Newcastle was founded around 2,000 years ago as a Roman fort called Pons Aelius along Hadrian's Wall, a ruin of which remains at Segedunum, a short walk from Wallsend Metro station. The city developed into an important port and was at the centre of the Industrial Revolution during the 18th and 19th centuries. As heavy industry declined, Newcastle's fortunes took a dip. The city has now re-invented itself as a cultural centre and Science City, and is possibly one of the trendiest places in the UK.

All tourist information centres have been closed down, and tourists are requested to do research online instead. It's a good thing you found Wikivoyage!

There is a tourist information kiosk near the check-in hall at Newcastle Airport.

• 55.0375-1.6916671 Newcastle International Airport (NCL  ^IATA) (10 km (6.2 mi) north-west of the city). Flights are available to the interchange hubs of Heathrow-British Airways, Amsterdam-KLM and EasyJet, Paris-Air France/CityJet, Dubai-Emirates and a lesser extent Brussels-Brussels Airlines and Copenhagen-SAS. There are domestic services operated by easyJet and Eastern Airways, as well as low-cost carrier flights to Ireland and many European cities such as Nice, Barcelona and Rome. (updated Oct 2021)

To and from the city:

• Tyne and Wear Metro Green Line takes 20 min from the airport via Jesmond to central stops such as Haymarket, Monument and Central (for Metro Yellow Line, mainline trains and buses) then continues south to Gateshead and Sunderland. The airport is in Zone 3 so a single adult ticket in 2021 is £3.70. Trains run M-Sa 05:40-23:10, Su 06:30-23:10, every 12-15 min. They're kinda cramped for luggage space.
• Bus: Stagecoach Bus X78 runs every 30 min M-Sa and hourly Su from Darras Hall and Ponteland via the airport, taking 20 min to Eldon Square in city centre. The bus stop is by the airport Metro station on B6918.

Go Northeast Little Coaster 42A wanders the north burbs hourly, from Kingston Park Metro and the airport to Dudley, Killingworth, Benton, Wiltshire Drive and Wallsend.

• Taxis are readily available outside the airport and it costs about £15 to get to the city centre.
• By car the distance to the city centre is 9.7 km (6.0 mi) and takes up to half an hour to get in. There are several car rental firms with offices in the airport terminal building, although you'll generally pay a premium over city rates. See "By car" for car rental listings.

Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

54.9686-1.61712 Newcastle Central station. Served by three long-distance rail operators:  

• LNER trains frequently connect Newcastle with London King's Cross, Edinburgh and principal destinations between (including York, Doncaster and Peterborough). Some services extend on to Glasgow, Aberdeen or Inverness.
• Cross Country Trains run every 30 minutes from Newcastle to Birmingham via Leeds/Doncaster, Sheffield and the East Midlands. Some services extend on to Reading and the South Coast, or through Bristol to South Wales or South West England. Cross Country also run north of Newcastle to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
• Transpennine Express runs direct services from Newcastle to Leeds, Manchester and Manchester Airport.
• Lumo runs twice Su-F and once Sa from London King's Cross, taking 3 hours non-stop, and continuing to Morpeth and Edinburgh. As a newcomer from Oct 2021 it's much hyped, but see Edinburgh#Get in for the reality check.

The local rail network is operated by Northern Rail, with relatively frequent services to destinations such as Carlisle, Middlesbrough, Hexham and Morpeth.

Newcastle Central Station is also served by the Tyne and Wear Metro system, for frequent services into the Newcastle suburbs, and other destinations in Tyne and Wear.

In the UK, tickets can be bought on the day at the station using cash or debit/credit card, but long-distance tickets are cheaper to book in advance. Times and fares information is available from National Rail, +44 8457 484950, or the station booking office.

Newcastle upon Tyne is well signposted from the north, south and west. The city lies at the joining of the A1 (the main East Coast route from London to Edinburgh) and the A69 (a major east-west route to Carlisle and the M6). The A1 bypasses the city to the west.

There are a number of 'park-and-ride' National Park and Ride Directory points around the city to avoid the hassle of parking in the city centre. From these points, the Metro or bus will take you into the city for between £1 and £3. Otherwise, there are over 10,000 spaces in the city centre, though for stays of more than a few hours this may prove expensive. Generally, parking in the city centre costs between £1 and £2 per hour, while parking about 10 minutes walk from the centre will set you back about £0.50 per hour.

• Alamo Rent A Car, Newcastle Airport, Woolsington (Arrivals Hall), ☏ +61 24 965-0162. M-F 7:30AM-11PM, Sa 9AM 10PM, Su 9AM 1PM. 
• Avis, 7 George Street, Newcastle, NE4 7JL, ☏ +44 870 6086350. M-F 8AM-6PM, Sa 8AM-1PM, closed Sunday. Avis car rentals are also available at the Newcastle airport 
• National, 90 Westmoreland Road, Newcastle, NE1 4DZ, ☏ +44 191 219-9102. M-F 8AM-6PM, Sa 8AM-1PM, closed Sunday. National car rental is also available at the Newcastle airport 

• 54.9675-1.62263 Newcastle Coach Station, Churchill St, NE1 4EE (at the southern end of St James' Boulevard, near the Centre for Life, a short walk from the centre of town), ☏ +44 371 781 8181. Ticket office: M-Sa 8:30AM-5PM, Su 9AM-4PM, open 24 hr for coach departures. 5 bay coach station served by National Express (updated Sep 2018)
• Megabus, John Dobson Street (outside the City Library), ☏ +44 900 1600900 (premium rate). Discount coach operator - coaches must be booked in advance. (updated Sep 2018)

North Shields, 7 miles east of the city centre, has a daily ferry service to Amsterdam in Holland. Special buses run from the Central Station to the ferry terminal and are charged at £3.50 (one way). Much cheaper are local stopping buses to the Royal Quays shopping outlet down the road or the Metro (15-min walk to Meadow Well station).

