Best Hotels in Newcastle City Centre

Newcastle city centre is compact enough that almost anywhere you stay puts you within walking distance of the Quayside, Grey Street and the shops around Eldon Square. The real choice is about character. Do you want a listed building with a story, a room with the Tyne outside the window, or a clean, well-run bed close to the station for an early train? Here are the hotels we would point a visiting friend towards, grouped by what they do best. We have left out room rates, which change by the night; check each hotel directly before you book.

Grand and boutique

The Vermont Hotel

The Vermont Hotel occupies the former County Hall on Castle Garth, the classical building that was once the headquarters of Northumberland County Council. It sits right beside the Castle Keep and the Black Gate, so you step out into the oldest corner of the city, with the High Level Bridge and the steps down to the Quayside a few minutes away. Inside, the 1930s character survives in the public rooms, and there is The Maven restaurant, the Redwood Bar and a rooftop Sky Lounge.

Best for: Best for: a sense of occasion, and the castle on the doorstep.

Grey Street Hotel

The Grey Street Hotel is an independent boutique hotel of 49 rooms in a Grade II listed building at the bottom of Grey Street, one of the finest Georgian streets in the country. Expect high ceilings, big sash windows and original features, with the Theatre Royal at the top of the street and the Quayside down the hill. It is a smaller, quieter alternative to the big-brand hotels.

Best for: Best for: theatre trips and a Grainger Town base with character.

Hotel Indigo Newcastle

Hotel Indigo Newcastle on Fenkle Street is IHG's boutique brand, tucked just off Westgate Road between the Assembly Rooms and the Stephenson Monument. It is one of the handiest stylish options for Central Station, a few minutes' walk away, while still being close to the bars of the Bigg Market and Grainger Town.

Best for: Best for: a design-led stay without a long walk from the train.

On the Quayside

Malmaison Newcastle

Malmaison Newcastle fills a Grade II listed former Co-operative Wholesale Society warehouse on the Quayside, with 122 rooms and suites and the Chez Mal brasserie on the ground floor. The Millennium Bridge is a short stroll east, with the Baltic and the Glasshouse across the river. There is also a small spa that takes day visitors as well as guests. Bear in mind that Central Station is around fifteen minutes away, uphill.

Best for: Best for: river views and the Sunday Quayside market on your doorstep.

Hotel du Vin Newcastle

At the eastern end of the Quayside, where City Road meets the Ouseburn, Hotel du Vin Newcastle occupies a red-brick Edwardian warehouse built in 1908 for the Tyne Tees Steam Shipping Company. It has 42 rooms and suites, including a Bridge View Suite, and Bistro du Vin has a terrace looking over the Tyne. Wine is the point here, with cellars and a tasting room. The pubs and venues of the Ouseburn Valley are a short walk away.

Best for: Best for: a romantic weekend, and wine lovers.

INNSiDE Newcastle

INNSiDE Newcastle, from the Spanish group Meliá, opened in December 2020 on The Close, the riverside street that runs beneath the Tyne and High Level bridges. Its 161 rooms are modern and relaxed, with an open-plan lounge on the ground floor and a 24-hour gym. It is a good fit for anyone combining work and a weekend, and the restaurants of the Quayside and Side are on the doorstep.

Best for: Best for: a contemporary stay right by the river and the bridges.

Near Central Station

Royal Station Hotel

The Royal Station Hotel was built for the North Eastern Railway alongside Central Station and is listed at Grade II. It keeps its Victorian grandeur, including the central staircase and ornate public rooms, and you could not get much closer to the trains or the Metro without sleeping on the concourse.

Best for: Best for: early trains and Victorian period charm.

Crowne Plaza Newcastle

Crowne Plaza Newcastle is a modern, purpose-built hotel of 251 rooms in the Stephenson Quarter, just south of the station. Its Mineral House Spa has an indoor heated pool, gym and treatment rooms, which sets it apart from most city-centre hotels, and the Life Science Centre and Utilita Arena are both walkable.

Best for: Best for: a pool and spa, and business stays.

Good-value chains

Motel One Newcastle

Motel One Newcastle on High Bridge, the lane between Grey Street and Pilgrim Street, is a stylish budget design hotel with compact rooms and a lounge bar with an outdoor terrace. The location is excellent for Monument and the independent bars nearby, though light sleepers may want to ask for a quieter room at weekends.

Best for: Best for: style on a budget, right in the middle of everything.

Premier Inn Newcastle City Centre (The Gate)

Premier Inn Newcastle City Centre (The Gate) is one of several Premier Inns in the city, and the most interesting building of the lot: the former Co-op department store on Newgate Street, restored with its art deco frontage, clock faces and marble staircase. There are 182 rooms and a Thyme restaurant, with Chinatown and the Grainger Market a few minutes away.

Best for: Best for: dependable value with a bit of local history.

Sandman Signature Newcastle

Sandman Signature Newcastle stands on Gallowgate directly opposite St James' Park and next to the St James Metro stop. On a match day you cannot get closer to the ground, and the Utilita Arena is an easy walk along St James' Boulevard.

Best for: Best for: football weekends and arena gigs.

Choosing where to stay

For a first visit, the Quayside or the streets around Grey Street give you the best of the city on foot. If you are arriving by rail or catching an early train home, stay near Central Station. Arriving by air? The Metro runs from the airport straight into the city, as our airport to city centre guide explains, and our weekend in Newcastle guide will help you fill the time once you have dropped your bags.

Stayed somewhere in the city centre you think deserves a place here? Tell us via our contact page.