With its varied attactions and its proximity to beautiful countryside and unspoiled beaches, Newcastle is well placed to cater for visitors' every need.
Whether it's for a visit en route to visiting Hadrian's Wall or a weekender taking in an Arena show, the city is both an ideal stop-off and a destination in itself, with its mix of restaurants, bars, theatres, galleries, museums and historical sites. It's no surprise that first-time visitors will struggle to choose what to do and see while those who live here may well appreciate a reminder of treasures on their doorstep that they have neglected for some time.
Recently, some of the city's best-loved attractions joined together in a call-out to people to revisit the likes of galleries and museums whose visitor numbers have not recovered since the pandemic. We include some of those in our list here of suggestions for the best things to do and see in Newcastle.
Read more: Newcastle attractions urge 'come back to culture'
From a true Geordie shopping experience to a rural surprise in the city, our top 10 offers ideas to appeal to both visitors to Newcastle and those who are lucky enough to live here.
Grainger Market
Grainger Street, NE1 5QQ
The historic Grainger Market the city centre offers a rich slice of Geordie life, where generations of shoppers have found everything from household essentials to random objects needed once in a blue moon, from plug adaptors and thread to overalls and watch batteries. It may have come a long way since the days of whole hanging rabbits for sale, and cuisine from around the world is now on offer under its arched roof, but history lies in every corner. Don't miss Marks & Spencer Penny Bazaar and the old Weigh Hall and treat yourself to some Pumphrey's coffee and local cheeses from Matthew's.
St James's Park
Barrack Road, NE1 4ST
It's once more a place where fans' dreams are being realised and anyone wanting to share the new mood that reigns over the home of Newcastle United can visit even without a ticket to the match. Stadium tours are on offer which capture the rich history of what has been the club's home since 1892. The classic tour includes walking down that famous tunnel - accompanied by the sound of the roar from the crowd - as well as checking out the players' seats in the home dressing room, seeing where the manager delivers the post-match press conference and having an eagle-eye view of the pitch from one of the highest points of the stadium.
Discovery Museum
Blandford Square, NE1 4JA
If you want to dip into the city's proud past then a few feet over the threshold of this museum will bring you face to face with Turbinia, the fastest ship in the world back in the day. Charles Parsons' 1894 creation is one of the region's firsts - the first steam turbine-powered steamship in this case - and others include Stephenson's Rocket, the 1829 speed record-breaking steam locomotive which was build nearby and which in 2018 had a home visit to Discovery as part of The Exhibition of the North. Explore more science and engineering triumphs at the museum here.
Jesmond Dene
NE7 7DA
Even in the midst of the city you can enjoy a rural escape and this little haven of green tranquillity is on the city doorstep. Anyone needing a bit of a breather from an action-packed day can wander among the trees and might even spot a kingfisher or red squirrel. Failing that, the Pet's Corner has more familiar sights such as goats and rabbits. Newcastle actually has far more green space than most cities of course with its Town Moor, made up of little moors, covering around 1,000 acres of open space where you can enjoy walks and picnics.
Crown Posada
31 The Side, NE1 3JE
It's one of the city's oldest and best-loved pubs and it's perfectly placed to combine a stroll, or a stagger, along the quayside. It's also a historic gem, with its Victorian snug and stained glass windows. Having only recently reopened following a lockdown closure of almost two years - with a revamp and takeover by Ladhar Group - it seems now is also a perfect time for locals to remind themselves of what they've been missing. See here.
Laing Art Gallery
New Bridge Street, NE1 8AG
Mere steps away from Newcastle Library and the city's main shopping area of Northumberland Street is this well-loved gallery which will be in the spotlight later in the year when it hosts a rare visit 'home' from the Lindisfarne Gospels. Tickets are already on sale to see the famous illustrated manuscript but ahead of that there is plenty to occupy visitors with its own store of treasures, regular exhibitions featuring local artists to nationally-recognised paintings, a children’s area for dressing up and interactive learning and a chill-out cafe.
Bessie Surtees
41-44 Sandhill, NE1 3JF
It's been closed since the pandemic but the famous house where Bessie Surtees eloped from the upper window with John Scott, later Lord Chancellor, is due to have a special opening during The Late Shows this May so let's hope its normal opening times soon follow suit. While there's much to admire on the outside in its ancient wood-pannelled Jacobean architecture, there's something about treading the wonky boards inside that really captures the sense of history and romance behind the tale. See here.
Grey's Monument
150 Grainger Street, NE1 5AF
The routine meeting point for Geordies everywhere - which means quite a scrum on a Saturday when everyone is trying to watch for their friends emerging from the adjacent Metro station - the 40-metre high column to the man whose name inspired the tea that bears his name is well worth a visit, and a climb if you're up for it. Those tours to the top are only occasional but they make for great photo opportunities: you can see a full 360-degrees and peer up at the statue of the man who played a role in the passing of the Great Reform Act 1832 - and whose head was knocked off by a lightning strike in 1941, then repaired and replaced in 1947 (the statue's, that is). Look out for tour information here.
Great North Museum: Hancock
Barras Bridge, NE2 4PT
At the top end of town is this labyrinth of a museum - turn one way and a stuffed lion is poised above; turn another and there's an Egyptian mummy in a case. There are all sorts of exhibits waiting to be discovered and doing its duties in the true style of a traditional musuem, Hancock has natural history collections, a reconstruction of Hadrian’s Wall and a life-size Tyrannosaurus Rex replica - but also lots of new interactive attractions and a focus on environmental matters. See here.
Victoria Tunnel
Ouse Street, Byker, NE1 2PF
Coming as a real surprise to visitors, there is lurking beneath the city a preserved 19th Century waggonway running from the Town Moor to the River Tyne river which was originally built to transport coal from Spital Tongues Colliery to the river in the 1800s. Tours are available taking people through certain sections of this unique attraction. Listen out for atmospheric sounds too adding to the experience, such as an air raid siren which recalls the time the tunnel was converted into an air-raid shelter to accommodate thousands of Newcastle residents during the Second World War. Keep an eye out here for tours.
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