Newcastle upon Tyne

Seven bridges span the River Tyne within a short stretch, and one of them tilts like a blinking eye to let ships pass. A city break in Newcastle upon Tyne combines industrial history with elegant architecture, modern art on the riverbank, a legendary nightlife scene and the warmth of the locals, who call themselves Geordies.

From Roman Wall to Coal Town

The Romans built a bridge and a fort here at the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall; at Wallsend, the Segedunum excavation site shows what remains. The Normans erected a new castle that gave the city its name, and its keep and the Black Gate still stand today. For centuries Newcastle exported coal, and the expression "carrying coals to Newcastle" stands for doing something entirely unnecessary. In the 19th century shipbuilding and mechanical engineering followed, and George and Robert Stephenson built locomotives here. In the 1830s the town planners Richard Grainger and John Dobson shaped the neoclassical center known as Grainger Town.

Sights in Newcastle

Grey Street, curving and lined with honey-colored sandstone façades, is considered one of the most beautiful streets in England; at its end stands Grey's Monument, honoring Prime Minister Earl Grey, for whom the tea is also named. The Tyne Bridge of 1928 is the city's landmark, while Robert Stephenson's High Level Bridge carries road and rail on two levels. At the Quayside, the Gateshead Millennium Bridge links Newcastle with Gateshead on the south bank, where the BALTIC arts center, housed in an old flour mill, shows contemporary art and the curving music venue The Glasshouse hosts concerts. A little way outside town, Antony Gormley's Angel of the North spreads its steel wings.

Eating and Going Out

Newcastle is famous for its nightlife. On the Bigg Market and the Quayside the bars fill up on weekends, while Ouseburn Valley, east of the center, is the alternative neighborhood, with pubs in old workshops, live music and a city farm. In the pubs, you order a Newcastle Brown Ale, and typical food includes the stottie cake, a flat bread filled with ham and pease pudding. The Sunday market on the Quayside offers street food and crafts, and the covered Grainger Market, dating from 1835, is home to butchers, bakers and the smallest store in the Marks & Spencer chain, which still operates as the Penny Bazaar.

Soccer and Festivals

Newcastle United FC plays at St James' Park in the middle of the city, and on match days black-and-white jerseys are everywhere. In September the Great North Run, one of the largest half marathons in the world, crosses the Tyne Bridge on its way to the coast at South Shields.

Getting There and Best Time to Visit

Newcastle Airport is about 25 minutes away by Metro; London is just under three hours away by train, and Edinburgh an hour and a half. The Metro also runs to the beaches at Tynemouth and Whitley Bay. The best time to visit is from May to September. Day trips lead to Hadrian's Wall, to Durham with its cathedral, and to the Northumberland coast.