Newcastle Overview
Newcastle is the largest city between Leeds and Scotland and due to its position on the River Tyne, Newcastle played a major role in the UK’s industrial revolution which allowed the city to grow and develop greatly. The city was finally granted ‘City Status’ in 1882 and has since then become a major retail, commercial and culture centre. An interesting building from Newcastle’s past is the Black Gate castle, built in 1247 and completed in 1250 the castle is now used to show visitors around in order to teach them about the history of Newcastle with very engaging tour guides you will be sure to learn a lot on your visit.
Saltwell Park is one of the 10 most popular parks in the whole of the UK, this is due to it being a perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the busy city whilst not travelling to far out of the city. In the heart of the park you will find Saltwell Towers, this is a superb Gothic mansion which has recently been restored to its former Victorian glory, which now boasts a well-equipped visitor centre and tea room making it the perfect place for a day out. If you would like to know what life was like during the Roman times in Newcastle then head to Segedunum Roman Fort, when you are here you will find the remains of Hadrian’s wall which was a 73-mile wall that was built to protect the Roman empire. You will also discover original artefacts and witness the fort brought back to life with interactive exhibits and models in the museum. Newcastle is always being watched over by The Angel of the North, this is a statue built in 1998 made of steel, it measures at 20m tall with a wing span of 54 metres meaning you are able to see it from most parts of the city.
Things to do in Newcastle
Live Theatre is a new writing theatre that produces and presents new plays as well as nurturing creative talent, it has had productions that have been written and produced there that have gone on to winning awards and being shown in the West End in London. The theatre has productions every weekend and some in the week making it a definite visit if you live in Newcastle. Similarly, to the Live Theatre there is also the Northern Stage theatre whose mission is to create engaging, imaginative and politically correct productions. The theatre also holds group activities for those who would like to learn new skills in drama and music which makes it a great place to visit if you enjoy trying something new.
One of the best ways to explore and learn about the city you live in is to join a tour from the Personalised Touring Service company who try and make tours a little bit more exciting but still keeping the information side of it very accurate. The service runs all year round and boasts a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. At the Palace of Arts, you will find Wylam Brewery which is a 30-barrel microbrewery that was founded in the year 2000, the brewery is free to enter and operates independently from the Grand Hall. The Grand Hall is a part of the Palace of Arts where events are held, they host anything from cooking contests, DJ sets and even concerts making it an all-round fantastic place to visit.
Newcastle is home to two of the biggest shopping centres’ in the UK making it the perfect destination for those who enjoy taking the stress out of university life with a bit of retail therapy. Within the shopping centres’ you will find a wide range of shops; department stores, independent shops, chains and even a food court with a varied selection of foods. The original Fenwick department store is also located within the city centre and boasts a whopping five stories of shops, at this centre you will find some of the UK’s most sought-after brands such as Barbour, you will also find one of the largest cosmetic halls in the country.
Sport in Newcastle
Although Newcastle being well known for its football team, the city offers a lot more than just football. The Newcastle Falcon’s Rugby Club are an English Rugby Union team that plays in the English top division. Gateshead International Stadium regularly hosts some of the countries best in international athletics, you will also find; climbing walls, dry ski slopes, surfing school, and the UK’s largest water park making Newcastle a great place for sport and staying healthy.
Escape Newcastle
One of the most common places Newcastle residents visit to escape the city life is South Shields, the reason for this is because Ocean Beach Pleasure Park resides there. It is a free to enter the amusement park, but you will have to buy tokens for the rides, if you look online before you visit you will find special offers on bulk buying tokens which will save you money. To the west of the city you have the North Pennines which are a range of hills that run north-south which makes for beautiful scenery and a perfect place to go for a walk.
Transport in Newcastle
Running through the outskirts of Newcastle you have the A1 which runs all the way from Edinburgh in Scotland all the way down to London, from this road you will be able to access the countries motorway network which can take you to most parts of the UK. You are able to travel via; metro, train, bus, taxis and many more options when you are in the city. The University campus has its own station on the Metro rapid-transit underground system. You are able to get flights to several destinations in the UK from Newcastle Airport.
