One Day in Newcastle

After spending a day huddled under the covers to warm up from our seaglass adventure we were ready to go out and see Newcastle.

Newcastle is a port city in the north east of England and was founded 2,000 years ago as a Roman Fort along Hadrian’s Wall. During the 18th and 19th century it was at the center of the Industrial Revolution but has recently changed its image to a cultural center and Science city.

We weren’t expecting much, but were pleasantly surprised by the architecture and buildings we saw as we walked from the train station to our hostel. Not a bad looking city, indeed.

We took a walking tour to get a better feel for the city.

Some of the highlights include:

Grainger Market and Grainger Town

 

Grainger town is the historic heart of the old city. In this are make sure to check out Grainger Market, Clayton Street and Grey Street. Grainger market is perfect for stopping to get a bite to eat before heading out on the city tour, and if you like to walk while you eat (multi-tasking anyone?) wander around the nearby streets.

Central Arcade

 

Now there isn’t much shopping to do inside the Arcade but the inside of the building is beautiful in that Victorian way.

Grey’s Monument

 

This area seems to be a gathering place of sorts. You’ll find people crowded around the monument, street performers, business people walking by, just about everyone. This monument is right in the heart of the city and was built for two main reasons; to commemorate Earl Grey who was prime minister from 1830 to 1834 and to celebrate the passing of the Reform Act of 1832 which attempted to reduce corruption and increase the number of people eligible to vote.

If you’ve seen the movie The Duchess you know a little bit about the Grey family scandal already.

Chinatown

 

I love to scope out Chinatowns in every city looking in search of that famous archway. Always a good spot to get some Asian meals too.

Tyne Bridge

 

Head down to the water to admire the framework of the Tyne Bridge from below. Looks a bit like the Sydney Harbor Bridge right?

Millennium Bridge

 

Take a relaxing stroll along the water until you reach the Millennium Bridge, a pedestrian bridge known for its physical and aesthetic beauty. Definitely one of the most innovative and impressive bridge I’ve ever seen.

If you’ve got more than a day in the city consider visiting one of the many museums or taking a day trip out to see Hadrian’s Wall.