Culture and sightseeing in Newcastle

If you're into partying, Newcastle is the place. There are large college campuses, plus lots of bars and clubs. The Quayside provides several restuarants and bars, whilst the Bigg Market is famous for its pubs and clubs. Shopping is also a popular pastime here! There are some excellent shopping opportunities. Eldon Square is a big indoor mall with many high street name stores. The Metrocentre is one of the biggest in Europe, complete with a roller coaster (which is not remotely frightening). Musuems and day trips out of the city are also good.

Quick Tips:

The Discovery Museum and the Laing Gallery are free, and so are the musuems of the University of Newcastle.

Internet access is available from 'The Internet Exchange' just opposite the Tourist Information Centre on Grainger Street, a few minutes walk from Monument metro.

Most hotels here cater for the business and conference trade, and are not cheap. There are two youth hostels here, both in the same area. I have never stayed there, being local, but I have heard no bad reports about them either.

Best Way To Get Around:

Public transport is the better option, as parking in Newcastle itself can be horrendous. The city is well served by the Metro System. This is a rapid transport system, some of it underground, in the city centre. It links most parts of Tyneside, including Newcastle International Airport and the nearby city of Sunderland, plus the coast. Everywhere else is well served by buses. Some buses go to the Northumberland coast and national park area, though these are less frequent.

Get an explorer ticket if you want to explore Northumberland and County Durham by bus. Out of the city, bus fares are very expensive and this will be a saving. For the Metro, you can buy a day pass for unlimited travel. Day returns are also a good deal if you have definite plans.

I ate here before Christmas. This restaurant is Mongolian, but it is very similar to Chinese. Go for the banquet. This offers an all-you-can-eat buffet for each course. The appetiser is at first misleading. There is a wide table range with a huge range of dishes. All of my favourite chinese dishes were there, plus because it was a help-yourself buffet, I was able to try many new ones. There was an extensive selection for vegetarians, and plenty of fish and meat-based dishes. Many people make the mistake of filling themselves up at this stage. But, there is more to come. For the main course, you go to another section. You choose whatever you want on a plate - vegetables, meat, fish, meat substitutes, and there is a range of sauces to choose from. It is then cooked for you and brought to your table. Finally, desert; again it is back to the buffet. There was a good selction of fresh fruits, like pineapple, and ice cream. The food is well priced and good value. Watch out for the drinks. Avoid the red house wine unless you really don't mind what you drink. The restaurant is on Newcastle Quayside, about 10 minutes walk from the nearest metro, Monument.

This restaurant is right beside the Warner Brothers cinema complex, opposite Manors Metro Station. It is a lovely place. I have eaten here quite a few times. The starters choice is good, and includes salsa, nachos, salads etc. The main courses are really something. They offer a wide range, like Chili bowls, enchilladas, fajitas, and chimmichangas. The vegetarian ranges are wonderful, far better than the meat-based mains. All mains come with sour cream and a spicy side salad, and extras, like fries, are also available. The fries and cheese are to be recommended. Deserts are a bit hit and miss. Avoid the fried ice cream claim. It does not live up to what it says on the menu! One area where this restaurant really comes into its own is in its cocktail selection. It has an extensive list of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails. Some of these are purely heavenly. There is a non-alcoholic one of pinepapple and tropical fruit juices that is to die for. However, they do not come cheap. This is to be recommended, especially after seeing a movie at the cinema.

This is one of the main fish and chip (fries to American visitors) restaurants in Newcastle. The takeaway downstairs sells the same food cheaper. It is centrally located and easy to find. There is the usual range of dishes - mainly fish, sausage, pies and chips. There is little for vegetarians, though they do some soggy quiches. The restaurant is quite comfortable and service is prompt. One major let down is the staff however. They are quite rude, hurried and unfriendly; they have a tendency to make you feel unwelcome. Do not ask them about alternative vegetarian options unless you really enjoy getting the full brunt of their rudeness. They hate vegetarians with a passion. In some ways I sympathise with what they have to put up with - I have worked in a fish and chip shop. It is a truly awful job, very low paid, very long hours, and dirty, sweaty and greasy. However, a little courtesy for the customers would not be amiss. In its favor, the portions are huge and the chips are wonderful, and it is a good budget choice. I would not recommend it for vegetarians though.

