Newcastle upon Tyne is a city located on the north bank of the River Tyne. The city was part of Northumberland County until 1400 where it then became a county of its own. In 1974 it became part of the county Tyne and Wear. Gateshead is a town located on the south bank of the River Tyne and located in the same county as Newcastle. The two are joined together by seven bridges along the River Tyne.
My lovely fiancÊ had managed to grab a pair of Ed Sheeran tickets for St James Park in Newcastle for my Christmas/first-year engagement present. It was a complete surprise! I originally thought he had just booked a city break for the pair of us.
He had booked us is in the Village Hotel which was located 7 miles out from the city centre. It was a very good choice of hotel, taking only 20 minutes to drive into the centre. The hotel had spa facilities, allowing us to relax on the Sunday morning after arriving back at the hotel late Saturday night, once the concert had finished.
Spending two days and one night in Newcastle, I’ve put together my weekend highlights. The things I recommend you see and do on a visit to the lovely city.
Angel of the North
As you drive into Newcastle from the South on the A1 you should notice a tall, steel angel on the hillside. This is the ‘Angel of the North’. The contemporary sculpture is located in Gateshead, reaching 20-metres high into the sky, spreading its wings 54-metres across. It was built in 1998 and had become a landmark on the A1.
Gateshead Millennium Bridge
The award-winning structure opened in 2001 for pedestrians and cyclists. It links Gateshead and Newcastle together, making it very easy to get from one side of the river to the other.
To allow large boats to travel up and down the River Tyne, the bridge tilts upon an angle of 40 degrees, taking only 4.5 minutes to lift.
Quayside
Quayside is the area along the banks of the River Tyne in Newcastle and Gateshead. This is an area where you will find the bars, nightclubs, and restaurants, along with the famous, award-winning Millennium Bridge. The area is listed as one of the top ten attractions in Newcastle. I have to agree with them too! It is a lovely place to take a stroll during the day and at night when the bridge and the Sage Gateshead gets lit up with colourful lights.
In Gateshead, on the right-hand side of the Millennium Bridge, you will see an old four mill. In 2002, it was converted into a contemporary art centre called the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Arts. On the left-hand side of the bridge, there is a magnificent looking, curved glass, steel building. This is the Sage Gateshead, a concert venue. Opened in 2004 as part of the Quayside project and run by the North Music Trust.
Intu Eldon Square
Intu Eldon Square is a large shopping centre in the heart of Newcastle. It opened in 1977. It contains everything from your high street shops, to department stores, cafes, restaurants, and bars. We enjoyed a lovely 3-course meal in Pizza Express; dough balls, pizza, and chocolate fudge cake. Parking is easy. They have two multi-story car parks. One looks a bit like a helter-skelter!
Intu Metrocentre
The Intu Metrocentre, formally known as Metro Centre, opened in 1986. It is located in Dunston, Gateshead. It contains a wide range of high street shops, cafes, restaurants, a cinema plus more. The car parking is free. We stopped at one of our favourite fast-food restaurants Five Guys for tea, before setting off on our journey home.
St James Park
St James Park is the 7th largest football stadium in England and home to Newcastle United FC, the current premier league team. The stadium that holds a capacity of 52,354 people, hosted the international football matches for the 2012 Olympics.
I’m not a football fan therefore I wasn’t planning a trip to Newcastle United FC grounds. However, my fiancÊ had surprised me to a pair of tickets to see the amazing Ed Sheeran. He performed at St James Park on a Saturday night with 2 great support acts; Jamie Lawson and Anne-Marie. The stadium filled with 60,000 people that evening, creating a fantastic atmosphere.
