| With a history dating back to a Roman | | | | contemporary crafts such as wood, glass, |
| settlement, its industrial heritage, its | | | | ceramics, textiles, furniture and |
| fame for the mining and export of coal | | | | metals. Its most famous painting is 'The |
| and the fact that it is a major regional | | | | Blaydon races' by William Irving, |
| centre to the North East of England, | | | | showing the chaotic events of the races |
| Newcastle has plenty of sights to see. | | | | in 1861. |
| Even before arriving in Newcastle | | | | Stephenson Railway Museum - prize |
| itself, when approached from the south | | | | exhibit here must be the original |
| on the A1 you couldn't fail to see the | | | | 'Puffing Billy' made by George |
| 'Angel of the North'. This massive | | | | Stephenson, credited as the forerunner |
| sculpture created by Antony Gormley is | | | | to his more famous 'Rocket', the |
| 20 metres high and 54 metres wide and | | | | Stephenson Railway Museum takes you |
| dominates the approach to Tyneside. It | | | | through the beginnings of and then on to |
| is now one of the official icons of | | | | the golden age of steam railways. The |
| England. The following are some of the | | | | museum also explains the importance of |
| more interesting sights to see in | | | | having local coal reserves available to |
| Newcastle. | | | | the Newcastle area for the development |
| Opened in May 2000 is 'The Life Centre'. | | | | of steam locomotion. |
| The aim of the centre is "to inspire | | | | The New Metroland Funfair at Blaydon is |
| curiosity in science through an | | | | across the River Tyne and inside the |
| imaginative programme of exhibitions and | | | | Metrocentre. It is an indoor theme park |
| events". A breathtaking selection of | | | | for young children with Carousels, Big |
| activities is on offer to engage you in | | | | Dippers, Pirate Swingboats and lots more |
| 'living science', with most of the | | | | to be a 'daredevil' on. |
| events and exhibitions containing | | | | The Baltic Flour Mill Gallery - Despite |
| interactive components. The Life Centre | | | | the fact that this is across the river |
| is located on Times Square within a few | | | | Tyne in Gateshead, the Baltic, as it is |
| metres of the Central Railway station. | | | | commonly referred, has become an icon of |
| Hancock museum - following a major | | | | the Tyneside and the North East, which |
| refurbishment, this museum is due to | | | | by default also means Newcastle. |
| re-open in 2009 with a host of new | | | | Originally built in the 1950s as a grain |
| attractions, when it will become part of | | | | storage facility, it was converted into |
| the 'Great North Museum'. An interactive | | | | an arts exhibition and performance space |
| model of Hadrian's Wall is planned along | | | | in 2002. Being six storeys high it |
| with exhibitions to do with plants, | | | | proudly calls itself "the biggest |
| animals, dinosaurs, ancient Greek & | | | | gallery of its kind in the world". It |
| Egyptian history and a planetarium. | | | | 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 | | | | exhibition, visitors can expect to see |
| area. It also has sections dedicated to | | | | something new and different on most |
| fashion and military history. In 2005 it | | | | visits. The 'Baltic' is most easily |
| attracted nearly half a million | | | | accessed from Newcastle by simply |
| visitors, making it one of the most | | | | walking across the 'Millennium Bridge', |
| successful museums nationally. | | | | a sight to see in itself. |
| Laing Art Gallery - with a rolling | | | | Speaking of bridges, Newcastle is famous |
| programme of exhibitions there's always | | | | for its Swing Bridge and the Tyne |
| something new to see at the Laing | | | | Bridge. Both can be clearly seen from |
| Gallery. Permanent exhibitions include | | | | the Quayside and or the Sandhill. Whilst |
| works by the landscape artist John | | | | admiring the skill of the 19th century |
| Martin and sculpture by Henry Moore. | | | | bridge builders, you can also visit the |
| The Castle Keep - a grade 1 listed | | | | Quayside itself. Now developed into a |
| building and an ancient monument. The | | | | thriving cosmopolitan section of the |
| castle reminds Newcastle of its | | | | city, there are plenty of bars, cafés |
| turbulent past and strategic importance. | | | | and restaurants at which to refresh |
| Completed in 1178 it took ten years to | | | | yourself. |
| build during the reign of Henry II. It | | | | The Roman fort at Segedunum will be of |
| is an excellent example of a 'Norman | | | | interest to those wishing to explore the |
| Keep'. The Castle is on St Nicholas | | | | ancient history of Newcastle. This fort |
| Street as you head down towards the | | | | was at the extreme east end of Hadrian's |
| river Tyne. Parts of the old city wall | | | | Wall and was, therefore, of great |
| still exists nearby at Hanover Street | | | | military importance to the Romans, |
| and further away off Stowells Street in | | | | guarding their eastern flank. |
| the Blackfriars area. | | | | Somewhat away from Newcastle, in Jarrow |
| Path Head water Mill, at Blaydon - | | | | to be accurate, is the Museum of early |
| Blaydon itself is one of the most famous | | | | medieval Northumbria - otherwise known |
| places associated with Newcastle. The | | | | as Bede's World. The Venerable Bede, |
| song 'The Blaydon Races' was written in | | | | 673-735 AD, was a monk who lived in the |
| 1862 by George (Geordie) Riley. The song | | | | monastery at Jarrow. He is credited with |
| immortalises the annual horse race | | | | being the author of 'The Ecclesiastical |
| meeting that was held there and all the | | | | History of the English People', which he |
| pageantry and events that went along | | | | completed in 731. This work is accepted |
| with it. The last horse race meeting was | | | | as being the primary source for |
| held in 1916, in 1988 a 'running' race | | | | information about the development of |
| along the same route was organised. | | | | English people and the spread of |
| Shipley Art Gallery - A well known | | | | Christianity throughout England. It is, |
| gallery for its exhibitions of | | | | in short, the first history of England. |