North Shields Fish Quay

North Shields Fish Quay is an increasingly vibrant and bustling place to wander on a sunny weekend in the North East. A popular place to eat out at the coast, North Shields Fish Quay is a hive of history, heritage and an excellent place for fish-lovers to enjoy a tasty bite to eat.

A stone's throw from the mouth of the River Tyne, the historic Fish Quay remains a thriving community which will stir all your senses. Watch fisherman aboard their boats. Smell the wafts of fish and chips in the nearby restaurants and sample fresh seafood brought ashore in the harbour.

North Shields Fish Quay is also home to the Old Low Light - a maritime heritage centre which explores 900 years of the region's history and has an impressive viewing platform where visitors can enjoy spectacular views across the Mouth of the Tyne.

Choose from a wide range of restaurants, cafes and places to eat at North Shield's Fish Quay including traditional fish restaurants and stylish brasseries. You can even enjoy fish and chips out of the wrapper overlooking the River Tyne as you watch the ships pass by. There is also a good choice of pubs both old and new that will always make you feel welcome serving real ales and fine wines.

Perfect for a leisurely stroll or a voyage of discovery on its history, the Fish Quay is a short walk from North Shields town centre and is also served by bus routes. The promenade that stretches east from the quay towards the Mouth of the River Tyne is a nice walk with superb views of the river entrance, the piers and Collingwood Monument. It eventually brings you to a headland known as the Spanish Battery where the magnificent Tynemouth Priory & Castle comes into view.

North Shields Fish Quay dates back to about the 13th Century and has a fascinating history. In 1225 a village of shielings (fisherman's huts) developed where the Fish Quay stands today. North Shields took its name from the shielings and the fact it stands on the north bank of the River Tyne. There are a number of historic buildings, notably Clifford's Fort, built in 1672 as a coastal defence against the Dutch. Significant investment and regeneration has rejuvenated the Fish Quay in recent years. It is still a working quay today and has a and is popular with visitors.

The climb up the stairs from the Fish Quay to Tyne Street is rewarded with magnificent views up and down the river. A short walk away is Dockwray Square where there is a statue of comic legend Stan Laurel. Did you know that Stan Laurel lived in North Shields as a boy where his father was a theatre manager?