My Home City: Newcastle

My home city…

It’s true that you never really appreciate your home town until you leave it. For me, growing up in Newcastle meant travelling to school and back in my mam’s car and, on weekends, taking the number 40 bus to Primark. When someone said Newcastle, it meant NUFC.

            Only upon moving to Yorkshire and being relied upon to shed light on the amazing night life and experience of living in such a great city, did I realise I had little to tell. I’d probably have been to four
  or five different bars. I didn’t even know where the big clubs were. How was it that all these people knew about my city and I had been walking around blindfolded for eighteen years? I was embarrassed. It was clear I needed to go home and delve into some Geordie culture. Returning back from my tour of home, I aim to shed light on the amazing night life and experience of living in such a great city with a list of the top ten things to do in Newcastle.

See the Quayside

A square mile of architecture and entertainment, the Quayside is my number one best place to visit in the city. The need for water, fight for land, wealth of coal and resilience of spirit have helped created a great history for the riverside and today, the stretch boasts no less then seven bridges. All Geordies know they’re home when they cross the river and see the array of bridges rising and bowing in amongst one another. If you visit during the day, you really ought to return at night and see the lights of the Millenium Bridge glow and reflect upon the water. Another benefit of hitting Newcastle’s Quayside at night is the continuous number of classic restaurants and bars which line the river and guarantee a well-enjoyed night; with an added view. The Malmaison brasserie is renowned for its award-winning food.

See the Nightlife

In such a city, the variety of bars and clubs are really endless, whether you go into the city centre, Jesmond or by the coast. The Gate, is Newcastle city centre’s premier leisure and entertainment centre. The three-floor complex holds a wide range of restaurants and bars as well as Aspers Casino and a 12-screen Empire cinema and is a popular choice for a night out. However, if you really want to see what Newcastle’s nightlife is famous for, the Big Market is the city’s wildest club scene and home to a vast majority of stag and hen do’s. The bustling city area has put Newcastle on the map as being on of the top party cities of the world, winning the Club category gold award for Best Bar – None.

See the angel

The North-East’s tour d’eifel, Andrew Gormley’s Angel of the North, has become one of the most talked about pieces of public art ever produced. The artwork is viewed by over 150,000 visitors each year and 90,000 drivers on the M1, but it’s the getting up close and personal that really takes your breath away, as the angel rises 20 metres from the earth with a wingspan of 54 metres. It is well worth seeing because of its fame. When you go to Rome, you see the Colosseum. In Newcastle, it’s the Angel of the North.

See the BALTIC

The BALTIC Centre of Contemporary Art, another landmark to grace the Quayside, is housed in an old flour mill. The centre has no permanent collection, providing an ever-changing calendar of exhibitions and events that give unique and compelling insight into contemporary artistic practise. Some may say ‘a child could do that’, but BALTIC is a leader in the ambitious and distinctive presentation of visual art and is a place where visitors can experience innovative collections, while learning and discovering fresh ideas.

See China Town

Through Stowell Street’s Chinese Arch is Newcastle’s rich taste of the Orient. There is plenty of choice, from sophisticated and modern sit-down restaurants with set menus to popular as-much-as-you-can-eat buffets. Chinese New Year is an excellent time to visit Stowell Street as it is filled with celebrations and the restaurants usually have New Years offers.

See the Centre for Life

An award-winning science centre full of exciting exhibitions, activities and events for all ages, the Centre for Life is an educational charity, aiming to get people switched onto science. The centre houses the largest Planetarium in the North, a motion simulator and a ‘life theatre’ which hosts demonstrations all through the day. Even if you’re just not into science, you’re guaranteed to enjoy this experience.

See the Metrocentre

Simply because, before Istanbul Cevahir, it was the largest shopping centre in Europe and has been recently renovated into an entertainment complex, complete with iMax cinema, arcade and a range of restaurants such as The Red Lounge, Pizza Express, Frankie and Bennies and Yo! Sushi.

See the Theatre Royal

The Theatre Royal, or Newcastle’s Cultural Temple’ according to BBC, has played host to the biggest names in dance, drama, music and comedy in its 170 year history. Home to the Royal Shakespeare Company and the North’s favourite pantomimes, it attracts more than 337,000 people a year with over 380 performances. No matter what you see, whether its Peter Pan or Contemporary dance, you’re guaranteed to be wowed by the elegance and beauty of Newcastle’s theatre. It is definitely an experience to have.

See Whitley Bay

Newcastle’s closest beach-town flaunts a vintage fun fair, arcades, chip shops and peddle boats and is known for its vintage feel. If you want to re-visit your childhood of days at the beach, Whitley Bay is definitely the place to do it.

See Grey’s Street

This one, you will stumble upon without having to go out of your way, as Grey Street is at the very heart of Newcastle’s city centre. The street is famous for having one of the most picturesque views in Europe and looking upon Grey’s monument from the Theatre Royal, you will be able to see why. This street is oozing with history.

By Laura Thompson