NEW YORK NEWCASTLE NEW TWO NIGHT STAY unique city experiences This itinerary lets you explore the vibrant, cultural capital of the North East, Newcastle upon Tyne, and the medieval city of Durham, as well as escaping to the stunning Northumberland coastline which features more castles and fortified buildings than any other county in England.
DAY ONE let the fun begin! 10:30 Quayside The famous Quayside area is packed with cultural venues, including Sage Gateshead and BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. Arrive into Newcastle International Airport, which has excellent transport links connecting to the city centre in just 15 minutes by car or by a 25 minute direct journey on the Metro light-rail system. Spend the day exploring the exciting and lively twin cities of Newcastle and Gateshead by foot, to take in some of the unique culture. The banks of the River Tyne and the famous Quayside area are packed with cultural venues and are the perfect place to admire some of the seven bridges that span the river. On the Gateshead side you can wander through the international home for music, Sage Gateshead, one of the world s premier music venues which is home to The Royal Northern Sinfonia. Visit the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, which is housed in a landmark industrial building and has previously played host to the prestigious Turner Prize. It s also the perfect place for a spot of lunch at its Six rooftop restaurant, which has spectacular views of the cityscape. Cross the River Tyne on foot via the Gateshead Millennium Bridge the world s first and only tilting bridge that links Newcastle and neighbouring Gateshead. Newcastle is world-famous for its Brown Ale, but now many craft breweries have sprung up in the region, offering a wide range of authentic local ales. Settle down for a pint that has been brewed on site in The Bridge Tavern s own micro brewery if you are feeling hungry, there s also lots of tasty local produce on the menu. From the Quayside, you should be able to see the medieval castle that gave the city its name now known as Newcastle Castle. Spend an hour exploring the Castle Keep and Black Gate to discover the city s ancient heritage and enjoy the new exhibits that allow visitors to experience what life would have been like for the inhabitants of the past.
Next, stroll into Grainger Town, the historic heart of Newcastle via Grey Street, which thanks to its stunning Georgian architecture, has been voted Britain s best-loved street. The focal point of Grainger Town is the impressive Grey s Monument, erected in 1838 to commemorate the Reform Act of 1832, drafted during Earl Grey s time as Prime Minister. Grainger Town is also home to the Theatre Royal and a range of restaurants, bars and cafes, galleries and independent shops. Newcastle is home to many big-name hotel brands like Hilton, Hotel Indigo, Marriott, Holiday Inn, plus UK brands Malmaison and Hotel Du Vin. It also has a range of boutique and independent hotels including Jesmond Dene House or The Vermont Hotel, as well as a wide choice of budget accommodation so you re spoilt for choice on places to stay. 12:00 Bridge Tavern Enjoy a pint that has been brewed on site in The Bridge Tavern s micro brewery and try the local produce on its menu. DAY ONE 14:00 Newcastle Castle Explore the medieval castle that gave the city its name. 19:30 House of Tides Fine-dining restaurant based in a beautifully restored Grade I listed 16th Century former merchant s town house on Newcastle s Quayside. Take time to explore the hustle and bustle of the indoor Grainger Market, home to one of the stalwarts of the English retail world, an original Marks and Spencer s Penny Bazaar, then stroll through the Edwardian Central Arcade. Enjoy a luxurious, seasonal and locallysourced dinner at House of Tides, a finedining restaurant based in a beautifully restored Grade I listed 16th Century former merchant s town house on Newcastle s Quayside, just a stone s throw away from the iconic Tyne Bridge.
DAY two to coast and castles! 13:30 Bamburgh Castle Once home to the kings of ancient Northumbria, Bamburgh Castle is one of Northumberland s most iconic buildings. As Newcastle sits at the heart of the North East region, it is the perfect base for exploring the wider region, with city centre restaurants, nightlife and culture all to hand. On the second day, you can travel a little further afield, heading north out of Newcastle along Northumberland s coast to explore castles, villages and beaches along the way. Thirty nine miles of coast stretching from Berwick-upon-Tweed in the north to the River Coquet estuary in the south of the county is designated as the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Northumberland is best accessed by car (plenty of car hire companies are available in Newcastle s city centre). Travel north to Howick, home of Earl Grey tea, where you can enjoy a cup for yourself at The Earl Grey Tea House. Continue north, taking in the spectacular ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, which are only accessible by foot, near the village of Craster. Sample a lunch of the region s famous smoked kippers at the Craster Seafood Restaurant or try some Lindisfarne Oysters, a delicacy at eateries throughout the region, before continuing north again to Bamburgh Castle which forms a picture-perfect photo stop. DAY two
15:00 Alnwick Castle Try broomstick training at Alnwick Castle famous as being home to Harry Potter s school Hogwarts. DAY TWO After exploring the coast, head inland to explore Alnwick Castle and The Alnwick Garden. Alnwick Castle is home to the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland and is the second largest inhabited castle in the country. The castle was most recently made famous as being home to Harry Potter s school Hogwarts and provided the setting for the Christmas 2014 episode of Downton Abbey. Right next door to the castle is The Alnwick Garden, a vision of the Duchess of Northumberland which is acclaimed as one of the best contemporary gardens in the world. Stay at Alnwick Garden for dinner in The Treehouse restaurant, housed in one of the world s largest tree houses a truly unique setting before making the 45 minute drive back to your hotel in Newcastle.
