Newcastle Walking Tours

Welcome to Newcastle

A short introduction to our fine city for visitors with limited time. We will introduce you to the city centre locations and surprise you with just what this amazing city has to offer.

Seek & find hidden Newcastle

For Families and Friends – suitable for children and adults – get your teams together and compete with each other, following the trails and clues around the city. It’s an entertaining, amusing way to spend time together, and great fun for all.

For Business – a Team Building Exercise with a difference. Its challenging but enjoyable and great fun. Build your own teams to compete against each other enjoying the unusual clues and trails around the city. Companies often arrange to coincide with a team social event after in pub or restaurant.

Grainger Town

Admire the architecture of the biscuit-coloured sandstone buildings, the wide streets, the curve of the award-winning Grey Street dominated by the monument to Earl Grey and the historic Theatre Royal.

Shopping in the "Toon"

Northumberland Street, Newcastle main shopping street, was once the main A1 route through the city. Our shopping expert can take you on a tour through the many stores and independent shops, streets, alleyways and yards with small and interesting independent shops selling anything from retro to vinyl and local arts and crafts.

Art, Architecture & Angels

The University Quarter and rich architecture of Newcastle University, formerly Kings College, with links to Martin Luther King, offer an unrivalled experience including many public works of art. The Haymarket area is home to many famous Military Memorials.

Art in the City

A fascinating stroll through the city to enjoy many public art features. There are many surprises at your feet, right in front of your eyes and above your head, often not noticed even by locals.

Markets of Newcastle

From the north end of town, stroll through the market areas of the city as we head down to the river. You will hear tales of the people who brought the places to life in the past. This features a visit to the indoor Victorian Grainger Market, as vibrant today as when it opened in 1835.

Magnificent seven bridges

Unrivalled panoramas of seven bridges across the gorge. The most recent is the Gateshead Millennium Bridge known as “The Blinking Eye” the world’s first tilting bridge. The Tyne Bridge is a symbol of Tyneside, to the same design as Sydney harbour Bridge. All the bridges have their own stories and all are world firsts in their own way.

Quayside & maritime history

Newcastle was a major port in the past. Nowadays with the loss of shipping and industry the area is transformed. There are stories of the Quayside characters who lived and worked there, including Bessie Surtees House which holds the 18th century story of love and success. The Guildhall is where the city was governed for centuries and Trinity House, a unique maritime organisation, dates back to 1300’s and took its charter from King Henry 8th. We will explore the dark medieval chares and stairways leading up to the town.

The modern Quayside

Completely redeveloped since the loss of industry we explore the many examples of public art works including the fascinating Sand Gate Steps, The River God Tyne and the Blacksmiths Needle. Then crossing by the Gateshead Millennium Bridge to find the Baltic Centre of Contemporary Art and Sage Gateshead the music venue designed by Lord Norman Foster which dominates the River Bank.

Castle Keep, Blackgate & Romans

The Romans built the first bridge across the RiverTyne and the fort to protect it. The first Norman Castle was built 1080 and reconstructed in 12th century plus the added 13th century western gate defences known as the Black Gate.

Historic Town Walls & Medieval Blackfriars

We walk alongside the finest stretch remains of the City defensive walls completed by the 14th Century and discover the hidden remains of the 13th century Blackfriars Monastery, an oasis in the city centre. The on-site restaurant now boasts the oldest dining room in the country.

Witches, hangings, headers & Helix

St Andrew’s 12th century Parish Church is the burial place of a number of witches from 17th century. The church played an important part in the English Civil War. We stroll along Gallowgate, the road to the Gallows, close to St James Park home of Newcastle United, past the entrance to China Town and the Chinese Gateway. We will discover Newcastle’s Science City now known as “Helix”. The latest example of developments underway as we move into scientific research and the digital age.

Cathedral & Churches of the City

The church of St Nicholas was originally one of the largest parish churches in England and it became the Anglican Cathedral in 1882. Most of the present building dates from 14th century. The famous lantern tower is one of the country’s finest. St Mary’s Roman Catholic Cathedral designed by architect Augustus Pugin and built in 1842 is considered one of his finest works. A fine public memorial and garden to Cardinal Basil Hume is located outside the Cathedral. Located close to each is the 13th century Parish Church of St John which we will see en-route.

Ghost Walks

Ghastly, Grisly, Gory, Ghostly. Dark tales in dark and hidden places up and down the alleys, chares and stairways of Newcastle.

What's your tipple? Pubs, pies & people

A historic walk of legendary Newcastle hostelries past and present.