Explore the underbelly of Newcastle upon Tyne in Victoria Tunnel which was built between 1839 and 1842. Surrounded by curved brick walls on the two sides, coal was transported through this place till its abandonment in the late 19th-century. However, it was used again during World War II when the tunnel was transformed into an air-raid shelter. Today, it is a popular tourist attraction and touring this place is an unmissable activity during a visit to Newcastle upon Tyne.
The Castle in Newcastle on Tyne in England is a fortress built dating back to 1177. Solely built for defense purposes, it represents the violent times of North England’s history. A favorite tourist spot, Newcastle Castle is also rich with haunting stories, which gives this medieval monument an eerie factor.
The Discovery Museum, housed in a historic Co-operative Wholesale Society Building, immerses visitors in the local history of Newcastle and Tyneside. First opened as the Municipal Museum of Science and Industry in 1934, the museum has three floors of permanent displays and temporary exhibitions that focus on local maritime, scientific and technological history. The Turbinia, a steam turbine-powered ship that was once the fastest in the world, is one of the museum’s iconic pieces on display.
The Gateshead Millennium Bridge is a pedestrian and cycle crossing that links Newcastle Quayside with the major redevelopment projects such as the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, and the Gateshead Music Centre on Gateshead Quays. It is the first tilting bridge in the world and is designed to resemble a blinking eyelid when it is raised to permit ships to pass beneath. The bridge forms part of a one-mile circular riverside walk taking in the Swing Bridge to the west. There are specific timings when the tilt of the bridge is visible.
Arched bridges, graceful waterfalls, and visages of rich verdure define the bucolic beauty of Jesmond Dene. Cradled by a lush valley, the park was conceptualized in the latter half of the 19th Century by English industrialist Lord Armstrong and his wife and was later passed on to Newcastle natives for public use. Its idyllic expanse is home to notable wildlife that includes several woodland creatures and birds like the kingfisher. Besides the grove of trees that speckle its landscape, it is also home to a petting zoo, the ruinous yet historical St. Mary's Chapel and a part of the Armstrong Bridge.
Great North Museum: Hancock was established in 2006 when the Hancock Museum merged with Hatton Gallery. The museum features exhibitions and items of natural and local history like a T-Rex skeleton, an African elephant cast, Hadrian's Wall, Natural Northumbria, history from the Ice Age to Iron Age and also a collection of Greek artifacts. You can also visit the section in the museum known as “Explore” for interactive sessions or for more information visit the library on the second floor of the museum or watch a show at the planetarium. Unlike other museums, the Great North Museum: Hancock has live animals.
Popularly known as Eleven-O-One, it is a rusty red patina sculpture made of corten steel of a First World War soldier referred to as "Tommy". The sculpture narrates a heroic story of the soldiers during the war and their sacrifices. Located in a park with seafront makes it a pleasant place to visit with your family for an evening stroll.
In the county of Tyne and Wear, the small bay named Frenchman's Bay is flanked on one side by the town of South Shields and on the other side, by the famous Marsden Grotto pub that stands upon the cliff facing the beach. The bay was once frequented by smugglers and is in fact named after a French ship that once sank here. Its rocky coastline was once a sandy bay that visitors could arrive at using long wooden steps descending from the cliff. Between 1900 and 1905, the bay was occupied by a large coastal defence battery included in the Tyne defences, which was used until 1943. It was later demolished.
There are several centuries of history at Belsay. There is the original 14th-century castle, with traces of original wall painting in the great hall. But the main architectural attraction is the early 19th-century hall, built on neo-classical lines to resemble a Greek temple, complete with plinths, columns, and scrolls. The beautiful honey colored stone, which seems to burn with its own light if seen at sunset, was dug from Belsay's own quarry. The now disused quarry is probably the most striking of the many landscaped gardens in the 12 hectares (30 acres) of grounds. Many rare plant specimens can be found here. The grounds play host to a number of regular and one-off events, such as car and motor cycle shows, and a medieval tournament.
Beamish is called the Living Museum of the North. This open-air museum offers visitors unique experiences and glimpses of traditional living and working during the Victorian and Edwardian period in the 19th and 20th Century. The museum staff are dressed in period clothing as they demonstrate local culture in period homes and workplaces including the popular Beamish sweet factory and traditional co-op shops. You can buy sweets at the Jubilee Confectionery, visit farms, ride a tram, tour a real drift mine, watch a newspaper being printed and enjoy a pint at the Sun Inn, all for a memorable time.
Lanchester's Gibson family welcomes guests, especially city-dwellers, for a unique experience at their farm that has been a family heirloom since 1925. Stretched across 290 hectares (716.60 acres) of sprawling greens, visitors can try their hand at various farm activities. Enjoy a tractor ride or feed hungry lambs, goats, sheep, alpacas, llamas and donkeys. Indoor and outdoor play areas are available for children, as well as regular puppet shows. If the farm work gets too tiring, guests can rejuvenate themselves at the Tea Room. Check website for varying hours of operation and further information.
Tynemouth Longsands is a well maintained beach which offers something for the while family to do. Couples can be seen walking hand in hand on the golden sand enjoying the gentle breeze from the North Sea. If the water is not too cold children can take a dip and surfers can indulge in wind or kite surfing. The cafe located along the coast offers fish and chips and other items that can be enjoyed with a great view.