Situated in North East England just a few kilometres away from the North Sea, Newcastle has a diverse architectural history combining several historical periods. It’s home to the prestigious Newcastle University as well as many spectacular landmarks and attractions.
Although a day is never enough to truly experience the atmosphere of any city, below is a list of ten places to visit in Newcastle if you’re headed there on a day trip.
1. Newcastle Cathedral
📍 St. Nicholas Sq, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1PF
Newcastle Cathedral is one of the first landmarks you will see if you’re travelling to the city by train. It’s located at the heart of Newcastle and is also known as the Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas. Inside you can see marble monuments, carved glass, nave furnishings and memorials from the 13th century onwards. The cathedral is free to enter and open every day of the week so it’s worth adding to your to-do list if you’re passing by it.
2. Newcastle Castle
📍 The Black Gate, Castle Garth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1RQ
Hands down one of the best spots for panoramic shots of the city is Newcastle Castle. The Norman castle is only a minute or two away from the cathedral and showcases the rich history of Newcastle and the story behind its name. As part of your entry ticket you can take the stairs up to the tower where you can enjoy a 360° view of the city looking at Newcastle Cathedral, Sage Gateshead as well as the three famous bridges – Swing, Tyne and Millennium.
If you’re planning to pay a visit to the castle, keep in mind that it’s open every day of the week except for Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You can buy tickets either online or when you arrive at the site.
3. Swing Bridge
📍 10A Bridge St, Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead NE8 2BH
Bridge #1 of the iconic Newcastle bridges is the Swing Bridge. Its construction was finalised in 1876 when the bridge began facilitating both road and river traffic.
Nowadays the Swing Bridge is only rotated in cases when larger yachts need to pass by or when it’s undergoing a monthly maintenance check.
4. Tyne Bridge
📍 A167, Newcastle upon Tyne
Bridge #2 is Tyne Bridge and probably my favourite because of its architectural design as well as the view it offers. Standing nearly 60m tall, the Tyne Bridge is the largest single-span steel arch bridge on the British Isles. Strolling across it is a must!
5. Gateshead Millennium Bridge
📍 S Shore Rd, Gateshead NE8 3BA
Bridge #3 is Gateshead Millennium Bridge and another one of my favourites. It connects Quayside with the arts quarter of Gateshead and is solely for pedestrians and cyclists. It’s also the world’s first tilting bridge which means that it rotates about fixed endpoints instead of bending or lifting. It’s something that you need to see with your own eyes to comprehend how impressive the construction is!
6. Sage Gateshead
📍 Sage, St Mary’s Square, Gateshead NE8 2JR
Sage Gateshead is a key cultural centre of the North and a well-known concert venue on the south bank of the River Tyne. I was astonished by the design and curved glass structure of the building which can be recognised from afar and photographed from the top of Newcastle Castle and the Tyne Bridge.
To get to Sage Gateshead you can either pass through the Tyne Bridge or walk along Quayside until you get to Gateshead Millennium Bridge.
7. Laing Art Gallery
📍 New Bridge St W, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8AG
Like most cultural facilities in the UK, the Laing Art Gallery is free to enter and exhibits paintings, watercolours and historical objects. In there you can see John Martin’s striking painting The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The gallery is open every day except for Sundays and Bank Holidays between 10 am and 4:30 pm and you don’t need to book your visit in advance so you can pop in at any point during your stay in Newcastle.
8. Grey’s Monument & Grey Street
📍 150 Grainger St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5AF
Grey’s Monument was built in 1838 in commemoration of Earl Grey, British Prime Minister between 1830 and 1834. The monument is one of Newcastle’s most famous landmarks and is easy to spot standing at 134ft tall. An interesting fact about its foundation stone is that there is a time capsule buried beneath it containing a drawing of the monument, a list of subscribers to its erection and a collection of coins, medals and tokens.
On the other hand, Grey Street links Quayside and Newcastle’s main shopping area. Along the street, you can find cafes, restaurants and shops as well as Theatre Royal, the North East’s finest and most historic theatre.
9. Grainger Market
📍 Grainger St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5QQ
Grainger Market is an indoor market with vintage boutiques, small shops and food stalls offering anything from bread and cakes to Greek street food and delicious pizza. It’s home to the smallest M&S branch also known as Marks and Spencer’s Original Penny Bazaar.
You can visit the market any time of the week between 9 am and 5:30 pm except for Sundays when the market is shut.
10. Newcastle University
📍 Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU
Although Newcastle University is technically not a landmark, its campus has beautiful art installations and teaching facilities. I was especially eager to check out the campus because I was accepted into the university a couple of years ago but it ended up being my second choice after Leeds University.
Seeing Newcastle University’s teaching spaces made me realise that even if I hadn’t chosen to study in Leeds, I would have still enjoyed my life in Newcastle. The city is very welcoming and has plenty to offer to people of all backgrounds.
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