Our Region

Nowhere in the North East can beat Newcastle for its massive selection of shops - whether it's haute couture, vintage, urban street wear, or high street chic you're after, Newcastle is the capital of style. Northumberland Street, Monument and Eldon square are the main shopping areas whilst streets like High Bridge Street have stylish boutiques and vintage shops.

The Metrocentre
The Metrocentre in Gateshead is Europe's largest shopping and leisure centre with over 300 retailers and 50 cafes and restaurants - just a short bus or train journey from Newcastle city centre.

Markets
Every Sunday there is a traditional street market on the Quayside selling everything and anything, and an Arts and Crafts market on the Armstrong Bridge in Jesmond. Farmers markets are run on the first Friday of each month at Monument, where you can buy meats, cheese, confectionery and other local produce.

Pubs and clubs
The Rough Guide described a night out in Newcastle as the best of British – and we agree. With several areas around the city centre where the nightlife is bustling, you’ll never be limited for options. There’s the famous Bigg Market, the popular Quayside and new chic establishments around Central Station. Then there’s The Gate, a £75million city-centre entertainment venue with bars, restaurants, a club, casino and multi-screen cinema. 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 hundreds of restaurants and cafes in and around Newcastle. Spanish, Italian, Mexican, French, Japanese, Portuguese, Polish, Mongolian and Indian food or a simple burger. For an authentic Chinese meal, head for Chinatown. You could even dine in the UK’s oldest dining room at the city’s first–class Blackfriars Restaurant.

Cinema and Theatre
There are three major theatres in Newcastle - the Theatre Royal, the Tyne Theatre and the Newcastle Playhouse. There is a multi-screen cinema at The Gate where you can catch all the latest films, as well as the Tyneside Cinema which shows art-house films as well as cult movies. Whatever your cultural taste, there will be something for you.

Music venues and concerts
Newcastle is at the forefront of the modern music scene in terms of venues and concerts, from the Metro Arena holding 10,000, to the 02 Academy which hosts a great range of gigs including well-known bands and new talent. Newcastle City Hall plays centre stage to world-renowned rock and pop bands, comedians and popular musicals.

Recent guests in Newcastle have included Take That, Kanye West, Blur, Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs, Snow Patrol, Girls Aloud, Kasabian, Beyoncé, Paul Weller and The Killers. The city also hosts annual Jazz, Blues, Asian and Irish festivals. Newcastle Quayside also hosts the annual Evolution festival, the biggest music event in the North East, which has welcomed acts such as Dizzee Rascal, Maximo Park, Plan B, Iggy Pop and The Streets.

Newcastle is one of the most beautiful cities in the UK, with stunning architecture throughout. Grey Street was voted the best street in Britain by BBC Radio 4 listeners.

For a day out with a difference, head to the south bank of the River Tyne, which is home to an array of cultural venues. Stroll across the award-winning Millennium Bridge and discover the BALTIC art gallery and the Sage Music Centre - an international home for musical discovery.

There are also many art galleries and museums located throughout the city. The Discovery Museum is a two-minute walk from the College's Rye Hill Campus, whilst the Hancock Museum and the Laing Art Gallery are in the city centre. The Side Photographic Gallery, the Biscuit Factory and the Waygood Gallery are also worth a look. Of course no tour of Newcastle is complete without a trip to Antony Gormley's stunning 20-metre-high statue, the Angel of the North, which looks out over the region from one of the hills in Gateshead.

Take a trip out of the city toward the coast and you’ll find the beaches of 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.

Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle is a family day out to fire the imagination. Home to the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, it is one of the largest inhabited castles in England and is known as The Windsor of the North.

The castle has dominated the town since medieval times and you may recognise it from its recent starring role as ‘Hogwarts’ in the Harry Potter series of films. Alnwick Castle is one of the most stunning castles in Europe. It has been home of the Percy's, Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since 1309.

But the castle is not just a famous film location and inside its battlements you'll find a host of activities based around Alnwick's rich history.

Bamburgh Castle
The magnificent coastal setting of this completely restored medieval castle, perched high on a cliff overlooking the North Sea in Northumberland, has attracted the eye of many film directors, and Bamburgh Castle has been a “film star” several times over. The museum housed inside contains lots of fascinating history, with collections of military artifacts, paintings, china, and furniture. The empty and unspoiled beaches below the castle are perfect for long bracing walks.

St James' Park is the home of Newcastle United, one of the most famous and best-supported football teams in the England. Sport plays an important part of city life: go and see Newcastle United, as well as rugby, basketball and ice hockey teams.

Whatever sport you're interested in, we are sure you'll find it here!