Sights in Northeast England
-
A
Durham Cathedral
This exquisite cathedral is the definitive structure of the Anglo-Norman Romanesque style, one of the world's greatest places of worship and, since 1986, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
It's an overwhelming building with an unusually solid, fortified appearance: it may have been built to pay tribute to God and to house the bones of local St Cuthbert, but it needed to be strong enough to withstand attack by Scots and Saxons unimpressed with the arrival of the Normans some years earlier.
Beyond the main door – and the famous (and much-reproduced) Sanctuary Knocker, which medieval felons would strike to gain 37 days asylum within the cathedral before standing trial or…
reviewed
-
B
London Bridge Experience & London Tombs
London’s latest attraction marrying history with hysteria – ‘edutainment’ as it’s (unfortunately) becoming known in these parts – is far and away its scariest. Located in the vaults beneath so-called New London Bridge (dating back to 1831), the history part takes you on a whistle-stop tour of London’s most famous span – from the Romans to the Vikings, from Peter de Colechurch’s ‘Old London Bridge’ (1209) with all the shops, to the American Robert McCulloch, who paid US$2.5 in 1967 for the privilege of transporting the dismantled bridge to Arizona. This is essentially a kids’ show so there’s much focus on such personalities as ‘the Keeper of the Heads’ whose job it was to…
reviewed
-
C
Life Science Centre
This educational centre, part of the portentously named International Centre for Life (a complex of institutes devoted to the study of genetic science), is one of the more interesting attractions in town. Through a series of several interactive displays and the latest technology, you (or your kids) can discover the incredible secrets of life.
The highlight is the Motion Ride, a motion simulator that, among other things, lets you 'feel' what it's like to score a goal at St James' Park and bungee jump from the Tyne Bridge. There's lots of thought-provoking arcade-style games, and if the information sometimes gets lost on the way, never mind, kids will love it.
reviewed
-
D
Durham Castle
Built as a standard motte-and-bailey fort in 1072, Durham Castle was the prince bishops' home until 1837, when it became the first college of the new university. It remains a university hall, and you can stay here.
The castle has been much altered over the centuries, as each successive prince bishop sought to put his particular imprint on the place, but heavy restoration and reconstruction were necessary anyway as the castle is built of soft stone on soft ground. Highlights of the 45-minute tour include the groaning 17th-century Black Staircase, the 16th-century chapel and the beautifully preserved Norman chapel (1080).
reviewed
-
E
walls
Berwick's superb walls were begun in 1558 to reinforce an earlier set built during the reign of Edward II. They represented state-of-the-art military technology of the day and were designed both to house artillery (in arrowhead-shaped bastions) and to withstand it (the walls are low and massively thick, but it's still a long way to fall).
You can walk almost the entire length of the walls, a circuit of about a mile. It's a must, with wonderful, wide-open views. Only a small fragment remains of the once mighty border castle, by the train station. The tourist office has a brochure describing the main sights.
reviewed
-
F
BALTIC – Centre for Contemporary Art
Once a huge, dirty, yellow grain store overlooking the Tyne, BALTIC is now a huge, dirty, yellow art gallery to rival London's Tate Modern. Unlike the Tate, there are no permanent exhibitions here, but the constantly rotating shows feature the work and installations of some of contemporary art's biggest show stoppers. The complex has artists in residence, a performance space, a cinema, a bar, a spectacular rooftop restaurant (you'll need to book) and a ground-floor restaurant with riverside tables. There's also a viewing box for a fine Tyne vista.
reviewed
-
G
Tyne Bridges
The most famous view in Newcastle is the cluster of Tyne bridges, and the most famous of these is the Tyne Bridge (1925-28), built at about the same time as (and very reminiscent of) Australia's Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The quaint little Swing Bridge pivots in the middle to let ships through. Nearby, High Level Bridge, designed by Robert Stephenson, was the world's first road and railway bridge (1849). The most recent addition is the multiple-award-winning Millennium Bridge (aka Blinking Bridge; 2002), which opens like an eyelid to let ships pass.