Taxis are available from outside the Ferry Terminal operated by BlueLine Taxis and EastCoast Taxis. A taxi from the Terminal direct into Newcastle city centre is £11.50 for up to 4 passengers.

Newcastle is a reasonably cycle-friendly city. There are a number of places to lock a bike up in the city centre and cycle lanes exist (though these are often shared with buses or taxis). A few Metro stations also provide secure storage for bicycles, but only fold-away bicycles are permitted on Metro trains. Unless you're touring the UK on pedal power, the best use for a bike is to explore the Quayside, Ouseburn and Jesmond Dene areas, travel to out-of-town attractions or head off to more distant places such as Whitley Bay and Seaton Sluice on the coast.

The Sustrans National Cycle Network Route 1 (East Coast) passes through Newcastle from the North to the South.

Bicycle hire:

• Tyne Cycles, 19-20 Rudyerd St, North Shields, NE29 6RR, ☏ +44 191 256-2266, tynecycles@aol.com. 
• HUB (also "The Cycle Hub"), Ouseburn, Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE61BU (directly on the left (Eastern) bank of the Ouseburn where it flows into the Tyne), ☏ +44 191 276-7250, enquiries@thecyclehub.org. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa Su 10AM-5PM. A full-service place with a cafe, a shop, a workshop, and a hire with quite a lot of bikes. Definitely expensive, but very good and friendly service: You are really looked after well. half day: ₤15, full day: ₤25. 
• sportsrecycler, 307-312 South Shields Business Works, Henry Robson Way, South Shields, NE33 1RF (roughly opposite Tynemouth), ☏ +44 191 427-4615, trish@sportsrecycler.co.uk. M Tu F & Sa 10:30AM-3PM. A not-for-profit, community-oriented place which is focused on recycling bikes, but also does bicycle hire. It has not been tested by me (the person who made the entry: I arrived in Newcastle on a Wednesday), but sounds friendly and interesting and, likely, more affordable. The website is rather minimalistic, so calling them might be the best option. 

City Centre

Quaylink services run every few minutes between the city centre and the Newcastle/Gateshead quayside. Single fares are 80p and the distinctive yellow livery makes the service easy to recognise.

Suburbs

There are 2 bus stations in the city: Haymarket with services to the north of the city and Northumberland, and Eldon Square Bus Station mainly serves Gateshead, County Durham and Teesside. Some routes, including virtually all of those operated by Stagecoach, do not use the bus stations and instead use stops on streets in the city centre, such as Pilgrim Street or Blackett Street.

An extensive and efficient network of bus routes radiate out of Newcastle into the surrounding towns and suburbs. Though the services are operated by several different operators they are coordinated by Nexus, Tyne and Wear's transport authority. Maps and timetables can be found on the Nexus website, though it may be easier to use a personalised journey planner such as Traveline.

Bus operators include:

• Arriva North East, 21 Bridge St, Blyth, ☏ +44 167 036-3300. Services to North Tyneside, Northumberland, and the north of Newcastle, as well as one route to Durham and Middlesbrough. (updated Jan 2021)
• Go North East, 117 Queen St, Gateshead, ☏ +44 1207 282288. Services to Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, the Tyne Valley, and County Durham, as well as a coach service to Middlesbrough. (updated Jan 2021)
• Stagecoach Newcastle, Shields Road, Walkergate, ☏ +44 871 200 22 33. Local services around the city, as well as to Wallsend, the MetroCentre, and Ponteland. Stagecoach also provide links to parts of South Tyneside, Sunderland city centre, and Carlisle via Hexham. (updated Jan 2021)

The participating bus operators for the Plusbus ticket are: Stagecoach, Go-North East and Arriva.

Newcastle city centre is relatively compact and is therefore easy to navigate on foot. Many areas are pedestrianised. Being on the banks of the River Tyne, some areas slope quite steeply. Buses and taxis are fairly cheap and plentiful should this pose a problem.

The Tyne & Wear Metro is a fast, safe and reasonably cheap way of getting around the city and also to outlying suburbs and surrounding towns including Whitley Bay, Tynemouth, North and South Shields, Sunderland and Newcastle International Airport.

There are two lines: the Green Line runs from Newcastle Airport to South Hylton (in Sunderland) and the Yellow Line runs from St James Park to South Shields via a lengthy loop via the coastal towns of North Shields, Whitley Bay and Tynemouth. Note that the east-west and north-south sections of the Yellow Line cross at Monument Station, so if, for example, you are travelling from St James Park to South Shields, it is much quicker to transfer to the southbound Yellow Line at Monument rather than riding along the entire route. The Green Line shares tracks with the Yellow Line for the majority of the section through central Newcastle and Gateshead.

Services run approximately every 6–10 minutes between 6AM and 11PM. Single tickets range from £1.80 to £3.40 depending on the distance travelled, return fares and day passes are also available. The DaySaver allows for unlimited travel on one day and costs £2.70 (one zone), £3.70 (two zones) and £4.60 (all zones). Some ticket machines only accept coins (10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2) although change is given; most stations have been fitted with new ticket machines that accept notes and credit/debit cards. Although there are no ticket barriers at many stations, the appropriate fares are still payable , it is advisable to keep your ticket handy as trains and stations are patrolled by ticket inspectors. Major stations have automatic ticket gates, but these may be left open at quiet times.

