Top attractions in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne include Newcastle Castle, the Discovery Museum, Seven Stories and the Victoria Tunnel.
Newcastle Castle
Is Newcastle’s castle one of the most imposing or impressive in Britain? No. In fact, much of it no longer exists, having fallen into disuse over the centuries.
But the city centre location and sheer explorability makes Newcastle Castle tremendously enjoyable to venture into. The museum-like sections on which family owned the castle during which particular period are dry, but you can essentially have free run of the big medieval keep.
Scamper along passageways, discover old prison cells, clamber up spiral staircases and take in the views of the River Tyne from the turrets.
Discovery Museum
The Discovery Museum neatly runs through Newcastle’s history. Romans set up the initial settlement as the closest realistic place to the mouth for bridging the Tyne River.
Since then, Newcastle has had periods under Viking and Norman control, but the most interesting section covers how the city boomed on the back of exporting coal.
There’s a bit of interactivity mixed in for the kids, but they’ll have more fun in the science section on the top floor.
St James’ Park stadium tours
Newcastle, the northernmost big city in England, is known as a fun-loving, friendly place. But it’s also known for being football-mad.
St James’ Park, home to the perennially unsuccessful Newcastle United, is in the city centre, and the usual stadium tours are complemented with a more adventurous experience where guests don hard hats and high-vis jackets. They then climb high above the stands and take in the views from a series of rooftop walkways. The vertigo-prone may prefer to sit this one out.
Seven Stories
The gorgeous, warm-hearted Seven Stories breathes fresh life into children’s books. At a simple level, this means storytelling sessions and having tea with a lifesize model of the Tiger Who Came To Tea. More ambitious areas look at magic and witchcraft in popular series from the Chronicles of Narnia to Harry Potter, or the different types of story plot.
Amid loftily ambitious attempts to get children creating their own stories and understanding plot structures, there are also plenty of opportunities to dress up and play with puppets.
Victoria Tunnel
The entrance to the Victoria Tunnel lies opposite Seven Stories, and guided tours take you through its unusual history. This 4km tunnel was originally an underground wagonway designed to transport coal from a mine to the River Tyne. In World War II, it was converted into a giant air raid shelter for the city.
There are entertaining anecdotes about dubious shenanigans from both eras, including the gruesome tale of a man crushed to death by a runaway coal wagon. See ouseburntrust.org.uk.
Segedunum Roman Fort
The Victoria tunnel runs under the eastern end of Hadrian’s Wall, the massive boundary barrier stretched across the north of England by the Roman Empire.
The remains of the Segedunum Roman Fort are on display in the suburb of Wallsend, although for a better idea of what a Roman garrison town by the wall looked like, head 30km west to Corbridge Roman Town. The better-preserved ruins here come with explanatory signs about what life was like at the cold, lonely edge of the mighty empire.
Angel of the North
Just south of the city centre, overlooking the A1 trunk road, the Angel of the North is one of the world’s truly great pieces of public art. Antony Gormley’s 20 metre tall statue, with a wingspan of 54 metres, stands on a hill, acting as a grand welcome. It’s worth going to see up close, partly to realise just how comparatively gargantuan it is, and partly to learn the how it was put together in one herculean overnight operation. Access is from the A167, rather than the A1.
Where to stay in Newcastle
The Maldron Hotel aims for distinction through its thoroughly determined yellow and grey colour scheme. But it’s the slightly unusual room set-up of one king bed plus one single bed that make it useful for travelling groups that don’t fit the usual couple or family of four mould.
Location is key for those wanting to enjoy Newcastle’s notorious nightlife, too – the Maldron is within easy stumbling distance of the famously boisterous Bigg Market bar strip.
More North-East England travel guides
Other North-East England travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- A practical guide to visiting Durham Cathedral.
- What to expect when visiting Chesters Roman Fort on Hadrian’s Wall.
- Planning a visit to Homesteads Roman Fort on Hadrian’s Wall.
- Lindisfarne Priory visitor tips.
- How to get the best out of a visit to Alnwick Castle.