reviewed
-
H
Bessie Surtees House
The Tyne's northern bank was the hub of commercial Newcastle in the 16th century and on Sandhill a row of leaning merchant houses has survived from that era. One of them is the Bessie Surtee's House where three rooms are open to the public. The daughter of a wealthy banker, feisty Bessie annoyed Daddy by falling in love with John Scott (1751–1838), a pauper. It all ended in smiles as John went on to become Lord Chancellor.
reviewed
-
Newcastle United Football Club
Newcastle United Football Club is more than just a football team: it is the collective expression of Geordie hope and pride as well as the release for decades of economic, social and sporting frustration. Its fabulous ground, St James' Park (box office 261 1571) is always packed. Match tickets go on public sale about two weeks before a game or you can try the stadium on the day, but there's no chance for big matches, such as those against arch-rivals Sunderland.
reviewed
-
I
Discovery Museum
Tyneside's rich history is uncovered through a fascinating series of exhibits at this unmissable museum. The exhibitions, spread across three floors of the former Co-operative Wholesale Society building, surround the mightily impressive 30m-long Turbinia, the fastest ship in the world in 1897. There's an absorbing section dedicated to shipbuilding on the Tyne including a scale model of the river as it was in 1929, a buzzers-and-bells science maze for the kids and a 'Story of Newcastle' section giving the lowdown on the city's history from Pons Aelius (Newcastle's Roman name) to Cheryl Cole.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
J
Biscuit Factory
No prizes for guessing what this commercial art gallery used to be. What it is now, though, is the country's biggest art shop, where you can peruse and buy work by artists from near and far in a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, glassware and furniture, much of which has a northeast theme. Even if you don't buy, the art is excellent and there's a top-class restaurant too (Brasserie Black Door).
reviewed
-
K
Seven Stories
A marvellous conversion of a handsome Victorian mill has resulted in Seven Stories, a very hands-on museum dedicated to the wondrous world of children's literature. Across the seven floors you'll find original manuscripts, a growing collection of artwork from the 1930s onwards and a constantly changing programme of exhibitions, activities and events designed to encourage the AA Milnes of the new millennium.
reviewed
-
L
Durham Light Infantry Museum
The history of Durham's County Regiment is brought to life at this museum 500m northwest of city centre.
reviewed
-
M
Laing Art Gallery
The exceptional collection at the Laing includes works by Gainsborough, Gauguin and Henry Moore, and an important collection of paintings by Northumberland-born artist John Martin (1789–1854). Free guided tours run Saturdays at 11am.
reviewed
-
N
Oriental Museum
Egyptian artefacts and a giant Chinese bed are highlights of this excellent museum 3 miles south of the city centre. Take bus 5 or 5A.
reviewed
-
O
Castle Garth Keep
The stronghold that put both the 'new' and 'castle' into Newcastle has been largely swallowed up by the train station, leaving only the square Norman keep as one of the few remaining fragments. Inside you'll discover a fine chevron-covered chapel and an exhibition of architectural models ranging from Hadrian's Wall to 20th-century eyesores. The 360-degree city views from the rooftop are much better than from the BALTIC's 'Viewing Box' across the water.
reviewed
-
P
Durham Heritage Centre
A pretty crowded collection of displays on Durham's history from the Middle Ages to mining.
reviewed
-
Q
Cell Block Museum
The original jail cells in the upper floor of the town hall (1750–61) have been preserved as a museum devoted to crime and punishment. Tours take in the public rooms, museum, jail and belfry.
reviewed
-
R
Berwick Barracks
Designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, the oldest purpose-built barracks (1717) in Britain now house an assortment of museums and art galleries, covering a history of the town and British soldiery since the 17th century. The Gymnasium Gallery hosts big-name contemporary art exhibitions.
reviewed
-
S
Museum of Archaeology
A university museum with a collection dating back to prehistoric times.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
T
Guildhall
Just across the street from Bessie Surtee's House is the rounded Guildhall, built in 1658. It now houses a branch of the tourist office.
reviewed
-
U
Crook Hall
This medieval hall with 1.6 hectares of charming small gardens is about 200m north of the city centre.
reviewed
-
V
St Nicholas Cathedral
reviewed
-
Saltwell Park
reviewed
-
Locomotion
reviewed