Smoking is banned on the entire system, including open-air stations. However, this rule is often overlooked and it's not uncommon to see people smoking on the trains, particularly late at night, despite the CCTV surveillance cameras.

The Plusbus ticket is not valid on the Metro.

Regional rail services are regular and offer quicker access to nearby towns such as Durham, Sunderland, Hexham and Corbridge. Details are available from National Rail Enquiries or Northern Rail.

• 54.97832-1.6086810 Gallery North, Northumbria University, Sandyford Road NE1 8QE, ☏ +44 191 349 5382, ad.gallerynorth@northumbria.ac.uk. W-Sa 10AM-4PM. The gallery was established in 1977 within Northumbria University and has rotating exhibitions. The University's permanent art collection is for teaching and research, and not generally on public display. However the Woon Gallery, opened in 2018, is a long-term loan of Asian (mostly Buddhist) art. Free. (updated Dec 2021)
• 54.98-1.61311 Great North Museum: Hancock, Barras Bridge NE2 4PT, ☏ +44 191 208 6765. M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 11AM-4PM. Contains fossils, mummies, stuffed animals and local history exhibits. Free. (updated Dec 2021)
• Hatton Gallery, The Quadrangle, Newcastle University NE1 7RH (Opposite Great North museum), ☏ +44 191 277 8877. M-Sa 10AM-5PM. An art gallery founded in 1925 within Newcastle University, and redeveloped in 2017. It has 3500 exhibits from the 14th century to modern work. Free. (updated Dec 2021)
• 54.97452-1.5920612 Seven Stories (National Centre for Children's Books), 30 Lime Street, Ouseburn Valley NE1 2PQ (half a mile east of Manors Metro), ☏ +44 300 330 1095, info@sevenstories.org.uk. Daily 10AM-5PM. Housed in a Victorian mill, Seven Stories is the first gallery and archive in the UK wholly dedicated to the art and production of children's books. There are exhibitions and events for children. £13. (updated Dec 2021)
• 54.97618-1.5981113 The Biscuit Factory, 16 Stoddart Street, NE2 1AN (Metro: Manors, 650 m), ☏ +44 191 261-1103, art@thebiscuitfactory.com. W-Su 10AM-5PM. Britain's biggest original art store is 35,000 square feet with two floors of exhibition space and artist's studios. The commercial gallery sells paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, photography, ceramics, jewellery and glass by contemporary artists hailing from all over the world. Free. (updated Oct 2021)
• Life Science Centre, Times Square NE1 4EP (opposite bus station, west side of railway station), ☏ +44 191 243 8210. Daily 10AM-5PM. Centre for Life is a research facility and within it is an interactive museum covering fields such as genetics, embryology and developmental biology, and climate science. Adult £15, conc £11, child £8. (updated Dec 2021)
• 54.96903-1.6250314 Discovery Museum, Blandford Square NE1 4JA (a block west of Central Station), ☏ +44 191 232 6789. M-F 10AM-4PM, Sa Su 11AM-4PM. Science and engineering museum including Turbinia designed by Sir Charles Parsons in 1894, the world's first turbo-powered ship. Free. (updated Dec 2021)
• 54.97503-1.6094415 Laing Art Gallery, New Bridge St NE1 8AG, ☏ +44 191 278 1611. M-Sa 10AM-4:30PM. Traditional art gallery built in 1901 in sort-of Edwardian Baroque. It has artistic local glass, silverware and ceramics and a notable collection of 18th and 19th century British paintings. (Contemplate the fiery Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah before heading out for a night on the town.) "The Blue Carpet" is the tiled street installation outside, expensively fitted in 2001 but only then did they realise they'd made it green. 20 years of skateboarders and other urban wear and tear have turned it blue-grey. Free. (updated Dec 2021)
• 54.96907-1.6083216 Side Gallery, 5 & 9 Side NE1 3JE, ☏ +44 191 232 2208. W-Su 11AM-5PM. Documentary photography gallery and archive, also has a 50-seater cinema showing independent films. Free. (updated Dec 2021)

• 54.988-1.53117 Wallsend is actually Wall's Beginning, as construction of Hadrian's Wall started here in 122 AD and worked west. The Roman fort of Segedunum is next to Mile Zero of the wall and Wallsend's main metro station. (Don't get off at Hadrian Road, a nondescript burb. Some Metro signage is in Latin: have your ticket ready for the vomitorium.) Hadrian's Wall path and cycleway follows the north bank of the Tyne but is entirely modern for 14 miles west, as through Newcastle the ancient route and structures are obliterated.
• Stephenson Railway Museum: see Tynemouth.
• Tynemouth at the river outflow has a ruined castle and priory and is a beach resort.
• The Angel of the North is the distinctive 20 m winged sculpture by Antony Gormley. It's at the south edge of Gateshead, at the junction of A1 and A167.
• Hadrian's Wall can be discerned west from Heddon-on-the Wall, though the best parts begin 20 miles further west around Hexham.

