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Northumberland and the North East

Newcastle and Gateshead are just a short drive south of Alnwick (approx 45 minutes) and are full of modern museums, bridges and shops for the days that you don’t feel like seeing the historical side of Northumberland.  A must see for visitors include a visit to the sparkling Quayside in Newcastle, the Gateshead Millenium Bridge, The Sage at Gateshead and the BALTIC centre for contemporary art.

Newcastle tyne bridge

The Quayside, now lined with stylish cosmopolitan hotels, designer bars, restaurants and public art is a very popular place to visit.  Newcastle Quayside has some of the best restaurants in the city. Many different cultures and styles of food can be sampled here and you can be guaranteed a wide range of cuisine using locally sourced ingredients. There are plenty of designer boutiques stocking cutting-edge labels and colourful independent galleries and craft shops full of original artwork and handmade treasures.

The Gateshead Millennium Bridge, which opens and closes like the blinking of an eye is a work of art in itself.  It arches across the Tyne to link the City to the Gateshead Quays. Designed by and built by Gateshead-based construction company - Harbour & General, it is still the world's first and only tilting bridge! The unique design is based on the simple idea of a pair of steel arches - one is the deck, the other supports the deck. The whole bridge tilts, undergoing a metamorphous into a grand arch, in an operation that evokes the slow opening of a huge eye.  At night, the bridge is lit spectacularly and is very popular with photographers and tourists taking dramatic pictures.

The Sage Gateshead provides world class facilities for acoustic music on a prime riverside location overlooking the famous Tyne Bridge.  This £70 million project is seven buildings in one, designed from the inside out and then clothed by a spectacular curved roof.  A glass fronted public concourse and foyer links all the areas - offering spectacular views.

The BALTIC centre for contempory art is housed in a landmark industrial building on the south bank of the River Tyne.  The BALTIC is the biggest gallery of its kind in the world – presenting a dynamic, diverse and international programme of contemporary visual art. This £46m project has transformed the former Baltic Flour Mills, a disused 1950's grain warehouse, into one of the biggest and best contemporary art spaces in Europe.

One of Europe’s largest shopping centres, the Metro Centre in Gateshead has almost 330 shops ranging from high-street favourites and major department stores to smaller independent outfits in atmospheric themed areas. All with free parking, late night opening and open seven days a week.

The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle upon Tyne is a 32,000 square foot converted Victorian factory selling artwork.  They sell everything from paintings, prints, sculpture, ceramics, glass, furniture and jewellery.  There is a restaurant/cafe, artist led workshops, framing, delivery, commissions and art hire available.

Arbeia Roman Fort

Further afield, South Tyneside is a popular coastal area on the south banks of the River Tyne with stunning cliff tops and award winning beaches as well as awe-inspiring Roman and maritime history.  Journey back to Roman times at the Arbeia Roman Fort, learn about Anglo-Saxon history at Bede's World, visit a keeper's cottage at Souter Lighthouse or explore beautiful sandy beaches and enjoy traditional seaside fun at the lovely resort of South Shields.