The Perfect Two-Day City Break in NewcastleGateshead

Escape the everyday and feel free again on a city break to NewcastleGateshead. Discover hidden gems and neighbourhoods, explore the city's fascinating history and treat yourself with an enviable choice of places to eat and drink. Let us guide you through two days in our twin cities...

With an enviable position, just behind Newcastle Central Station, and steps away from everything the city has to offer, Roomzzz Aparthotel makes the perfect base for your stay. 14 of the individually styled, spacious and luxurious serviced apartments are located in the Grade II listed Friar House building and a modern extension offers 74 more spacious apartments.

Morning

You may be surprised to learn that Newcastle is a city that is packed with beautiful green spaces. Venture off the beaten track and explore the parks of the toon, as well as taking in iconic Quayside views on a Posh Parks of the Toon Cycling Tour with Newcastle Tour Company. The tour is private, for just you and your group of up to six, giving a real VIP experience. You’ll visit Jesmond Dene, a tranquil wooded that stretches for over 3km, was gifted to the city by 19th Century industrialist Lord Armstrong. You’ll also roam the wide expanse of the Town Moor, where Freemen of Newcastle hold the rights to graze their cattle to this day and you will also discover the vibrant neighbourhoods of Ouseburn and Jesmond. This tour starts and finishes on Newcastle Quayside at The Cycle Hub for bike rental.

Lunch

After working up an appetite on the cycling tour, Fenwick Food Hall is the perfect lunch-spot and is a foodie paradise within the flagship department store with racks of artisan products, local produce, and top-quality patisserie, meat and grocery counters. With so much variety, there is something to suit every taste here. Take a seat at one of the dine-in options – Mason + Rye, Porterhouse Butcher and Grill, Fuego to name a few, and dine at what has been a Newcastle institution since 1882. You can also explore the drinks hall and the local beers and spirits on offer and grab some Geordie-brand produce to take home.

Afternoon

Just a few minutes’ walk from Fenwick is Laing Art Gallery, home to an impressive collection of art and sculpture with its programme of displays and events renowned for bringing the biggest names in historic, modern and contemporary art to the North East. With free entry to its permanent collection displayed year-round, visitors looking can enjoy dynamic landscapes by 19th Century painter John Martin, sculpture by Henry Moore and more.

A new paid-for exhibition at the gallery, Challenging Convention (17 May – 21 August), explores four female artists who struggled to challenge the conventions of the patriarchal society of the 20th century – a century of great change for women in Britain.

Next, discover Newcastle’s rich history at Newcastle Castle, from which the city gained its name many centuries ago. The must-visit attraction offers incredible views from its rooftop and is the perfect place to enjoy the stunning views of the cityscape and to capture a family snapshot. The Castle Keep is considered one of the UK's finest medieval stone castle dungeons which is still open to the public. Exhibitions will take you back in time to experience what life would have been like for its inhabitants.

Evening

For fine dining without the fuss, you can’t go wrong with Dobson and Parnell, which was the 2020 winner of the Taste of North East England Award as well as being featured in the Michelin Guide 2020 and the Good Food Guide 2020. Based in an historic building on Newcastle Quayside, it’s known for its creative blend of European and British cuisine and offers luxurious five and seven-course tasting menus (with optional wine flight) which will take you on a culinary adventure, packed with local produce.

After dinner, those long summer evenings are perfect for a visit to By The River Brew Co. The riverside beer terrace on Gateshead Quays sits under the iconic Tyne Bridge and offers chilled vibes, excellent locally brewed craft beer and unrivalled views along the River Tyne. It’s part of a vibrant shipping container village that is also home to a street-food market and upmarket indoor restaurant, Trakol.

Morning

You’ll love discovering centuries of history at the award-winning free attraction, Great North Museum: Hancock. With many exhibitions on offer, you can discover the story of wildlife and habitats in the Living Planet Gallery; explore the history of UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hadrian’s Wall; meet a life-size replica T-Rex in Fossil Stories; and uncover the secrets of the Egyptians and other ancient cultures.

Lunch

Just a short stroll from Great North Museum, you'll find Wylam Brewery – a 30-barrel micro brewery that resides at the Palace of Arts, which is the last remaining building from the 1929 North East Exhibition. Enjoy lunch at Wylam Brewery’s Brewery Tap and Kitchen (open Thursday – Sunday), which serves the best in craft beer both on keg and cask along with small plates of traditional British fayre with a North East twist. Beer enthusiasts can even go on a guided tour of the brewery each Saturday at 11am, which includes an introduction to the brewing process, a brief history of the brewery and the opportunity to sample four of their beers. Tours must be pre-booked.

Afternoon

Head down to BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, the biggest gallery of its kind in the world that is housed in a renovated flour mill on the Gateshead bank of the River Tyne, an unmissable landmark on the Quayside vista. The gallery, which offers free entry, presents a dynamic, diverse and international programme of contemporary visual art and has an ever-changing calendar of exhibitions and activities. Travel up to the building’s higher levels for beautiful views and the perfect photo stop. Its shop also stocks prints, books, jewellery, homewares and more and is ideal for picking up a North East souvenir.

Complete your NewcastleGateshead stay with a truly unique and memorable experience – the Tyne Bridges and Quayside Kayak Tour by CBK Adventure Co. Starting from Newcastle City Marina, just under the Tyne Bridge, you’ll take in the seven bridges of the Tyne from a vantage point like no other as you paddle beneath them, snapping photos as you go. As the winner of the Experience of the Year Award at the North East England Tourism Awards 2020, you’re guaranteed a special experience that is not to be forgotten.