The Hancock Museum opened in 1884 and was named in 1891 after the celebrated local naturalists John and Albany Hancock. John was an ornithologist and an extremely skilled taxidermist, Albany is best known for his research into marine animals and coal-measure fossils. The museum is educational, interactive, and (most importantly) fun, designed to inspire young minds to ask questions about the natural world.
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Daily
The North-East's biggest producing theatre, Northern Stage is proud of its Northern heritage and focuses on both promoting local talent and establishing national and international partnerships. Cornwall's Kneehigh Theatre and the RSC are regular visitors.
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Daily
Retrace Newcastle's gruesome history on this special Halloween-themed walking tour: Ghostly and Grisly Quayside Tales. Starting at Newcastle's Guildhall, the walk weaves its way through the city with tales of witches, strange disappearances and horrific murders.
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Oct 2013 (annual)
Runners from all over the UK head to Newcastle to take part in the scenic and challenging North Tyneside 10k Road Race. The annual race passes the North Shields Fish Quay and Tynemouth Priory before ending in Whitley Bay.
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Apr 2013 (annual)
Edible activities take place across NewcastleGateshead at the annual EAT! festival. The extended eatathon promotes local produce with special restaurant deals, city-wide markets and holds culinary celebrations such as a chocolate festival and a chilli and beer festival.
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Jun 2013 (annual)
The Newcastle Science Festival returns to the city with amazing robots, incredible inventions and the occasional fireball. With plenty of activities for kids and adults, this festival promises fun and learning for all the family.
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Mar 2013 (annual)
Celebrating the creativity of children and young people aged 0-18, venues throughout Newcastle participate in Juice Festival. Featuring outstanding work created by the region's children and young people, expect a wide-ranging programme of eclectic exhibitions and inspiring performances.
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Oct 2013 (annual)
The Evolution Weekender provides Newcastle with a bank holiday weekend packed full of live outdoor music. Major concerts take place at three stages on the Newcastle Gateshead quayside - Spiller's Wharf, Baltic Square and the Big Top on Ballast Hills.
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Jun 2013 (annual)
The Northern Lights Film Festival in Newcastle focuses on films from Europe's northern latitude. Venues including the Tyneside Cinema and the BALTIC Centre celebrate the success of well-known film-makers and exciting new talent.
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Mar - Apr 2013 (annual)
The 13-mile Great North Run, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne via Gateshead to South Shields, attracts 52,000 participants every year. Since the first half-marathon in 1981, both serious contenders and people running for fun or charity have come to Newcastle to take part.
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Sep 2013 (annual)
The large and vibrant Irish community in Tyne and Wear finds cultural expression in Newcastle's Tyneside Irish Festival. Expect a lively fortnight of ceilidhs, storytelling and music performances in this jamboree of all things Irish.
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Oct 2013 (annual)
Artists' studios and exhibition galleries make up The Biscuit Factory in the east of Newcastle. With 3,000 square metres of display space, everything is for sale - from oil paintings to glass work.
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Local produce is key at the David Kennedy's Food Social. Situated within The Biscuit Factory and housing an art gallery, the smart - yet informal - 100-seat brasserie serves up modern British tapas including locally sourced fish in dishes such as a mussel, watercress and parsnip salad with scrumpy dressing.
Available :
Daily
Eldon Square is Newcastle's main city centre shopping arcade. Its 156 stores, including John Lewis, Fenwick and Marks & Spencer, bustle daily with shoppers from the northeast. Tired bargain-hunters have a rest and a snack at Wagamama and Strada.
Available :
Daily
Have a laugh in the North East's premier live comedy venue, the Hyena Cafe. Or as they say in Newcastle, "Haway doon and crack your face marra". Check out comedy every weekend throughout the year with a bill of three different comedians each night.
Available :
Thu, Fri, and Sat only
The Northeast's premier LGBT event, Northern Pride returns to Newcastle's Leazes Park for more family-friendly activities and al fresco frolics. The day begins with a parade through Newcastle centre, before a full evening's entertainment and concerts are held in the park.
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Jul 2013 (annual)
The Leazes Criterium in Newcastle's Leazes Park kicks off with youth cycle races, followed by a novices' race and a senior race (for cyclists belonging to categories 2, 3 and 4). The evening ends with the greatly anticipated elite race.
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Jun 2013 (annual)
Scandal has always attracted attention. Besse Surtees' House in Newcastle is no exception. This 16th/17th-century home is a fine example of Jacobean domestic architecture - and scene of Bessie's elopement with John Scott, future Lord Chancellor of England, in 1772.
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Weekdays only
Opened in 2005, Newcastle's Seven Stories is a centre for children's books which explores the heritage of the genre and offers a wealth of activities that emphasise the dynamic, creative process of reading and writing.
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Daily
Opera North returns to Newcastle's Theatre Royal after its 175th birthday refit. Joining revivals of Puccini's Madama Butterfly (directed by Tim Albery) and Gilbert & Sullivan's Ruddigore (directed by Jo Davies) is a new production of Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades.