This is one of my favorite lunch spots. It is very cheap - pure broke backpackers fare (and a few metro stops from the local YHA hostel), but good quality. There is a varied menu, including burgers, fries, kebabs, and pizzas. My favorite is the salad in pita bread. For only £1.50 this is VERY filling. The salad is in a lovely dressing. If you're really ravenous but need cheap food, have some fries with it. I have never been able to finish that combination. Best of all, the food is good quality, cooked fresh to order, hot, and well-cooked without being greasy. In here, you order your food at the counter, then take a seat. Or you can take it away for the same price. There is no alcohol on sale, just cans of soft drinks. All of the people I have seen getting served have had really nice looking food. I recommend this strongly. There are many other cheap joints, but this is one of the best for the portion size and quality. For a few pounds, you can have a really good fill. Haymarket bus station and metro is the nearest, around the corner. Northumbria university campus is very close by.

The Metrocentre is one of the biggest indoor shopping complexes in Europe. This is the place to come if you believe the stereotypes that the North of England is all a place of grinding poverty. You will see blatant consumerism that you thought you had left behind when you set off travelling.

It is split into four quadrants and two levels - blue, red, yellow and green. For your own sake make a note of which quadrant you enter. Numerous cars have been reported stolen from the car parks and it has turned out that the owners are looking in the wrong place! There are hundreds of parking spaces over several car parks. In addition, the Metrocentre is served by frequent buses and trains from Newcastle Eldon Square bus station and Gateshead Interchange metro station.

All of the high street stores you could wish for are here, plus several speciality shops. Whatever you want, you'll find it. There are hundreds of shops. There are several bookshops, music shops, phone shops, jewellers, clothes shops, toy stores, and gift stores. Woods is one of my favourite stores, for music.

If you get tired of this scene, try the Mediterranean village. This is far too twee for my liking, but it is an area laid out like a Mediterranean village with outdoor cafes. With the British weather, that is usually the nearest you will get to pavement cafes.

Metroland is the Amusement park. The rollercoaster there would not scare a pre-schooler, but it has some good views from the top. If you have kids, this is some good fun for them. If your idea of a theme park is Alton towers or an American equivalent, you will find this a bit flat. It is a bit of fun but not exactly an adrenaline rush.

There is a wide range of restaurants of varying cusines. I tend to eat at the foodcourt, where there is a big selection but mostly budget stuff. Try the Pizza place for a cheap lunch, or Singapore Sams. The usual fast food restuarants have several branches, including McDonalds, Burger King, and Pizza Hut. The Mexican restuarant Chiquittos has a branch here. There are several Italian restaurants in the Mediterranean village.

For other entertainment, there are usually free performances going on in the squares, especially for children during school holidays. That said, during school holidays and near Christmas, it can be VERY crowded. There is a cinema complex and a few bars. There is also a chapel here if you need a place for quiet reflection. Public toilets are free but few and far between, so go whilst you have the chance, and expect a queue.

This is my parents' favorite bar. I was very impressed when they took me. Despite the name it is not a themed bar. I thought it might be, as Batman and Robin hail from a fictional Gotham City. It is lively but without being crowded. Seating is spread out over several areas and it is quite spacious. They have an extensive cocktails list, the reason for it attracting my parents. My parents swear by 'Brandy Alexanders'. This is STRONG stuff. WARNING - don't try this if you're already loaded with alcohol. Believe me, I have seen a few people suffer badly from this concoction. Ideally, you need to be a fairly hardened drinker. If you're into whisky, look out for a cocktail called 'Mile High'. The cocktails are not cheap, but can be included as part of a budget night out if your careful not to overdo it (for the sake of your body, don't overdo it!) or for a special occasion. Standard drinks are around the going price everywhere, but look out - they ALWAYS have special offers. These change from time to time. Look out for the posters above the bar. Otherwise the usual lager would be the cheapest drink. It is a relaxed informal bar where you can go to chat with friends. It is opposite Central Station, where the nearest Metro is.

