The two biggest record chains, HMV and Virgin can both be found on Newcastle's main shopping thoroughfare, Northumberland Street (a branch of HMV and Virgin can also be found at the MetroCentre). Each is a large store that also sells DVDs, videos, games and magazines.

The raft of smaller, independent stores that Newcastle boasts should appeal to browsers and music obsessives alike. Flying Records (High Bridge Street) is for dance specialists. They stock all the latest and hard to find releases. Fans of blues, country, jazz and world music are sure to find something to tickle their fancy at Roots Music (Westgate Road) while Spin (High Bridge Street) is an essential stop-off for purveyors of power pop, psychedelia and Americana. RPM (High Bridge Street) caters for fans of all specialist genres such as techno, hip-hop, jazz, reggae, blues and leftfield and is the best place for new releases and limited editions

Opposite RPM is Air Records (High Bridge Street), NewcastleGateshead's premier dance music retailer. Those after a bargain should make for Steel Wheels (Vine Lane) as it also sells second hand records and CDs. Steel Wheels, whose clientele has included Noel Gallagher, is regarded as the biggest collectors' record and CD store outside London.  

As well as stocking rock and pop, Windows (Central Arcade) has a good classical selection and is a good port of call for sheet music, instruments and quality hi-fi equipment. Oldhitz Records (Grainger Street) is the place for lovers of, well, old hits. Loads of classics make it a vinyl lover's paradise.