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Nov 2013 (annual)
Set close to Chinatown, The Newcastle Arms has a dark wood-panelled interior. The frequently changing array of beers on offer includes Rooster's Oyster Stout and Brew Dog's Physics. Populated with genuine locals, Geordie banter fills the air.
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Daily
Newcastle United FC play their home matches at St James's Park Stadium. The Premier League runs between August and May and full fixture lists can be found on the club websites. Please note: games may be rearranged due to cup or television commitments.
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18 Aug 2012 - 19 May 2013 (annual)
Zorba-dancing and after-dinner plate smashing are a regular occurrence at Simply Greek in Newcastle's city centre. Set in Bigg Market, the restaurant serves the usual mix of moussaka and meze to a packed dining-room of young diners and parties. There are no frills here, but the food is delicious.
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Michelin-starred chef Terry Laybourne's philosophy centres around locally sourced seasonal produce. The menu at Café 21 in Newcastle's Quayside district reflects this. Dishes like black pudding ravioli, home-salted cod with a Basque-style pepper stew and lemon posset with blackberries are on offer. The dining room's sleek chrome and wood décor hosts well-heeled couples and businessmen.
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Daily
Indie, Britpop and alternative dance music feature at Digital, located at the Centre for Life visitor attraction near Newcastle's Central Station. At weekends it's packed with veteran clubbers, who take a break from the heaving dancefloor in leather-covered booths.
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Daily
Decorated with a large mural of a Chinese landscape, The Palace Garden is popular with Newcastle's Chinese community. It's situated in Stowell Street, the heart of Newcastle's compact Chinatown, and the menu features Szechuan, Malaysian, Cantonese and Pekinese dishes. The dining room is busy with young couples and families on nights out.
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Newcastle's Quayside Market takes place on Sunday mornings under the famous Tyne Bridge. Stalls offer work by local artists and jewellers, clothing and speciality foods. The surrounding warehouses and old Guildhall have been restored to their former splendour.
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Sun only
Set in Newcastle's Blackfriars district, Blackfriars is the oldest purpose-built restaurant in the UK, dating from 1239. The dining-room has rustic benches, open fires and romantic nooks where couples gather for candlelit meals. The menu includes dishes like Northumbrian rabbit saddle stuffed with tarragon, and roast rump of Tritlington Hall lamb with fondant potato.
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Daily
Thousands of women of all ages and fitness levels gather in Newcastle's Exhibition Park for Race for Life. The non-competitive event invites participants to run or jog in order to raise vital funds for Cancer Research UK.
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Jul 2013 (annual)
Visitors get a feel for the diversity of Newcastle and Gateshead by taking one of the two red City Sightseeing buses from Newcastle Central Station in the city centre. A multilingual commentary points out highlights, including BALTIC and The Sage.
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Newcastle's newest big-name music venue, the Academy hosts concerts by top rock and pop acts. The auditorium, in its former incarnation as the Majestic Ballroom, staged a performance by the Beatles in 1963. Indie club night Bulletproof features weekly.
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Daily
Sea is a glamorous spot in Newcastle's Quayside. The impressive entrance leads to an extravagantly decorated space with stained-glass portholes and purple lights. Drinkers gather in the Viper Lounge and Champagne Bar.
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Daily
Great value Sardinian cuisine is served at Panis, set in a family-run Italian café in Newcastle's city centre. Specialities include Spigola - sea bass served on black tagliolini pasta, and a hearty Italian sausage casserole. At night the informal restaurant bustles with diners embarking on a night out in the city centre.
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Daily; not Sun
Newcastle's ancient Castle Keep is a three-storey building which houses a museum, charting the life and times of the Normans and explaining the city's history.
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Daily
The last remaining part of the building after which Newcastle was named, 12th-century Castle Keep has superb views across the city centre and bridges over the Tyne. Visitors explore the Great Hall, with its 19th-century vaulted ceiling, and the museum.
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Daily
The Quayside Pub is a large and popular riverside pub with an extensive outdoor area where drinkers enjoy the summer sunshine. The interior features impressive original beams. Patrons include locals warming up for a night out in the Quayside district.
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The Discovery Museum, set in Newcastle's city centre west, focuses on the history of Tyneside. The reconstructed Turbinia, a steam-powered ship, takes pride of place, alongside the interactive Science Maze and displays of goods manufactured on Tyneside in the past.
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Daily
The Discovery is a popular museum based on the history of Newcastle, with plenty to intrigue all ages, especially the kids among us.
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Daily
One of Britain's liveliest modern art galleries, the Baltic Centre occupies a former flour mill on Gateshead's waterfront. Exhibitions from the likes of Brian Eno and Beryl Cook cause occasional controversy. Visit the Rooftop Restaurant for great views.
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Daily
Powerhouse is Newcastle's only big gay club, and after two previous homes, takes up residence in a state-of-the-art multi-level venue that offers a full clubbing experience.
Available :
Daily; not Tue or Wed
08457 76 76 76