DAY three 14:30 Beamish Step back in time and discover what North East life was like in Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian times. county durham In the morning, travel to the to the historic market city of Durham (it takes just 15 minutes by train or 30 minutes by car). Here you will find one of the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the region, Durham Castle and Cathedral. Durham is packed with winding medieval lanes and beautiful architecture, making it a pleasure to explore. Browse the city s specialist boutiques or enjoy a relaxing river cruise to take in the city views, before having lunch in Oldfields Noted Eating House, where you can enjoy quality British food and craft beer. 12:00 Oldfields A modern British eatery featuring local produce, simple cooking and craft beers. In the afternoon, take a step back in time by visiting Beamish: The Living Museum of the North, an open air museum that lets you discover what life was like in North East England in Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian times. You can reach Beamish by a 20 minute drive from the centre of Durham or take the regular 128 bus service. Beamish is a living, working museum, set in 300 acres of County Durham countryside. Costumed demonstrators bring to life the Edwardian Town and Pit Village, complete with an original drift mine. While at Beamish, you can enjoy an authentic taste of pit village life at Davy s Coal Fired Fish & Chip Shop, enjoy a pint at The Sun Inn or try traditional confectionery at the Jubilee Sweet Shop.
extend your stay! Durham York - Discover the walled-city of York s rich history. The history of York is the history of England (King George VI). 50 minutes by train, 1 hour 30 minutes by car. Durham Leeds - Yorkshire s largest city is home to world renowned Opera North and the Royal Armouries Museum. 1 hour 15 minutes by train, 1 hour 45 minutes by car. Durham Manchester - A vibrant urban hub with an exciting music, art and culture scene and home to two famous football clubs. 2 hours 15 minutes by train, 2 hours 45 minutes by car. Durham Liverpool - The Merseyside city is the home of The Beatles and the UNESCO World Heritage Site includes Albert Dock. 3 hours by train or car. extra day
9 useful information A 1 A697 B C D E Berwick upon Tweed Berwick upon Tweed Holy Island Sands Holy Island of Lindisfarne Accommodation - The north of England offers a huge range of accommodation options, including big-name hotel brands, independent and boutique hotels, as well bed and breakfasts and good quality hostels for those on a budget. Newcastle and Gateshead newcastlegateshead.com/accommodation Durham thisisdurham.com/accommodation Airport transfers - Newcastle International Airport is just eight miles from Newcastle city centre. The airport is connected to the city centre by the Metro light railway system. Trains run every 5 15 minutes and the journey takes just 25 minutes. Bus services, car hire and taxis are also available at the airport. Car hire - Car hire at Newcastle International Airport or in Newcastle city centre couldn t be easier with many national car hire companies available. Contact details are as follows: Sixt 0844 499 3399 sixt.co.uk Europcar 0871 384 3411 europcar.co.uk Hertz 0191 286 6748 hertz.co.uk Avis 0844 544 6022 avis.co.uk Budget 0844 544 4663 budget.co.uk Interrent 0844 544 4663 interrent.com Public transport Tyne and Wear Metro - Metro is the North East s very own light rail system. With 60 stations located around Tyne and Wear, there s usually one close by and because they re so frequent, you can just hop on and off with no hassle. nexus.org.uk/metro Bus - There are bus routes operating to the main tourist attractions, many offering you money-saving tickets and discounts on entry fees. The two main bus companies in the North East are Arriva and Go North East. Make use of the Traveline North East Journey Planner to help you plan your trip. travelinenortheast.info Train - Newcastle is located on the East Coast mainline that connects London and Edinburgh. With over 30 high speed trains running every day, it s easy and quick to get around the country. Durham is just 10 minutes by train from Newcastle Central Station and York just one hour away. First TransPennine Express also connects the north of England, with journey times to the main cities all within a few hours. thetrainline.com 2 3 4 5 6 Kielder Water Kielder Forest A66 Wark Forest A69 7 One square represents approximately 12.5 miles or 20 kilometres Scotland England 5 The Cheviot Hills Northumberland National Park A6 6 A69 A697 A696 Hadrian s Wall Hexham Corbridge Hexham Harwood Forest Yorkshire Dales National Park A697 Barnard Castle A69 A67 A697 8 A66 A692 A691 Alnwick A693 A6072 068 9 Newcastle upon Tyne Consett Alnmouth Ashington Morpeth Newcastle International Airport 9 89 63 Chester le-street 56 Farne Islands 8 6 Durham Blyth Angel of the North Sunderland Durham Castle and Cathedral Newcastle Central Station 67 59 (M) 62 (M) 61 Bishop Auckland 60 Newton Aycliffe 58 Darlington Newbiggin by the Sea 9 Whitley Bay Tynemouth A66 South Shields 018 Seaham 9 9 Stockton on Tees 57 Darlington Durham Tees Valley Airport 79 Hartlepool 9 7 72 A66 Middlesbrough Middlesbrough North Sea 71 North York Moors National Park
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