Newcastle is an excellent base for day trips. I will try to give you some insider information here.

BEACHES. The best beaches are in Northumberland. Getting there involves a bus trip from the Haymarket bus station (beside Haymarket Metro). My favourite beach is CRESSWELL. It's really sandy, with lovely big high dunes. It can be reached by bus X33 from Newcastle. Sunday and evening service is limited, so check carefully first. NEWBIGGIN has quite a good beach, and is a small former fishing village. It is quite faded and run down now. Try bus 432. SEAHOUSES is very popular, also as a destination for cruises to the Farne Islands. There is a 2 hourly bus service.

If you want convenience by public transport, go to those accessible by Metro. For all of these destinations, the Metro runs frequently from early morning to late evening. WHITELY BAY is a favourite one. The town centre has a good selection of restuarants and St. Mary's lighthouse is a popular visitors' spot. At the end of the day, it becomes a popular evening spot, especially among the younger population, with several bars. Check the times of the last Metro carefully! Nearby TYNEMOUTH is more upmarket, but suffers delusions of grandeur. It has some nice shops, and a good stretch of beach, but its sense of superiority is perhaps not justified. Still,the Tynemouth priory is nice to visit. SOUTH SHIELDS is another good choice. The town centre has a nice art gallery, and there are several good eating and shopping options as well.

POPULAR SIGHTS - The village of WARKWORTH is very touristy, but very very pretty. Warkworth castle is in ruins, but intact enough to give you a good idea of what it was like. In the village, St. Lawrence's church carries a lot of history. Warkworth was the scene of many former battles between the Scots and the English. Look out for Bridge End house by the bridge. This is a wonderful building, but sadly not open to the public. Bus 518 stops at the castle and in the village centre from Haymarket bus station. Nearby AMBLE is a short stroll down the river. They describe themselves as "Britain's friendliest port." That is a bit of truth-stretching though. I went to school there: I know. The marina is a popular strolling spot. Also in North Northumberland, BAMBURGH castle is finely preserved and is justifiably popular as a tourist site. There is a good beach there too. Ask at the Haymarket about the infrequent buses.

Going the other way, DURHAM is a historic city with a famous university. The Cathedral and castle are wonderful to visit. There is so much there that a prolonged stay would be better, but if you're doing it as a day-trip, trains leave from Central station often, and there are frequent buses. BEAMISH is an open air musuem near the town of Chester-le-street. It is set around a mining village. The drift mine tour is interesting and so are the tram rides. It is good for souveniour shopping and will provide a few hours entertainment.

OUTDOORS - Here you might be pushed using public transport. The Cheviots are fantastic for walking. The village of Longframlington is a good base and can be reached by bus. However, the buses to here don't run often and you are still a bit out. Rothbury is an old market town that provides some walking opportunities. It is reached by the same limited bus service as the above, but provides better accommodation options. The only budget spot on the scene is the camping ground though. My favourite outdoor spot is Harewood Forest. This provides several hiking trails in a thick, dense forest with several deer and other good wildlife spotting opportunities.

HADRIANS WALL is famous. This is better if you don't have a car. Bus AD122 from Eldon Square bus station runs along all of the main sites, including Vindolanda and Housesteads, and it calls at all of the main towns on the way, such as Corbridge, Hexham and Haltwhistle. There are some good hiking routes between bus stops.

KEILDER reservoir and forest is also a popular outdoor spot with several campsites. If you're using public transport, it will require an overnight stay. A bus goes from Newcastle about twice a week. There is a youth hostel nearby.