What to See & Do in Newcastle
Sights Newcastle is a rich historic city, surrounded by some of the most beautiful and unspoilt countryside and coastal stretches in the UK. Castle Keep – Built by Henry II between 1168-1178, this is one of the finest surviving examples of a Norman Keep in the country. It stands within a site that also contains an early motte-and-bailey castle built by Robert Curthose, the son of William the Conqueror, an Anglo Saxon cemetery and a Roman Fort. Bessie Surtees House – The house is actually two 16th and 17th century houses which once belonged to merchants who lived on the Quayside close to where the Swing Bridge is now sited. One of the houses is a rare and unusual example of Jacobean domestic architecture. Black Gate – The Black Gate was built between 1247 and 1250 under Henry III, to strengthen the entrance to the castle. Until recently it housed a bagpipe museum, and it is currently the headquarters of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Blackfriars – Blackfriars is a restored 13th century friary in Newcastle city centre. It now houses a range of craft workshops, and contains an exhibition detailing the history and development of Newcastle. A section of the old Town Walls also stands close by. Gateshead Millennium Bridge – This pedestrian and cycle crossing was the first tilting bridge in the world, and is designed to resemble a blinking eyelid when it is raised to permit ships through. Hadrian’s Wall – The Romans built Hadrian’s Wall in about 122AD, defining the northernmost limit of the Roman Empire in Britain at that time. It ran 73 miles, coast to coast, and consisted of a stone wall 7 metres high with a ditch, turrets, mile castles and forts at regular intervals. The course of the wall ran from Segedunum Fort at Wallsend on the East Coast through Newcastle-upon-Tyne. St Nicholas Cathedral- The Church of St Nicholas was built in the 14th century on the site of an earlier Norman church, next to the Castle. The lantern tower (also known as a crown spire) was added in the 15th century and is one of only four in Britain. The church became a cathedral in 1882 when the Diocese of Newcastle was created. Much of the interior furnishing dates from that period, though there are interesting earlier details such as a 15th century font, a mediaeval window and a range of memorials and wall tablets. Museums – There are many great museums and art galleries in Newcastle. The Laing Art Gallery is probably the best for contemporary art. The Hancock Natural History Museum closed in 2006 but will reopen in 2009, as a part of the Great North Museum Project, when it will include stunning new exhibitions. The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art – This is Britain’s newest national art gallery and the largest of its kind outside London. Sage Music Centre – Designed by Norman Foster and opened in 2004, the Sage Music Centre is home to the Northern Symphonia Orchestra and is a major national centre for the performing arts. Food & Drink Newcastle offers diners a superb choice of quality restaurants and other places to eat. It is also renowned as a party destination, and the world-famous Bigg Market and elegant Quayside make Newcastle the ideal destination for an unforgettable break. Back To Newcastle
