Newcastle Scene

Newcastle is a great place to be a student. But don't just take our word for it, study, be a part of it - live it!

Pubs, clubs and entertainment

Where do you start? The famous Bigg Market and Quayside are bursting with pubs, clubs and bars, while a variety of trendy venues have sprung up on the doorstep of Central Station.

For everything under one roof; including a 12-screen cinema, bars, restaurants, a casino and clubs, head to The Gate – a £75 million city-centre entertainment venue.

A short metro ride away is the lively Osborne Road in Jesmond with a good choice of bars and restaurants, and lots of student life.

Eating out

All tastes and budgets are catered for at the city’s hundreds of restaurants with Spanish, Italian, Mexican, Japanese, French and Indian to name a few. For an authentic Chinese meal head for Newcastle’s own Chinatown, you'll be spoilt for choice!

Music venues and concerts

From gigs at the Carling Academy to larger concerts at the City Hall, The Sage Gateshead and the Metro Radio Arena – we’ve got it covered. Recent visitors include Beyonce, Blur and Mika. And the city is also host to annual Jazz, Asian and Irish festivals.

Theatre

In addition to showcase performances at our Performance Academy, there are three major theatres in Newcastle – the Theatre Royal, the Tyne Theatre and the Northern Stage, along with the more intimate Live Theatre. All play host to touring plays and local acts and have great relationships with our own Performance Academy.

First-class culture

Stroll across the award-winning Millennium Bridge and explore the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and The Sage Gateshead – an international home for musical discovery and more concerts.

There are also many art galleries and museums located throughout the city: The Discovery Museum is a two-minute walk from our Rye Hill Campus, with the Laing Art Gallery in the city centre. The Side Photographic Gallery, Biscuit Factory and Waygood Gallery are also worth a look.

And no tour is complete without a trip to Antony Gormley’s Angel of the North, which looks out from 65 feet above the A1 motorway.

Shopping

As the north east capital of style, Newcastle is bursting with shops – from haute couture and urban streetwear to high street chic. Eldon Square, Northumberland Street and Monument are the main shopping areas, with High Bridge Street home to stylish vintage shops. Bargain hunters can spend a leisurely  Sunday morning visit a traditional street market on the Quayside and a vibrant arts and crafts market on the Armstrong Bridge in Jesmond.

For serious retail therapy head to the nearby MetroCentre Gateshead, Europe’s largest indoor shopping centre – a short metro or bus journey away.

Out of town

Take a trip out of the city toward the coast and you’ll find Tynemouth and Whitley Bay. Here, you can stroll along the sandy beaches, try your hand at surfing or simply stand back and admire the sea views. And when you’ve worked up an appetite head to one of the local eateries for traditional fish and chips.
A short distance away you will also find the beautiful green countryside of Northumberland. Walkers and cyclists can take to the trails along Hadrian’s Wall and Kielder Forest, while others explore some of Britain’s best-kept secrets including Bamburgh Castle and Alnwick.

From the city streets to coast and countryside, the north east is a pure pleasure to explore.

Getting about

Newcastle benefits from a low cost, quick transport link - the Metro. So you can see everything Newcastle and beyond has to offer.

With so much to do and fantastic transport links to get you there, Newcastle really is a city you've got to experience for yourself.

Student Guide

There’s never been a better time to experience North East England as a student! Not only is our region a great place to study, it’s a fantastic place to live and work, with plenty of excellent opportunities to develop an enviable career after graduation. It’s a place that is alive with passion, bursting with energy and resonant with history.

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