The city Newcastle upon Tyne, or more commonly referred to as Newcastle, is one of the most pleasant surprises of north-east England. The city is situated on the River Tyne and is split into 2 parts that are connected by a handful of bridges. Bent steel to granite pillars – they are all unique icons that lend the city its character.
A walk along the Quayside always begins or ends at the newest of the city’s 7 bridges – the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, inaugurated in 2001. This bridge is unique in every sense of the word. The unusual structure consists of 2 steel arches connected by cables and tilts to allow ships to pass. The bridge is also nicknamed the Blinking Eye, as it resembles a large eye that opens and closes.
Newcastle’s recent history is as dark as the coal that was mined here for decades. A booming era was followed by a period of high unemployment; shipyards and mines closed and factory halls stood empty.
In recent years, much of the city’s industrial heritage has found a new purpose. BALTIC, located in former grain silos on the south bank of the River Tyne right next to the Millennium Bridge, houses the international museum of contemporary art. The museum does not have a permanent collection, but instead hosts a variety of temporary exhibits, displayed in 4 rooms. The art is as diverse as the artists themselves, representing every corner of the world – including Newcastle.
The view across the River Tyne from the 5th floor shows a changing city. The collection of building styles is truly bewildering. Also situated on the south bank is Sage Gateshead: a concert hall of glass, aluminium and steel that vaguely resembles a Coca-Cola bottle on its side. The north bank features some exceptional Victorian merchants’ houses. Further along on a hill, a fluttering flag marks Newcastle’s medieval castle. The view from the museum is even more impressive by night, when the Millennium Bridge is illuminated.
Gateshead Quays, South Shore Road, Gateshead NE8 3BA, United Kingdom Google maps