Newcastle is a glorious city that has so much to offer from art to industry, food to lively nights out, museums to classical Victorian and Georgian architecture. It’s a place with an infectious love of life.
A city of two sides
Newcastle-upon-Tyne has a rich history, and the best way to learn about it is to go beneath the city. The Victoria Tunnel runs from Town Moor to the Tyne and was once used to transport coal across the city. Today, it’s one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions and offers plenty to keep you occupied. If you want to experience something a little different, there are a number of ghost tours that take place in the atmospheric tunnel.
The other side of the city is the contemporary, vibrant scene bursting with great shopping and amazing places to eat. Cutting-edge modern art is right at home in the city and you can enjoy it at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art.
The BALTIC captures the vibrancy of the city and features only rotating exhibitions so no two visits are ever the same. There is also a panoramic viewing platform offering amazing views of the city, wonderful at night when the streets come alive.
From Newcastle to Northumberland
Newcastle is perfectly positioned for a trip to the bracing and beautiful Northumberland coast. Spend time just wandering along the glorious stretches of beach that offer more rugged and interesting landscapes than you often find in picturesque seaside towns. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, you can enjoy fresh fish and chips on the seafront, an absolute must when visiting England.
Alnwick is a town worth a detour when you take a trip to the Northumberland coast. It has a charming town centre and is also home to the imposing Alnwick Castle. A filming location for the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone movie, the medieval castle really draws the crowds thanks to all the fantastic family events that are held throughout the year. Concerts, outdoor Shakespeare performances, recreations of medieval life, jousting and even broomstick training are all fun and fire the imagination.
The beauty of Durham
The pretty city of Durham is only a quick drive away, where you can unlock the sights of an elegant university city. It boasts a number of headline attractions, from the winding River Wear to its cobbled streets and vast, gorgeous cathedral, a Romanesque work of wonder. It’s also a university town, with impressive buildings housing one of the finest colleges in the country.
With car rental in Newcastle, you can explore the city, the Tyne, the nearby coast and find out what makes the north-east really tick.