| With a history dating back to a Roman | | | | for its exhibitions of contemporary crafts |
| settlement, its industrial heritage, its fame | | | | such as wood, glass, ceramics, textiles, |
| for the mining and export of coal and the | | | | furniture and metals. Its most famous |
| fact that it is a major regional centre to | | | | painting is 'The Blaydon races' by William |
| the North East of England, Newcastle has | | | | Irving, showing the chaotic events of the |
| plenty of sights to see. Even before arriving | | | | races in 1861. |
| in Newcastle itself, when approached from the | | | | |
| south on the A1 you couldn't fail to see the | | | | Stephenson Railway Museum - prize exhibit |
| 'Angel of the North'. This massive sculpture | | | | here must be the original 'Puffing Billy' |
| created by Antony Gormley is 20 metres high | | | | made by George Stephenson, credited as the |
| and 54 metres wide and dominates the approach | | | | forerunner to his more famous 'Rocket', the |
| to Tyneside. It is now one of the official | | | | Stephenson Railway Museum takes you through |
| icons of England. The following are some of | | | | the beginnings of and then on to the golden |
| the more interesting sights to see in | | | | age of steam railways. The museum also |
| Newcastle. | | | | explains the importance of having local coal |
| | | | reserves available to the Newcastle area for |
| Opened in May 2000 is 'The Life Centre'. The | | | | the development of steam locomotion. |
| aim of the centre is "to inspire curiosity in | | | | |
| science through an imaginative programme of | | | | The New Metroland Funfair at Blaydon is |
| exhibitions and events". A breathtaking | | | | across the River Tyne and inside the |
| selection of activities is on offer to engage | | | | Metrocentre. It is an indoor theme park for |
| you in 'living science', with most of the | | | | young children with Carousels, Big Dippers, |
| events and exhibitions containing interactive | | | | Pirate Swingboats and lots more to be a |
| components. The Life Centre is located on | | | | 'daredevil' on. |
| Times Square within a few metres of the | | | | |
| Central Railway station. | | | | The Baltic Flour Mill Gallery - Despite the |
| | | | fact that this is across the river Tyne in |
| Hancock museum - following a major | | | | Gateshead, the Baltic, as it is commonly |
| refurbishment, this museum is due to re-open | | | | referred, has become an icon of the Tyneside |
| in 2009 with a host of new attractions, when | | | | and the North East, which by default also |
| it will become part of the 'Great North | | | | means Newcastle. Originally built in the |
| Museum'. An interactive model of Hadrian's | | | | 1950s as a grain storage facility, it was |
| Wall is planned along with exhibitions to do | | | | converted into an arts exhibition and |
| with plants, animals, dinosaurs, ancient | | | | performance space in 2002. Being six storeys |
| Greek & Egyptian history and a | | | | high it proudly calls itself "the biggest |
| planetarium. | | | | gallery of its kind in the world". It boasts |
| | | | about the dynamism, visuality and |
| Discovery museum - located at Blandford | | | | contemporaneousness of its exhibitions. |
| Square, this museum specialises in the | | | | Certainly with no single permanent |
| maritime and industrial history of the area. | | | | exhibition, visitors can expect to see |
| It also has sections dedicated to fashion and | | | | something new and different on most visits. |
| military history. In 2005 it attracted nearly | | | | The 'Baltic' is most easily accessed from |
| half a million visitors, making it one of the | | | | Newcastle by simply walking across the |
| most successful museums nationally. | | | | 'Millennium Bridge', a sight to see in |
| | | | itself. |
| Laing Art Gallery - with a rolling programme | | | | |
| of exhibitions there's always something new | | | | Speaking of bridges, Newcastle is famous for |
| to see at the Laing Gallery. Permanent | | | | its Swing Bridge and the Tyne Bridge. Both |
| exhibitions include works by the landscape | | | | can be clearly seen from the Quayside and or |
| artist John Martin and sculpture by Henry | | | | the Sandhill. Whilst admiring the skill of |
| Moore. | | | | the 19th century bridge builders, you can |
| | | | also visit the Quayside itself. Now developed |
| The Castle Keep - a grade 1 listed building | | | | into a thriving cosmopolitan section of the |
| and an ancient monument. The castle reminds | | | | city, there are plenty of bars, cafés and |
| Newcastle of its turbulent past and strategic | | | | restaurants at which to refresh yourself. |
| importance. Completed in 1178 it took ten | | | | |
| years to build during the reign of Henry II. | | | | The Roman fort at Segedunum will be of |
| It is an excellent example of a 'Norman | | | | interest to those wishing to explore the |
| Keep'. The Castle is on St Nicholas Street as | | | | ancient history of Newcastle. This fort was |
| you head down towards the river Tyne. Parts | | | | at the extreme east end of Hadrian's Wall and |
| of the old city wall still exists nearby at | | | | was, therefore, of great military importance |
| Hanover Street and further away off Stowells | | | | to the Romans, guarding their eastern flank. |
| Street in the Blackfriars area. | | | | |
| | | | Somewhat away from Newcastle, in Jarrow to be |
| Path Head water Mill, at Blaydon - Blaydon | | | | accurate, is the Museum of early medieval |
| itself is one of the most famous places | | | | Northumbria - otherwise known as Bede's |
| associated with Newcastle. The song 'The | | | | World. The Venerable Bede, 673-735 AD, was a |
| Blaydon Races' was written in 1862 by George | | | | monk who lived in the monastery at Jarrow. He |
| (Geordie) Riley. The song immortalises the | | | | is credited with being the author of 'The |
| annual horse race meeting that was held there | | | | Ecclesiastical History of the English |
| and all the pageantry and events that went | | | | People', which he completed in 731. This work |
| along with it. The last horse race meeting | | | | is accepted as being the primary source for |
| was held in 1916, in 1988 a 'running' race | | | | information about the development of English |
| along the same route was organised. | | | | people and the spread of Christianity |
| | | | throughout England. It is, in short, the |
| Shipley Art Gallery - A well known gallery | | | | first history of England. |