Attractions

Vibrant NewcastleGateshead and the wider area is made up of a diverse variety of towns, cities, coast and countryside offering a huge selection of things to do whatever your tastes. From soaking up world-class culture in the city centres; discovering thousands of years of heritage at Hadrian’s Wall; and visiting the biggest and best science centre in the North of England, you’ll be amazed at how much we have to offer.

NewcastleGateshead is famous for its bridges, all of which have been engineering and design world-firsts, and no trip would be complete without taking in the riverscape from the bustling Quayside. Take a stroll across the newest bridge, Gateshead’s Millennium Bridge, which connects Newcastle and Gateshead providing easy access for pedestrians and cyclists to The Sage Gateshead and BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and is the first and only tilting bridge in the world.

In the centre of Newcastle the Castle Keep, steeped in thousands of years of history, tells the city’s story including how it got its name, whilst Hadrian’s Wall extends this story as the northern Roman frontier. At the eastern end of the wall stands Segedunum, once home to 600 soldiers who guarded this important frontier for almost 300 years, and is now open for the public to explore. Museums such as the newly refurbished and extended Great North Museum: Hancock complement this offering... considerably!... telling the story of 350 billion years of evolution!

Gateshead’s BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art has no permanent collection but a constantly changing selection of current exhibitions, whilst its immediate neighbour The Sage Gateshead provides world-class musical teaching and performance spaces in an architecturally stunning setting. If cultural havens like these attract you then Antony Gormley’s 20m high Angel of the North, harking back in its iron construction to the region’s ever-more distant industrial heritage, is a must-see.

In Sunderland there is a the National Glass Centre promotes all forms of glasswork housing exhibitions and production facilities and putting on live glass-blowing demonstrations several times a day. Pick up a unique souvenir from the craft & design shop, or make your own in one of the popular glass-blowing courses. Just around the corner, Sunderland’s Museum and Winter Gardens combines museum, art gallery, exhibition space and Winter Gardens. Discover the city’s history through interactive displays and exhibits, or appreciate original artworks by L S Lowry before exploring treetop walkways over more than 2,000 flowers and plants.

Bede’s World in Jarrow is a fascinating exploration of the life and work of the Venerable Bede who shattered the ‘dark ages’ stereotype with his considerable intelligence and study. Credited with establishing the dates of Easter and inventing the use of ‘AD’ in dating, he also knew that the world was round and the moon affected tides, and his Ecclesiastical History of the English People is still the key source on the Christianisation of Britain.

In 2010 beaches at Whitley Bay, Tynemouth Longsands, King Edward’s and Cullercoats bays - were awarded prestigious Blue Flag status alongside Sunderland’s Roker and Seaburn beaches and South Shields’ Sandhaven. Between St. Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay and Souter Lighthouse in South Shields eight miles of good old-fashioned seaside stretches out for you to explore; enjoy a relaxing summer day at the beach or appreciate the stunning views from the Leas as you take a refreshing autumnal stroll along the winding cliff-top walks and rugged grassland of this National Trust site.

For a break from the beach Tynemouth’s Blue Reef Aquarium has sea-creatures from all around and a colony of real miniature monkeys to please the whole family, whilst Ocean Beach Pleasure Park, situated right next to Sandhaven Beach in South Shields, has rides, amusements and games which are changed regularly to provide visitors with new and exciting experiences year on year.