Newcastle City — the historic, shopping and cultural heart of Tyneside
From the medieval castle that gave the city its name to the Georgian elegance of Grainger Town, the bridges of the Quayside, and the creative energy of Ouseburn, Newcastle city centre has been the focus of life on the Tyne for centuries. This is a place with genuine character.
What Makes It Special
New to Newcastle city centre? Here's what makes the heart of the city worth exploring.
Grainger Town
The Georgian heart of the city. Grey Street, often voted one of England's finest streets, curves down past the Theatre Royal and Grey's Monument, with the historic Grainger Market and Central Arcade close by.
The Quayside
The River Tyne, the Tyne Bridge, and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge define this stretch of riverside bars, restaurants, and the Sunday Quayside Market, with BALTIC and The Glasshouse just across the water.
Culture
The Laing Art Gallery, Discovery Museum, Great North Museum: Hancock, and the Life Science Centre are all within the centre, alongside the independent venues of the Ouseburn cultural quarter.
Connected
Newcastle Central Station sits on the East Coast Main Line, and the Tyne & Wear Metro links Monument, Central Station, Haymarket, and Manors. Haymarket and Eldon Square bus stations serve the wider region.
Shopping
Eldon Square, Northumberland Street, and Central Arcade cover the high-street names, while the Grainger Market keeps a strong tradition of independent traders under one Victorian roof.
Green Space
Leazes Park and Exhibition Park sit close to the centre, with the Town Moor bordering the north of the city — open common land right on the edge of the built-up core.
Nearly a Thousand Years of History
From the "new castle" of 1080 and the medieval town walls to Grainger and Dobson's Georgian streets, the coming of the railway, and today's cultural revival, Newcastle city centre has stories worth telling. Explore our timeline, heritage articles, and neighbourhood histories.
Explore Newcastle City's HistoryExplore Newcastle City's Quarters
Newcastle city centre is made up of several distinct quarters, each with its own character. Click through for our in-depth guides, and our sister sites' where they cover a quarter best.
Grainger Town
The Georgian core — Grey Street, Grainger Market, Central Arcade, the Theatre Royal, and Grey's Monument, laid out by Grainger, Dobson and Clayton in the 1830s and 1840s.
The Quayside
The riverside strip along the Tyne, from the Tyne Bridge and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge to the Sunday market, the bars, and the restaurants.
Ouseburn
The cultural quarter in the valley east of the centre — independent bars and live-music venues, the Biscuit Factory, Seven Stories and Ouseburn Farm. Covered in depth by our sister site Heaton.live.
The University Quarter
Newcastle University and Northumbria University, with the Great North Museum: Hancock and around fifty thousand students shaping the north of the centre.
Chinatown & Bigg Market
The Chinatown arch and its restaurants beside the historic Bigg Market, one of the city's oldest marketplaces and a hub of its nightlife.
Nearby Districts
Gosforth, Jesmond, and Heaton sit just beyond the centre, each an established residential district with its own community and its own local website.
Key Facts
Newcastle city centre
Newcastle City Council
Tyne and Wear
NE1
Monument, Central Station, Haymarket, Manors
Newcastle Central Station (East Coast Main Line)
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