby on Northumberland St, the majority of big
name and chain stores can be found. Independent shops congregate throughout
the side streets selling various designer labels and boutique styles.
The Metro Centre is well known as one of the biggest European shopping centres,
situated about 10 minutes from the city centre it’s a good day out.
With free parking, hundreds of top high street stores a multi screen cinema
and leisure attractions all under one roof!
If you are looking for markets you will be impressed by Newcastle’s
offerings. A farmer’s market takes place in Eldon Square, for arts and
crafts there’s Grainger Market or the Quayside market on a Sunday.
Beyond The City
Kielder Forest: 62,000 hectares of forest and the largest man-made lake in
Europe. The area of Kielder forest is a great place to travel to for all kinds
of leisure pursuits such as walking, cycling and various water sports.
Holy Island: Only accessible at low tide, this tiny island has a very religious
background and is only an hour’s drive from Newcastle.
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