• 54.9728-1.611941 Theatre Royal, 100 Grey St NE1 6BR, ☏ +44 191 232 7010, boxoffice@theatreroyal.co.uk. Opened in 1837, with a year-round programme. It's one of the bases for the Royal Shakespeare Company, which usually do several shows here in autumn. (updated Dec 2021)
• 54.97054-1.621152 Tyne Theatre and Opera House, 109 Westgate Rd NE1 4AG, ☏ +44 191 243 1171. Grand old theatre opened in 1867, seating 1100. It hosts opera, theatre, concerts, comedy and panto. (updated Dec 2021)
• 54.969845-1.6048153 Live Theatre, 27 Broad Chare, Quayside NE1 3DQ, ☏ +44 191 232 1232. Small independent theatre producing new works by writers from the North East. (updated Dec 2021)
• Northern Stage (Gulbenkian Studio Theatre), Barras Bridge NE1 7RH (NU campus next to Hatton Gallery), ☏ +44 191 230 5151. This has three performance spaces and hosts various independent productions. (updated Dec 2021)
• 54.9904-1.58484 People's Theatre, Stephenson Road, Heaton NE6 5QF, ☏ +44 191 265 5020, venuemanager@peoplestheatre.co.uk. Long-established amateur theatre company with 500-seat auditorium and 90-seat studio. (updated Dec 2021)

• See Gateshead for Sage Music Centre. It's easiest accessed from Newcastle by walking across the low-level swing bridge.
• 54.9637-1.62385 Utilia Arena (formerly Metro Radio Arena), Arena Way NE4 7NA, ☏ +44 844 493 4567. This is the largest music venue in Newcastle with capacity up to 12,000. It's south of the station near the Centre for Life. (updated Dec 2021)
• 54.9706-1.618616 O2 Academy Newcastle, Westgate Rd, ☏ 0905 020 3999 (premium rate), boxoffice@o2academynewcastle.co.uk. A large venue featuring big-name musical acts from the UK and around the globe.  
• 54.9774-1.610467 Newcastle City Hall, Northumberland Road, ☏ +44 191 277-8030. A venue right in the heart of the city hosting concerts, comedy acts and musicals. (updated Aug 2018)
• Northumbria and Newcastle University have large venues in their unions' for mainstream and indie acts alike and attract some of the biggest names from across the UK and abroad.
• For smaller, indie gigs check out Head of Steam, The Cluny and Tyne Bar

• 54.992-1.6338 The Hoppings, Town Moor. every June. The largest travelling fair in Europe, taking place most years in late June. (updated Apr 2018)
• The annual MELA held every August bank holiday weekend is a celebration of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi cuisine, music and art.
• The city hosts popular Chinese New Year celebrations every year.
• At Christmas the city centre has decorations, the large department store Fenwick hosts a famous window display and there is a Continental Christmas Market.
• The city hosts a summer gay pride event called Northern Pride.
• Great North Run is a half marathon, staged between Newcastle and South Shields in September. The next is 10 Sept 2022.

• Watch football: Newcastle United play at 54.97546-1.621759 St James Park, half a mile north of the railway station. They play soccer in the Premier League, England's top tier. Since Oct 2021 they are by some distance the world's richest club, having being bought by the Saudi Arabian sovereign investment fund. Great things are expected of them once this largesse translates into talent on the field.
• Watch Rugby Union (15-a-side) at Newcastle Falcons. They were promoted in 2020 so they now play in the Premiership, the top tier of English rugby union. Their home ground is 55.0187-1.672110 Kingston Park in the north of the city.
• Watch Rugby League (13-a-side) at Newcastle Thunder, who also play at Kingston Park. They're in the Championship, that game's second tier; the RL season is Mar-Sept.
• Watch basketball at Newcastle Eagles who play at Northumbria University's "Sport Central".
• 55.0316-1.60411 Newcastle Racecourse is in the north of the city at High Gosforth Park NE3 5HP. It's an artificial Tapeta surface, with flat-racing held year-round and jumps races Oct-March. It's a mile north of South Gosforth metro station.
• Watch motorcycle speedway at Newcastle Diamonds. Their home track is 54.97783-1.5649912 Brough Park Stadium in Byker in the city's east end.
• Go to the dog track, also at Brough Park - the dogs chase round the outer track, the bikes race within.
• Watch athletics at 54.96096-1.5796213 Gateshead International Stadium, south of the river with its own Metro station. This multi-use stadium hosts other events, and its sports facilities can be used by members.
• Watch cricket at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street, 10 miles south. This is home to Durham County Cricket Club, one of the 18 "First Class Counties", the top tier of English cricket. County matches normally last 3-4 days. The stadium also hosts international or "Test Matches", lasting up to five days. The stadium is half a mile east of the railway station, frequent trains take ten min from Newcastle.

• 54.97243-1.6181914 Cineworld, The Gate, Newgate St NE1 5TG, ☏ +44 330 333 4444. Chain multiplex showing mainstream releases. (updated Dec 2021)
• 54.974-1.61215 Tyneside Cinema, 10 Pilgrim St NE1 6QG, ☏ +44 191 227 5500. Art-deco cinema with 3 screens showing independent and mainstream films. (updated Dec 2021)
• Everyman, 75 Grey St NE1 6EF, ☏ +44 1233 555642. Delightful salon-style cinema where you recline on sofas and are served food and drink. Obviously that's reflected in the ticket prices. Adult £13, child £9. (updated Dec 2021)
• Side Cinema is within Side Gallery, see above.
• 54.979-1.59516 Star and Shadow, Warwick Street NE2 1BB (by City Stadium), ☏ +44 191 261 8315, info@starandshadow.org.uk. Volunteer-run indie cinema and performance venue. (updated Dec 2021)
• Odeon is in the Metrocentre (see Buy) in Gateshead. Vue Cinema is in central Gateshead.

