Opening Spring 09
Barras Bridge, Newcastle
0191 222 6765 www.greatnorthmuseum.org
Great North Museum: Hancock is due to open in April. Amongst the highlights of the new £26million museum will be a large-scale, interactive model of Hadrian's Wall, plus new displays showing the wonder and diversity of the natural world, spectacular objects from Ancient Greece and mummies from Ancient Egypt, a planetarium and a life-size T. rex dinosaur skeleton.
Nearest Metro: Haymarket 
Quaylink Bus: Q2 Haymarket
22 Derwent Street, Sunderland
0191 565 1804 www.myspace.com/simplyshakessunderland
Simply Shakes is Sunderland's first milkshake bar. Their delicious milkshakes are made from a traditional high quality recipe, combining milk, ice cream and over 120 different flavours ranging from Aero Mint Bubble and Dime Bar to Creme Egg and Jelly Babies!
Nearest Metro: Sunderland
Across Tyne & Wear
www.nexus.org.uk
Passengers who buy a Metro ticket from the end of January to early March will get their own free work of art at the same time! More than 30 artists have been commissioned to produce tiny works that will fit on the back of the iconic little yellow tickets, issued at random from the ticket machine, as a souvenir of Tyne & Wear's cultural life and legacy.
Nearest Metro: All Metro stations
21 Queen Street, Newcastle
0191 221 0904 www.panhaggerty.com
Pan Haggerty specialises in large portions of hearty British dishes under head chef Simon Wood, who has worked at McCoy's at the BALTIC and the Grainger Rooms. It serves locally-sourced food in dishes such as roast lamb and bubble and squeak, roast shallots and mint gravy. Pan Haggerty, the traditional dish of potatoes, onions and cheese, will be on the menu daily.
Nearest Metro: Central Station Quaylink Bus: Q1/Q2 Quayside
Shipley Place, Byker
0191 276 2174 www.climbnewcastle.com
An indoor climbing centre featuring a coaching room for beginners, a training room housing everything you need to get fit and strong for climbing, plus a steep cellar board area. The main climbing arena is on two levels with coloured circuits of problems; simply pick the colour that matches your desired level and off you go! With plenty of variety from angled boards and funky grooves to more gentle-angles, there's a stack of problems to do whatever your ability.
Nearest Metro: Byker Quaylink Bus: Q1/Q2 Quayside
Hebburn Riverside Park
0191 424 7841 www.southtyneside.info
Flash is an exciting new installation artwork at Hebburn Riverside Park by artist Charles Quick. The artwork is at the cutting edge of new technologies, made up of a dozen solarpowered lighting columns that will flash with light sequences as a symbol of the town's traditional industries. Flash will host an evening of celebrations to mark its launch on Saturday 7 February.
Nearest Metro: Hebburn Quaylink Bus: Q1/Q2 Quayside
Dean Street, Newcastle
0191 212 1210 www.oldfieldsrestaurants.com
Housed within a listed building, Oldfields new Newcastle restaurant is separated into three main areas for dining: The Round, a spacious, panelled room with a fantastic original fireplace; The Pass, where you can watch the chefs at work; and The Halls, a large area split by feature fireplace hearths from the original building.
Nearest Metro: Central Station Quaylink Bus: Q1/Q2 Quayside
Buxton Street, Newcastle
01895 512 464 www.staybridge.co.uk
If you've got family or friends visiting, put them up in style at Staybridge Suites, a mix of self catering accommodation from studio apartments to one bedroom suites, all with a lounge and kitchen area. Staybridge Suites also features The Hub - a relaxing area for guests with a lounge, television, shop and serving continental breakfast.
Nearest Metro: Manors Quaylink Bus: Q1/Q2 Quayside
