Things to Do in Newcastle City Centre
From the museums and galleries of Grainger Town to the bridges of the Quayside, Newcastle city centre has plenty to explore across a day or a weekend.
Eat & Drink in Newcastle City Centre
Restaurants, pubs, cafes, and coffee shops — our full guide to Newcastle city centre's food and drink scene.
Explore →Parks & Nature
Green space is closer than you might think, from Leazes Park and Exhibition Park to the riverside walk along the Quayside.
Leazes Park
Newcastle's oldest public park, a short walk from the city centre beside St James' Park. Tree-lined avenues, a boating lake, and open lawns make it a popular spot for a lunchtime break or a weekend stroll.
A Grade II listed Victorian park with a restored lake.
Exhibition Park
A well-kept green space at the southern edge of the Town Moor, with a lake, wide paths, and mature trees. Home to Wylam Brewery in the restored Palace of Arts building.
The last surviving pavilion of the 1929 North East Coast Exhibition.
The Quayside
The riverside walk along the Tyne links the Tyne Bridge, the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, and a run of bars and restaurants. A Sunday market sets up beneath the bridges most weeks.
The Sunday Quayside Market runs along the riverside.
The Town Moor
Over 1,000 acres of open grassland bordering the north of the city, with grazing cattle and long walking and running routes. It hosts the Hoppings travelling fair each summer.
One of the largest areas of urban common land in the country.
Sports & Fitness
Whether you're a serious athlete or a weekend jogger, there's plenty to keep you moving.
St James' Park Stadium Tours
Home of Newcastle United and one of the largest football grounds in England. Guided tours take you pitchside, into the dressing rooms, and up to the stands above the city.
Newcastle City Pool
A restored Art Deco swimming pool in the city centre, with a main pool, gym, and fitness classes. Run in partnership with Newcastle City Council.
Leazes Park Running Routes
Flat, tree-lined paths around the lake make Leazes Park an easy loop for runners and walkers, a short distance from the city centre.
Exhibition Park & Town Moor Trails
Wide open paths across Exhibition Park and the neighbouring Town Moor give plenty of space for longer runs and cycles close to the centre.
Quayside Riverside Walk
The paved walk along the Tyne between the bridges is a popular route for walking, jogging, and cycling, with views across to Gateshead.
Arts & Culture
A thriving arts scene rooted in community talent.
Laing Art Gallery
The city's principal art gallery, with a collection spanning British oil paintings, watercolours, ceramics, and silver, alongside a changing programme of exhibitions. Free to enter.
Theatre Royal
A Grade I listed theatre on Grey Street presenting drama, opera, ballet, and touring productions, and the regional home of the Royal Shakespeare Company's residencies.
Newcastle Castle
The medieval Castle Keep and Black Gate that gave the city its name, with far-reaching views over the Tyne and displays on Newcastle's history.
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