• 54.991-1.5981 Francesca's, 134-136 Manor House Road, Jesmond NE2 2NA, ☏ +44 191 281 6586. M-Sa noon-2:30PM, 5PM-9:30PM. Friendly budget Italian. (updated Dec 2021)
• Pani's Cafe, 61-65 High Bridge NE1 6BX, ☏ +44 191 232 4366. M-F noon-3PM, 5PM-9PM, Sa noon-10PM. Budget Italian specialising in Sardinian. (updated Dec 2021)
• Uno's, 18 Sandhill NE1 3AF, ☏ +44 191 261 5264. Daily noon-10PM. Cheerful trattoria on Quayside. (updated Dec 2021)
• El Coto, 21 Leazes Park Rd NE1 4PF, ☏ +44 191 261 0555. Daily 11AM-11PM. Lively tapas restaurant near the football stadium. (updated Dec 2021)
• Lau's Buffet King, 92-98 Newgate Street,, ☏ +44 191 261-8868. Daily 11:45AM-10:30PM. Chinese all-you-can-eat buffet, offering a choice of over 60 dishes. 
• Zapatista Burrito Bar, 28 Ridley Place NE1 8JW, ☏ +44 191 261 7769. M-Sa 11AM-8PM, Su 11:30AM-7PM. Good quality Mexican, great value. There's another branch within County Hotel by the station. (updated Dec 2021)
• Pizza Express, 7 St George's Way NE1 7JD (within Eldon Sq Shopping Centre), ☏ +44 191 232 3228. Daily 11:30AM-9PM. Reasonably priced Italian chain. (updated Dec 2021)

• Zizzi, 42 Grey St NE1 6AE, ☏ +44 191 261 8360. Daily 11:30AM-11PM. Reliable mid-price Italian chain. (updated Dec 2021)
• Marco Polo, 33 Dean St NE1 1PQ, ☏ +44 191 232 5533, manager@marcopolonewcastle.com. M-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight. Stylish and popular Italian. (updated Dec 2021)
• Khai Khai opened in 2021 is Indian at 29 Queen St, open M-F 12:30-2:30PM, 5-10:30PM, Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-9:30PM.

• Blackfriar's Restaurant, Friars St NE1 4XN, ☏ +44 191 261 5945. M-F noon-2:30PM, 5:30PM-10PM, Sa 09:30AM-10PM, Su 09:30-4PM. Great reviews for what may be the UK's oldest restaurant. You sit at long tables in a 13th-century monastery refectory, and consume better monkfish than ever the locally-sourced Black Friars got to eat. (updated Dec 2021)
• Sachins, Forth Banks NE1 3SG (south side of Central station), ☏ +44 191 232 4660, info@sachins.co.uk. M-Sa noon-1:30PM, 5PM-9:30PM. Upscale Punjabi restaurant, gets very busy with the post-match crowd. (updated Dec 2021)
• 21, Trinity Gardens, Quayside NE1 2HH, ☏ +44 191 222 0755. Tu-Sa noon-2:30PM, 5:30PM-9PM. Slick restaurant serving quality British and French bistro food. The same group runs Café 21 within Fenwick's on Northumberland St. (updated Dec 2021)
• Landmark Oriental, 20 Stowell St NE1 4YB, ☏ +44 191 261 0882. Tu-Th 5PM-9PM, F Sa noon-2:30PM, 5PM-9:30PM, Su noon-8PM. Great reviews for this high-class Chinese restaurant and bar in Chinatown. (updated Dec 2021)
• And see Sleep for Jesmond Dene House.

A no-holds-barred area where you won't find much in the way of culture, but you will find a lot in the way of drink. A selection of bars are as follows:

• City Vaults (Idols), 13 Bigg Market NE1 1UN, ☏ +44 191 221 0850. Th-Su 8PM-3AM. This spacious club features three bars, different music in different rooms, and big screens for showing football on match days. Topless dancers and scantily clad bar staff abound. As if all that wasn't enough, they serve food, including sandwiches, burgers, salads, and curries. (updated Dec 2021)
• Popworld, 14 Bigg Market NE1 1UW, ☏ +44 191 260 2919. Su-Th 8PM-1AM, F 7PM-2AM, Sa 5PM-2AM. Fizing atmosphere for cocktails and music. (updated Dec 2021)

• Centurion, Neville St NE1 5DG (within Central Station), ☏ +44 191 261 6611. Daily 8AM-11PM. An impressively designed bar and restaurant in the restored Victorian lounge of the Central Station, the Centurion is a favourite stop for commuters. Live sports on a drop-down big screen. Choose from the bustling main bar or the more intimate cafe-deli. (updated Dec 2021)
• ChachaBuchi (formerly Floritas), 28 Collingwood St NE1 1JF, ☏ +44 191 261 8271. Su-Th 11AM-1AM, F Sa 11AM-3AM. Split-level cocktail bar with outdoor garden bar. (updated Dec 2021)
• Revolution, Collingwood St NE1 1JF, ☏ +44 191 261 8901. M-Th 12AM-12PM, F-Su 12AM-1AM. Spacious, ultra-modern vodka bar with cool architecture (pillars, high sculpted ceiling, stainless steel bar and huge windows) and great selection of flavored vodkas and cocktails. Dress is "smart casual", which means no baseball caps or hoodies. Music ranges from pop to indie to R&B to house. (updated Dec 2021)
• The Bodega, 125 Westgate Road NE1 4AG (next to Tyne Theatre), ☏ +44 191 221 1552. Su-Th 12AM-11PM, F Sa 12AM-12PM. A beautiful Victorian pub with ornate stained glass domes, friendly bar staff and a great selection of real ales and premium lagers. (updated Dec 2021)
• Forth Hotel, 17-23 Pink Lane NE1 5DW (by St Mary's Cathedral), ☏ +44 191 232 6478. Su-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-1AM. Cosy pub with a great selection of real ales, imported beers and wine, serves food. It doesn't have accommodation. (updated Dec 2021)
• The Head of Steam, 2 Neville St NE1 5EN (within Hampton by Hilton), ☏ +44 191 230 4236. W-Su 5PM-2AM. On the first floor, you'll find a wide selection of real ales, lagers, cider, wine and spirits in a comfortable atmosphere.The basement, which holds 50-some, is a live music venue showcasing up-and-coming bands. (updated Dec 2021)
• The Telegraph, Orchard St NE1 3NY (south flank of Station), ☏ +44 191 261 8991. M-Th 3PM-11PM, F Sa noon-2AM, Su noon-midnight. Handy for station, charming interior and roof terrace. They often have DJs or live bands. (updated Dec 2021)
• Tilleys, 105 Westgate Rd NE1 4AG (next to Tyne Theatre), ☏ +44 191 232 0692. W Th Su noon-10PM, F Sa noon-11PM. Cosy pub with L-shaped bar, with a large selection of real ales, craft and premium lagers and ciders, serves decent food. (updated Dec 2021)
• Tokyo, 17 Westgate Rd NE1 1SE, ☏ +44 191 230 3318. Su-F 5PM-2AM, Sa 3PM-2AM. A stylish, modern venue with an elegant rooftop garden bar and a good selection of cocktails, spirits, wines and beers. (updated Dec 2021)
• The Mile Castle, 19–25 Westgate Road NE1 5XU (corner of Grainger St), ☏ +44 191 211 1160. Su-Th 8AM-1AM, F Sa 8AM-2AM. JD Wetherspoon pub with large 3 storey bar serving food, big enough to find a seat at the weekend. (updated Dec 2021)

