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Born out of the smoke-blackened riches of a heavily industrial past, Newcastle has always been a powerhouse for enterprise and ideas. Nowadays the mills and pits have given way to a thriving academic and arts scene, along with some of the country’s best nightspots.
If you haven’t been to Newcastle for a while, it’s probably time you discovered what you’ve been missing out on.
Dating back to Roman times, the city of Newcastle has a strong history of commerce and heavy industry as a centre for shipbuilding in the 16th century and later on for wool trading and coal mining in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Since the decline of its traditional industries, Newcastle has undergone a startling revival seeing it emerge as a city of thought and culture. With universities which push international boundaries and world-class centres for arts and music, it has much to offer students, residents and visitors alike.
The city has also earned itself a reputation for fantastic nights out with a wealth of restaurants, bars and clubs springing up along its regenerated Quayside.
Newcastle International Airport is located six miles north of the city and is conveniently linked by Metro to Newcastle Central Station. A bustling regional airport for both domestic and international travel, it was ranked the 11th busiest UK airport in 2010.
The airport serves the people of Tyne and Wear, Cumbria and Northumbria, providing both charter and scheduled flights to destinations all over the world.
Run by an ambitious team, the airport’s management hope to increase passenger numbers to 9.5 million by 2016. To help facilitate that growth, they plan to develop a number of aspects of the airport, including the terminal buildings, runway and car parks.
The airport currently features a number of high quality cheap airport parking providers and this will be added to over the coming years.
Destinations and airlines
While Newcastle Airport is well-used by domestic commuters, it’s also popular with holidaymakers as it serves a host of sunbreak destinations in Greece, Turkey, Spain and the Spanish Islands.
If getting away to somewhere further afield is more your thing, Newcastle Airport won’t disappoint here either, with flights to exotic spots such as Egypt, Tunisia, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Barbados.
When selecting a flight from Newcastle, you’ll find a good range of airlines and tour operators to choose from.
If you’re staying within the UK, you’ll find good value flights available from easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2.com and BA to name but a few. Looking to Europe and beyond, you’ll find all the big tour operators, from Thomson and Air Tours to First Choice, alongside Europe’s biggest carriers Air France, Lufthana and Emirates.
Airport facilities
Newcastle Airport prides itself on being particularly family-friendly, providing good quality baby change facilities and food, drink and entertainment especially tailored to children.
For passengers with disabilities, there are a range of support services available, including designated parking bays, wheel chair assistance for check-in and boarding, lift access and disabled toilets throughout the terminal building.
As you would expect of an international airport, Newcastle also offers lounge facilities, currency exchanges and plenty of opportunities for shopping and eating for all its passengers.
Its restaurants range from cheap and cheerful coffee shops, to champagne and caviar bars, while its shops stock everything from luxury chocolates to makeup to sportswear and travel essentials.
Transport links
If you’re travelling to Newcastle Airport by public transport, the quickest and easiest way to get there is to take the Metro from Newcastle Central Station. The journey takes around 20 minutes and services depart every 12 minutes between 5.44am and 11.58pm.
If you’re travelling to Newcastle by train from another part of the country, take the train to Newcastle Central Station first and then pick up the Metro from there which will take you directly to the airport.
There are a handful of local bus services which also travel to the airport - the X77, X78, X79 and 101. For more information on bus departures, visit www.traveline.info.
Alternatively, a taxi will cost around £15 from Newcastle city centre.
Newcastle Airport offers a range of cheap airport parking providers, all selling great value, secure parking deals for on-site and park and ride services.
The best way to secure the cheapest parking deal for your dates of travel is to use our airport parking price comparison engine to search and compare offers. Every vendor included in our search results has been vetted prior to inclusion to ensure they meet our strict security and customer service standards.
If Meet and Greet is more your thing, why not visit the website of Stress Free Parking.com where you’ll find the top Meet and Greet parking deals at all the UK’s major airports?
If you’d like to stay somewhere with a wow factor in the city centre, try the four-star Copthorne on the Quayside or the super-chic Malmaison just around the corner. Both hotels are ideally located for checking out some of Newcastle’s best nightlife and offer excellent waterside views. Rooms range from £110-£150 per night.
Perhaps you’d prefer to stay out of the city centre, if so, why not check out Newcastle’s most affluent suburb Jesmond. The area of choice for young and older professionals, Jesmond boasts broad leafy streets and large Victorian villas, many of which are now hotels and upmarket B&Bs.
Recommended Jesmond hotels and B&Bs include the Adelphi on Fern Avenue, The Jesmond Hotel on Osbourne Road, and The Rosebery Hotel on Rosebery Crescent. If you’d like to splash out, the Jesmond Dene Hotel is also well worth checking out, although it doesn’t come cheap, with rooms starting from £150 a night.
It’s also possible to do Newcastle on a shoestring if you’re budget-conscious. Try The Albatross backpackers hostel on Grainger Street or Newcastle’s YHA on Jesmond Road if money’s tight.
