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