A pub crawl favourite among young revellers, Quayside is packed full of bars, including:

• The Quilted Camel, 36 Sandhill. F Sa 6PM-1AM. A renovated cocktail bar providing around 30 cocktails. Quirky interior that includes several very unusual decorations such as a marble statue from a European church among others. £3-5. 
• 54.96941-1.607531 The Bridge Tavern, 7 Akenside Hill, ☏ +44 191 261-9966. A great craft brewpub: reasonably priced and always busy. 10+ taps on the bar which change regularly. Food served as well. Situated directly under the Tyne bridge, hence the name. 
• Flynn's Bar and Diner, 63 Quayside, ☏ +44 191 232-7218. M-F noon-3PM & 5-11PM, Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-6PM. With three bars, this pub is known for its cheap trebles and is often overrun with stag/hen parties. It has had a number of run ins with the licencing authorities and is best avoided £4-6. 
• Pitcher & Piano, 108 The Quayside, ☏ +44 191 232-4110. M-Th 11AM-midnight, F 11AM-1AM, Sa 10AM-2AM, Su 10AM-midnight. An extensive list of beers, wines, shooters and cocktails made with fresh ingredients. The glass fronted building has two floors and a rooftop terrace, perfect for gazing out at the river and the Millennium Bridge. DJs and occasional live music, too. £5-8. 
• The Akenside Traders, 3 Akenside Hill, ☏ +44 191 230-3465. M-Th 5PM-11PM, F 11AM-1AM, Sa 10:30-1AM, Su 10:30AM-11PM. A chilled out pub during the week with a small group of regulars, this bar becomes a wild party at weekends. There's a good view of the river and Guild Hall from the front, and a DJ provides the music. A great spot for watching live sports on weekdays. 
• The Crown Posada, 31 The Side, ☏ +44 191 232-1269. M-W noon-11PM, Th 11AM-11PM, F 11AM-midnight, Sa noon-midnight, Su 7PM-10:30PM. One of Newcastle's oldest bars, dating back to 1880. It's a well-preserved room, long and narrow, with stained glass windows and a gorgeous wood-paneled ceiling. A gramophone in back cranks out vintage tunes, and it's a great place to try real ales from local breweries. 
• Thirty 3i8ht, Exchange Buildings (corner of Queen Street and Lombard Street, near the Monument station), ☏ +44 191 261-6463. M-Sa 10AM-1AM, Su noon-1AM. New management guarantees it will be badly run £3-5. 

A few laid-back alternative bars are based here:

• The Cluny, 36 Lime St, ☏ +44 191 230-4474. M-W 11:30AM-11PM, Th 11:30AM-midnight, F Sa 11:30-1AM, Su noon-10:30PM. Local and national live bands nearly every night, with styles from jazz to rock and admission from free to £15. A great range of real ales and lagers, and an art gallery off of the main bar showcasing local artists. £4-6. 
• The Free Trade Inn, St. Lawrence Rd, ☏ +44 191 265-5764. M-Th 11AM-11PM, Sa 11AM-midnight, Su noon-11PM. A cosy, traditional pub overlooking the Tyne, with an excellent selection of beers including 8 real ales that vary weekly. A free jukebox supplies the music, and a local deli supplies fresh sandwiches. With two small beer gardens, the river views are the best around. £4-6. 
• The Tyne, Mailing St, ☏ +44 191 265-2550. M-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-10:30PM. A down-to-earth bar a little way out of the centre, where the Tyne meets the Ouseburn. Taste a selection of real ales from local independent breweries and enjoy their beer garden, which is tucked beneath Glasshouse Bridge. Shelter from the bridge makes it a great place to drink, even in rainy weather. There are even customer-controlled heat lamps! Free live music at weekends, and bands in the garden during summer. £4-6. 
• The Cumberland Arms. Very possibly the best pub in Newcastle. Stands on the hill overlooking the Ouseburn. Great ales, a roaring fire and live music and events. Large outside seating area with heaters. 

A trendy area, with many bars connected to hotels and what tends to be a more upmarket local clientele.

