Relaxing Things To Do In Newcastle upon Tyne

An Overview of Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle upon Tyne is a robust university city on the River Tyne in England. The city has an extended history as a popular shipbuilding and manufacturing hub during the Industrial Revolution. The city has gradually moved forward as a financial sector with university lifestyles, industrial heritages and famed pubs defining the local culture. The natives of Newcastle upon Tyne are known for their unique regional accents, also called the Geordie Dialect. Thanks to the river, shopping centers and university nearby, there are many relaxing things to do in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Relaxing Things To Do In Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle Castle

The Newcastle Castle is the famed medieval fortification of Northern England. The castle ruins are largely intact and restored, with the Castle Keep, Black Gate and other walls still standing. The fortification was built by the Normans and has 800 years of history to its name.

Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas

The Newcastle Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas, is a large place of worship with a compelling tower-addition. The cathedral’s history dates from the early 14^th century. For over 900 years, the structure has been the centerpiece of Newcastle’s spiritual and civic life. Visitors can observe the old memorials and ledger stones found on the cathedral grounds.

Newcastle Cenotaph

Located in the central portion of Newcastle, this structure memorial commemorates the residents of Newcastle upon Tyne who lost their lives in the First and Second World War. The statue depicts a rearing horse, a mounted soldier and a carving of a stone lion.

Grey’s Monument

This narrow monument, built for Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, is one of Newcastle’s most prominent landmarks. During his time in office from 1830 to 1834, Grey passed the highly celebrated Reform Act of 1832, designed to stamp out corruption and expand the numbers of eligible voters. The monument itself is can be climbed by ascending an interior spiral staircase, though this is only available through prebooking for specific hours on certain Saturdays throughout the year.

The Vampire Rabbit of Newcastle

Perched above an ornate door on the Cathedral Buildings near St. Nicholas Cathedral, there rests a demented black rabbit with bugging eyes and bloodied teeth. Though the real origins of the creature are unknown, a local legend has latched onto the menacing figure. Supposedly, grave robbers were running rampant through the cemetary until a fanged beast rose from the graveyard, scaring off the criminals. Other theories abound, including morphed references to the Easter Bunny or an homage to local doctor Sir George Hare Phipson.

The Lit & Phil Independent Library

This building is the largest independent library in England beyond the boundaries of London. The library is full of bright and brilliant spaces thanks to the domed overhead skylights. The rest of the building is filled with towering shelves of books. It is a refreshingly open literary space.

Dunston Staiths

Located on the opposite side of the Tyne River in the twin-town of Gateshead, the Dunston Staiths is the largest pure-timber structure in all of Europe. The structure was originally designed as a ship-loading apparatus, using rail lines, coal chutes and gravity to disperse coal and other mineral goods onto ships in bulk.

Blackfriars Friary

This is an ancient scheduled monument which includes the remains of a Dominican Friary, one of the last and largest of its kind in the United Kingdom. Once upon a time, Newcastle hosted five friaries, but most were retired, repurposed or torn down. Now, this final seven-acre friary is one of the oldest standing buildings in the city.

St. Mary’s Well, Jesmond

This is a tiny, hidden and somewhat difficult-to-find holy place in Newcastle upon Tyne. The well is found on an unassuming footpath between The Grove and Reid Park Road. St. Mary’s Well is named after the Capel of St. Mary, a notoriously holy pilgrimage site in the UK. The well itself is ringed by wooden crosses, flower wreaths, images of the Virgin Mary and small candles. It’s traditional for visitors to toss coins into the well.

Quayside

The Quayside of Newcastle upon Tyne is a riverside walking route passing beside some of the most iconic landmarks of the rea. Visitors can spot the artful Gateshead Millennium Bridge, the Swing Bridge, the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, as well as lively bars, restaurants and clubs.

Grainger Market

Grainger Market is a popular shopping area in Newcastle upon Tyne. The arched red-beamed arcade is a market hall, preserved since 1835, featuring numerous food vendors, stalls and vintage goods.

Segedunum Roman Fort and Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall was an immense series of barriers and fortifications which defined Roman influence in ancient eras, controlling a flow of goods, traffic and military activities in the region. The functionality of the defense system was bolstered by a series of imposing forts, one of which was the Segedunum Roman Fort. Literately meaning “Strong Fort” the structure guarded the eastern portion of Hadrian’s Wall. It garrisoned around 600 Roman Soldiers for nearly 300 years as a major battlement. The ruins are incorperated into a museum found East of Newcastle upon Tyne. A day trip to the old wall area in the rolling countryside is one of the most relaxing things to do in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Angel of the North

The Angel of the North is a prominent contemporary sculpture found in Gateshead, Newcastle’s twin city. The Angle of the North is believed to be the largest sculpture of an angel in the world, standing 20 meters (66 ft) tall with a wingspan of 54 meters (177 ft). The structure shows a faceless humanoid standing straight with arms splayed out, a pair of biplane wings extended as it looks over the hilly countryside.

Old George Inn (Medieval Pub)

This watering hold advertises itself as a favorite pub for Charles I, with the actual structure dating from 1582. The pub is a decent place to grab authentic ales alongside pub-dining options.

Beamish Living Museum

This museum is a pioneer of open-air musuem concepts. Beamish uses various actors to rotate through educational villages, showing how English ancestor’s lived and worked. The core premise of the museum involves education and entertainment in an authentic setting, so there re many shows and performances involved on-site.

Jesmond Dene

This is a peaceful park found in Newcastle upon Tyne, located withing a narrow, steep valley on the edge of the Ouseburn River. The public park has unique preserved structures. There are also a fair number of ruins, the most famous being the incredible St. Mary’s Chapel. The Chapel was once a site for major pilgrimages throughout England.

Newcastle Biscuit Factory

Inverse to it’s name, the Biscuit Factory is actually a contemporary art gallery. the Gallery is a large nexus for commercial artworks, studio displays and craft designs. It operates out of an old factory-and-Victorian-warehouse from the 1870’s. The venue also contains a coffee shop and restaurant.

Northumberland National Park

For dramatic landscape and a quintessential English countryside experience, Northumberland National Park takes the prize. The park is defined by vast rugged landscapes with remote hills and valleys leading to the Scottish Boarder. The park boundaries include protected portions of Hadrian’s Wall, Kiedler Forst and the Cheviot Hills. With numerous trails and beautiful scenery, visiting the national park is one of the most relaxing things to do in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Durham 

Durham is a unique heritage site south of Newcastle upon Tyne. The city is a decent day trip outside of Newcastle, as it’s known for numerous attractions and impressive architecture. the city is home to the Romanesque Durham Cathedral, the Norman Durham Castle, the medieval Crook Hall with mazes and gardens, Durham University and the Oriental Museum with artifacts from Asia, Egypt and the Middle East. The city is also the famed resting place of Saint Cuthbert and Sint Bede the Venerable.

Victoria Tunnels

This is a large, subterranean wagonway that travels beneath Newcastle upon Tyne. The route was originally used to transport coal to the riverside staithes to be loaded onto boats. The tunnels are 2.4 miles long and largely intact.

Gibside Estate

This is a large estate in the Derwent Valley located to the West of Newcastle on the Tyne. The National Trust Property contains the main house, a famous chapel, intact stables, a walled garden, the Column to Liberty and a Banqueting House. Visiting the estate is free, though booking is essential.

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