Things to do in Newcastle
Visitors to Newcastle-upon-Tyne explore the city's maritime history at the Discovery Museum in the city centre, or take a City Sightseeing Tour to get their bearings, beginning at the Central Station. A beacon of modern art, the BALTIC Centre dominates the Gateshead riverside, and the past beckons at the Beamish North of England Open Air Museum, where a colliery village is brought back to life with costumed actors and steam trains.
Discovery Museum
The Tyne's history
The Discovery Museum, set in Newcastle's city centre west, focuses on the
history of Tyneside. The reconstructed Turbinia, a steam-powered ship, takes
pride of place, alongside the interactive Science Maze and displays of goods
manufactured on Tyneside in the past.
E-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening Hours
Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 2pm-5pm
Address
Blandford Square, Newcastle, NE1 4JA
Telephone
+44 (0) 191 232 6789
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art
Landmark mill turned gallery
One of Britain's liveliest modern art galleries, the Baltic Centre occupies a
former flour mill on Gateshead's waterfront. Exhibitions from the likes of
Brian Eno and Beryl Cook cause occasional controversy. Visit the Rooftop
Restaurant for great views.
E-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening Hours
Daily 10am-6pm (from 10.30am Tue)
Address
South Shore Rd, Gateshead, Newcastle NE8 3BA
Telephone
+44 (0) 191 478 1810
Transport
Quaylink bus Q1 from Newcastle Central Station
Website
Castle Keep
Newcastle's Norman roots
The last remaining part of the building after which Newcastle was named,
12th-century Castle Keep has superb views across the city centre and bridges
over the Tyne. Visitors explore the Great Hall, with its 19th-century
vaulted ceiling, and the museum.
E-mail this item
Cost
£4; concessions £2.50
Opening Hours
Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 12pm-5pm
Address
Castle Garth, Saint Nicholas St, Newcastle, NE1 1RQ
Telephone
+44 (0) 191 232 7938
Jesmond Dene
Rural idyll in town
The Jesmond Dene park, with its pretty waterfalls on the banks of the
Ouseburn, features a boating lake and a Sunday market. Set in Newcastle's
city centre, it was left to the city by industrialist William Armstrong 120
years ago.
E-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening Hours
24 hours
Address
Jesmond Vale, Jesmond, Newcastle, NE2 3QJ
Telephone
+44 (0) 191 281 0973
City Sightseeing Tour
Tour of Tyneside
Visitors get a feel for the diversity of Newcastle and Gateshead by taking
one of the two red City Sightseeing buses from Newcastle Central Station in
the city centre. A multilingual commentary points out highlights, including
BALTIC and The Sage.
E-mail this item
Cost
£8; concessions £6; children £4
Opening Hours
Apr-Oct: Daily 10.30am-3.30pm, every 30-60 minutes; Nov & Dec: weekends only 10.30am-2.30pm, every 60 minutes
Address
Newcastle, NE1 5DL
Telephone
+44 (0)1708 866 000
Beamish: the North of England Open Air Museum
Reliving the northeast's past
Visitors step back in time at the The North of England Open Air Museum in
Beamish, just outside Newcastle. An 1820s steam train transports you to
Pockerely Manor and a 1913 colliery village, complete with actors in ornate
costumes.
E-mail this item
Cost
Apr-Oct: £16, students/seniors £13, children 5-16 £10;Nov-Mar: £7.50, students/children 5-16 £6; under 5s free
Opening Hours
Please check website as opening times and dates vary according to season
Address
Beamish, Newcastle DH9 0RG
Telephone
+44 (0)191 370 4000
Transport
Bus 28 or 28A from Eldon Square in Beamish