• Bar Berlise, 102 Osborne Rd (part of the Cairn Hotel), ☏ +44 191 281-1358. M-Th 5PM-11PM, F Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10:30PM. A tiny bar that can be one of the quieter bars on the strip, it features a Happy Hour Machine and two large plasma screens for football & rugby games. £4-8. 
• Bar Blanc, 38-42 Osborne Rd (part of Whites Hotel), ☏ +44 191 281-5126. M-Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10:30PM. Connected to an Indian restaurant and attracting a younger crowd of locals and hotel guests, shiny decor and a large outside seating area gives Bar Blanc a cosmopolitan feel. £4-8. 
• Bar Polo, 61 Osborned Rd (above Scalini's), ☏ +44 191 240-7777. M-Th 5-11PM, F Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10:30PM. A cosy wine and cocktail bar with a Mediterranean feel and Mediterranean appetiser platters to share. £4-6. 
• Osbornes, 61-69 Osborne Rd (part of the New Northumbria Hotel), ☏ +44 191 240-7778. M-F noon-11PM, Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-10:30PM. This very spacious bar shows live sports on widescreen TVs and has an outdoor beer garden. £4-8. 
• The Lonsdale, Lonsdale Terrace, ☏ +44 191 281-0039. M-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-11PM. A traditional pub with a relaxed atmosphere. Quiz nights, digital juke box, and monthly live music. £2-4. 
• The Bar at the Brandling, Brandling Village, ☏ +44 191 281-0067. M-Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10:30PM. Popular with students and pretty much everyone else thanks to its great prices, happy hour games, and the fact that it's a great pre-party option. £3-5. 
• Collingwood Arms. Situated in the Brandling Village area of Jesmond it has an oldy worldy feel and does fantastic ales as well as the standard booze. Good if you're fed up of Osborne Road, i.e. drinking off a hangover! 
• Brandling Arms (Next to the Collingwood). Has a massive beer garden and great food at reasonable prices. 

Newcastle has a thriving gay scene around the Centre for Life and the Metro Radio Arena. The pubs and clubs in this area are generally lively, colourful and friendly to all persuasions.

• @ne, 1 Marlborough Crescent, ☏ +44 191 260-3841. Daily 11AM-1AM. This trendy bar features live musicians and DJs, plus wonderful two-for-one drink deals Sunday-Thursday evenings. During the day, it's a great place to stop for a coffee and take advantage of free internet access. £3-6. 
• Baron and Baroness, Times Square, ☏ +44 191 233-0414. M-Sa 11AM-1:30AM, Su 11AM-midnight. There are organ pipes above the bar, but the Gothic feel stops with the decor. DJs play a wide array of music nightly, and there's plenty of room for dancing. Quieter during the day, it's favoured by visitors to the Centre for Life. There's also a large seating area outside in Times Square. £3-6. 
• Eclipse, 48 Clayton St, ☏ +44 191 230-2795, eclipse@thedogandeclipse.co.uk. Daily 11AM-12:30AM. Formerly Heroes, this bar has been given a head-to-toe makeover, including shiny wood floors. A handful of beers on tap and a decent selection of cocktails and bottled beers. A massive selection of hot & cold food is served daily until 4PM. £2-5. 
• Powerhouse, 7-19 Westmorland Rd, ☏ +44 191 261-5348. M 11PM-3:30AM, Tu-W closed, Th 11:30PM-3:30AM, F 11PM-4AM, Sa 11PM-6AM, Su 11:30PM-3:30AM. Newcastle's longest running and biggest gay dance club, with four floors of music from the 1990s to disco and more. Admission is £6-10. £3-6. 
• The Dog And Parrot, 52 Clayton St West, ☏ +44 191 261-6998. M-W noon-11:30PM, F-Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-10:30PM. Newcastle's indie rock n' roll bar, dedicated to good live music and good cheap drinks. They host local bands with fantastic haircuts, as well as quiz nights and an award-winning comedy night. £2-5. 

Beyond the main pub crawl destinations, there are plenty of bars and pubs all over Newcastle, including:

• Bacchus, 42-48 High Bridge, ☏ +44 191 261-1008. M-Th 11:30AM-11PM, F Sa 11:30AM-midnight, Su 7PM-10:30PM. This pub gives a nod to Tyneside's old shipbuilding days with its ocean liner decor. A long drink list includes wines, cask ales and microbrews. Popular with the after-work crowd. £3-8. 
• Bar 55, ☏ +44 191 230-5569. Su-Th noon-midnight, F Sa noon-1AM. Dance floor, juke box, lots of outdoor seating and multiple TVs! £3-7. 
• The Five Swans, 14 St Mary's Pl, ☏ +44 191 211-1140. Daily 8AM-11PM. Formerly Luckies Corner Bar, enlargened and renovated into a large, pleasant looking pub that is now part of the JD Weatherspoons chain, offering value for money drinks and food. £2-5. 
• The Hancock, 2a Hancock St, ☏ +44 191 281-5653. M-W 11:30AM-11PM, Th-Sa 11:30AM-1AM, Su noon-10:30PM. At this student bar next to both universities, you'll find multiple juke boxes, pool tables, big screen TVs and game machines, plus an array of DJs four nights a week. £2-6. 
• The Strawberry, 7-8 Strawberry Pl (opposite St James' Park), ☏ +44 191 232-6865. hours vary. The pub generally opens 11AM-11PM, but can open as early as 9AM if Newcastle United have a lunchtime kick off. The pub also has licence to remain open until 2AM, though it rarely does. Directly opposite the Gallowgate End of St James' Park, this friendly pub is a shrine to Newcastle United, displaying a huge amount of club memorabilia from down the years. Naturally, it is packed when Newcastle play at home with a great atmosphere. Non matchdays find it a little quieter, though still popular. As well as real ales, bar meals are also available. The pub has big screen TVs, a jukebox, pool table and a roof terrace. £2-5. 
• The Trent House, 1-2 Leazes Ln, ☏ +44 191 261-2154. M-Sa noon-11PM, Su 6-11PM. Close to the City Centre and Newcastle University. A great selection of real ales, beers and spirits, but most famous for their free jukebox playing soul, rock and 1970s music. Pub-goers can even suggest tracks online to be added to the jukebox's playlist! Very busy when Newcastle are playing football at home. £2-5. (updated Oct 2016)
• World Headquarters. Great place to go clubbing for the night with cheap drinks and a crazy audience who are up for it. 