If eating out in Newcastle strikes you as a bit of a humdrum affair, you couldn’t be more wrong. This arty, cosmopolitan city has tons of unique experiences to offer discerning dinners, ranging from quick snacks to gourmet dining.
Perfect for snapping up coffees and other light-bites, the Byker Vista Café at the Biscuit Factory is just a short mooch from the city centre and offers great views over industrial Newcastle. Another great snack stop is Big Mussel on the Quayside where fuss-free mussels and chips can be washed down with a cold Belgian beer.
For more upmarket dining, try Café 21, again on the Quayside. Their authentic bistro cuisine rarely disappoints, combining fresh seasonal ingredients and a desire to produce dishes which comfort and inspire. If you’re hungry early, why not try their early bird menu which offers 2 courses for £16.50?
Equally good, if a little more quirky, is Blackfriars on Friars Street. Set within a former 13th century monastery, Blackfriars lays claim to being the oldest dining room in the UK and serves a mouthwatering selection of classic English dishes.
No visit to the North East would be complete without a trip to the fish and chip shop locals revere above all others - Colman’s of South Shields. Although it’s a 25 minute Metro ride from the city centre, the trek is well worth it as their fantastic selection of fresh fish has earned them Chip Shop of the Year 2011 and an entry in this year’s prestigious Good Food Guide.
If you’d like to see some of the historic sights of Newcastle, start with the castle on St. Nicholas Street. Built in the 12th century, it makes a fascinating trip back in time, complete with ghoulish dungeons and top views of the city from its ramparts.
Further down St. Nicholas Street, you’ll come across the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, which has been dominating the city’s skyline for over 900 years. Highlights of the church include its beautiful, ancient stone arcades, medieval stained glasswork and 15th century decorative steeple.
If it’s the city’s industrial heritage that interests you, head to The Stephenson Railway Museum in North Shields. The Museum is home to George Stephenson's 'Billy', a forerunner of the world- famous Rocket, along with many other interactive displays which celebrate the age of steam.
Newcastle’s reputation for art and culture attracts many visitors each year, so if it’s this that you’re after, try the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Arts, Norman Foster's Sage Music Centre, The Biscuit Factory or Seven Stories for size.
As a result of its transformation from coal capital to culture capital, Newcastle has become a mecca for discerning shoppers. Effortlessly mixing high street names with stylish boutiques, it offers something for everyone – all within easy access of the city centre.
Northumberland Street
If it’s major high street names that you’re after, then head straight to Northumberland Street. As Newcastle’s main shopping street, it’s awash with the likes of Marks and Spencer, Boots, Starbucks and a variety of high street banks.
There’s also a large department store in the flagship Fenwick which was founded in 1882 and which is still their biggest UK store.
Eldon Square
Leading directly off Northumberland Street, Eldon Square is Newcastle city centre’s large well-kept shopping centre.
Offering a further choice of big high street names, including Debenhams, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer and Fenwick, it also houses a host of restaurants and cafes including Pizza Express, Nando’s, Wagamama and Yo! Sushi.
Eldon Garden
Eldon Garden is Eldon’s Square’s quirkier little sister, where you’ll find more unusual retailers, mixed with independent jewellers and gift shops. There is also a 430-space car park attached to this shopping centre, which makes it handy if you plan to come to Newcastle by car.
Grainger Town
For all things up market or avant-garde, you should make for Grainger Town, just a stone’s throw from the city centre. Made up of a handful of streets built in the neo-classical style by Richard Grainger in the 1830s and 40s, Grainger Town is now a high end shopping destination, peppered with boutique names such as Space NK and JG Windows.
The Metrocentre, Gateshead
For a full day’s shopping, why not give the famous Metrocentre in Gateshead a whirl? With over 340 stores of every conceivable style and type, you’re certain to find what you’re looking for here – whether it’s a high street favourite or quirky boutique.
As well as great shopping, the Metrocentre also houses a myriad of restaurants, bars, an IMAX cinema, bowling alley and soft play centre for children. It isn’t difficult to see why so many people flock here each day!
When the sun goes down, Newcastle comes to life with a lively theatre, club, pub and live music scene. The famous Geordie wit is also often on display in the city’s flourishing comedy clubs, including the Hyena Café on Leazes Lane and Long Live Comedy at the Dog and Parrot on Clayton Street West.
For culture vultures, there’s the excellent independent Tyneside Cinema on Pilgrim Street which houses three lovely auditoria, coffee rooms and stylish bar. The ideal place to take in a foreign film or while away a few hours reading the paper, the Tyneside has much to offer at any time of day.
Drinkers will also be spoilt for choice - as you’d imagine - in Newcastle, with a heady mix of traditional boozers and upmarket lounge bars. The best of the old style pubs is the lovely old Victorian Centurion bar in Central Station and The Crown Posada, 31 Side. For a more modern tipple, try Apartment on Collingwood Street or Stereo on Sandgate.
For live performance, check out Dance City, Live Theatre, Northern Stage, The Theatre Royal and the Journal Tyne Theatre where a wealth of world-class drama, music and dance can be found.