• 54.97085-1.615841 Albatross Hostel, 51 Grainger St NE1 5JE, ☏ +44 191 233 1330, info@albatrossnewcastle.co.uk. Large youth hostel in a former bank near Central Station. Basic but clean, 24 hr reception. Dorm from £17 ppn. (updated Dec 2021)
• Jurys Inn, Scotswood Rd NE1 4AD (west side of station), ☏ +44 191 201 4400. Boxy modern hotel, cleanliness erratic. They have another in Gateshead. B&B double £60. (updated Dec 2021)
• Premier Inn Quayside, Quayside NE1 3AE, ☏ +44 333 321 1347. Budget chain offering, very central, a bit grubby. They also have two other city hotels, one in Gateshead, one at Metro Centre and two next to the airport. Double (room only) £70. (updated Dec 2021)
• 54.96824-1.631852 Rooms Inn, 40 West Parade NE4 7LB, ☏ +44 191 273 3034. Basic hotel in a residential area, value for what you're paying. Double (room only) £45. (updated Dec 2021)
• 55.025-1.5113 Village Hotel Newcastle, Cobalt Business Park, West Allotment NE27 0BY (Exit A19 onto A191), ☏ +44 191 270 1414. Comfy place with pool and gym, just off eastern bypass. B&B double £90. (updated Dec 2021)
• Hansen Hotel, 131 Sandyford Road NE2 1QR, ☏ +44 191 281 0289, hansenhotel2002@hotmail.co.uk. Small budget hotel near Jesmond metro station. Poor reviews in 2021. (updated Dec 2021)
• 54.97338-1.6080384 YHA Hostel, 17 Carliol Square. Hostel with dormitories, private rooms and cafe. There is no self-catering kitchen. (updated Dec 2021)

• Britannia Hotel, Ponteland NE13 8DJ (by the airport), ☏ +44 871 222 0028. A business hotel equipped with wireless internet and a 400-person conference hall. Double (room only) £40. (updated Dec 2021)
• Holiday Inn Express, Waterloo Square, St James Blvd NE1 4DN (west side of station), ☏ +44 191 224 685, fax: +44 870 428 1477, info@expressnewcastle.co.uk. Comfy central place, pet-friendly. Parking is in the public multi-storey. B&B double £50. (updated Dec 2021)
• 55.008-1.6685 Hotel Novotel Newcastle Airport, Ponteland Road, Kenton NE3 3HZ (junction of A1 and A696, three miles from airport), ☏ +44 191 214 0303, H1118@accor.com. In 2021 this is acting as asylum-seeker accommodation. (updated Dec 2021)
• Royal Station Hotel, Neville St NE1 5DH (at Central Station), ☏ +44 191 232 0781, info@royalstationhotel.com. Opened by Prince Albert and Queen Victoria in 1858, this is a grand old Victorian railway hotel. Modern interior, gets good scores for comfort and service. B&B double £90. (updated Dec 2021)
• County Hotel (formerly Thistle), Neville Street NE1 5DF (by Central Station), ☏ +44 191 731 6670. Comfy place in Victorian pile, very central, the downside is street noise and lack of parking. B&B double £80. (updated Dec 2021)
• Travelodge (Newcastle Central), Forster Street, Quayside NE1 2NH, ☏ +44 871 984 6164. Reliable chain hotel, inevitably they get a lot of stag and hen parties. Travelodge have two other central sites plus one in Gateshead and three further out by racecourse, airport and Seaton Burn. Double (room only) £80. (updated Dec 2021)
• Vermont Hotel, Castle Garth, Quayside NE1 1RQ (by castle), ☏ +44 191 233 1010. Decent central mid-price hotel. They don't accept stag / hen parties. B&B double £120. (updated Dec 2021)

• Copthorne Hotel, The Close, Quayside NE1 3RT (one block south of station), ☏ +44 191 222-0333, sales.newcastle@milleniumhotels.co.uk. Good central hotel with river views, some railway noise. B&B double £110. (updated Oct 2021)
• 54.971-1.616 Grey Street Hotel, 2-12 Grey St NE1 6EE, ☏ +44 191 230 6777, fax: +44 191 230 6888, enquiries@greystreethotel.com. Great value in this central hotel on elegant Grey St. B&B double £145. (updated Oct 2021)
• 54.999-1.6047 Jesmond Dene House, Jesmond Dene Rd NE2 2EY, ☏ +44 191 212 3000, info@jesmonddenehouse.co.uk. A leafy boutique hotel, great reviews for service, comfort and cuisine. B&B double £160. (updated Oct 2021)
• 54.97-1.68 Malmaison, 104 Quayside NE1 3DX, ☏ +44 191 389 8627, theteam@malmaison.com. Smart upscale hotel, very central. B&B double £160. (updated Oct 2021)