Summary
Opposite Newcastle, Gateshead is a mining and industrial town that has successfully redefined itself in the early 21st century.
The riverside of the Tyne has emerged as a cultural quarter, housing the Sage Gateshead, a vibrant concert venue, and the expansive Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, housed in a converted flour mill.
Coupled with the Shipley Art Gallery, visitors can immerse themselves in a weekend filled with remarkable art and music.
For sightseeing, attractions include the Quayside and the various bridges spanning the Tyne, from the iconic Tyne Bridge to its contemporary counterpart, the Gateshead Millennium Bridge.
One can easily traverse the river to explore Newcastle or visit the Angel of the North, shop at the extensive MetroCentre mall, and delve into the region’s industrial heritage at Beamish, a top-tier open-air museum.
1. Gateshead Millennium Bridge
Situated between Gateshead’s Baltic Square and Quayside in Newcastle is the world’s first tilting bridge.
The 126-meter Gateshead Millennium Bridge, which opened to widespread acclaim in 2001, showcases an innovative design by Wilkinson Eyre.
Due to the unique shape of its arch and the impression created by the tilt, the bridge has affectionately been dubbed the “Winking Eye Bridge.” Evening visits are recommended to witness the illuminated structure, and to observe the tilting mechanism in action.
The bridge requires 4.5 minutes to fully open, although this may vary depending on wind conditions.
Information about scheduled tilts can be found on the Gateshead Council website, typically occurring on weekends.
More than 35,000 people gathered along the banks of the Tyne in 2001 to witness the inaugural tilt.
2. Tyne Bridge
A steadfast emblem of Tyneside is the through arch bridge spanning the Tyne just upriver.
The Tyne Bridge was designed by the civil engineering firm, Mott, Hay, and Anderson, showcasing clear resemblances to their Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Completed in 1928, four years earlier than its Sydney counterpart, the Tyne Bridge, at 389 meters, presented a smaller initial challenge for the firm’s design.
Flanking the arch are four Neoclassical and Art Deco towers constructed from Cornish granite, while the bridge has recently provided nesting spots for a colony of approximately 700 pairs of black-legged kittiwakes.
This represents the furthest inland colony in the world for this seabird, having transitioned from a perceived nuisance to a point of local pride.
3. The Angel of the North
For over two decades, Antony Gormley’s iconic sculpture has welcomed drivers entering Gateshead on the A1 and passengers on the East Coast Main Line.
Standing 20 meters tall with a wingspan of 54 meters, the Angel of the North is situated on the site of the former Team Colliery.
The angel’s form is based on a cast of Gormley’s own body, with its wings angled inward at 3.5° to convey a sense of embrace.
The structure is anchored by 600 tons of concrete which extends over 20 meters underground to help withstand high winds, and is constructed from weather-resistant steel with a rusty patina, honoring the industrial history of northern England.
4. Sage Gateshead
Also part of the Gateshead Quays development, this elegant concert venue debuted in 2004. Sage Gateshead is enveloped in a sweeping glass and stainless steel design and was developed by Foster and Partners following a design contest held in 1997.
Inside, there are two concert halls accommodating 1,640 (Sage One) and 600 (Sage Two) attendees. Following its inception, the venue became a permanent home for the renowned Royal Northern Sinfonia chamber orchestra, established in 1958 and receiving its “royal” designation in 2013.
The event calendar at Sage is diverse, ensuring appeal to a wide audience, with a variety of performances and events occurring, particularly on weekends.
Patrons can enjoy classical music, concerts featuring celebrated recording artists, spoken word performances, and presentations by cultural figures, sports stars, politicians, and intellectuals.
Sage Gateshead also participates in the local community by providing classes and workshops in areas such as steelpan, madrigals, saxophones, and ukuleles.
5. Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
In 2002, the vast Baltic Flour Mill on the south bank of the Tyne reopened as a contemporary art center following an eleven-year closure.
Constructed in the late 1930s, the mill was completed in 1950 for Rank Hovis and ceased operations in 1981. Upon reopening, the Baltic Centre (or simply BALTIC) became the world’s largest contemporary art gallery.
The center does not feature permanent exhibitions, fostering instead a dynamic rotating schedule of bold displays from international, UK, and local artists, along with numerous engaging activities for younger audiences.
At any given time, up to five exhibitions may be showcased; one notable event in early 2019 featured Heather Phillipson’s installation in the expansive Level 4 Gallery, titled The Age of Love, transforming the space into a “spatio-temporal field” replete with functional farm equipment and augmented reality components.
6. Shipley Art Gallery
Upon the passing of local solicitor Joseph Ainsley Davidson Shipley in 1909, he bequeathed his extensive art collection and £30,000 to the city of Newcastle.
Within a decade, a Neoclassical gallery was constructed to house this collection, which has since expanded, particularly notable for its Dutch and Flemish paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Artists such as Jan van der Heyden, Benjamin Cuyp, Jacob Grimmer, Abraham Janssens, and German artist Hans Leonhard Schäufelein are represented in this period.
Affectionately referred to as The Shipley, it also features The Henry Rothschild Collection of Studio Ceramics, showcasing works by leading ceramicists and studios from the UK throughout the 20th century.
The gallery serves as a vital community resource by offering a variety of classes, including painting, lace-making, patchwork, weaving, and flower arrangement, along with a regular pop-up play space for infants.
7. Saltwell Park
Up until the 2000s, this 55-acre Victorian park was in a state of disrepair; however, a long-term restoration project costing £9.6 million has transformed it into one of the finest urban parks in the country.
Designed by renowned landscape architect Edward Kemp, Saltwell Park was inaugurated in 1876 on the Saltwellgate Estate, merely five years after the completion of the eclectic mansion owned by William Wales.
Saltwell Towers remains a central feature of the park, which is now one of eleven listed monuments, alongside the original stable block, currently serving as an educational center for schools.
Since its renovation, Saltwell Park has consistently received the esteemed Green Flag award, offering numerous facilities that cater to families.
Amenities include a visitor center, a yew tree maze, a “pet’s corner” featuring a small assortment of domestic animals, and a four-acre boating lake.
8. Tanfield Railway
The northern endpoint of this three-mile heritage railway is located in Sunniside, Gateshead, extending to the historic mining village of Tanfield in Durham.
Claiming to be the oldest railway in the world, the Tanfield Railway utilizes the path of an ancient colliery wagonway, which dates back to 1720 when horses were employed to transport coal along wooden rails.
This railway was converted in the late 1830s, still relying on horse power supplemented by stationary steam engines.
Reopened as a heritage line in the 1970s, the Tanfield Railway operates four locomotives, dating from between 1891 and 1943, along with a small fleet of other engines visible in storage or undergoing maintenance at the Marley Hill Engine Shed in Sunniside.
Regular services run on Sundays throughout the year, as well as on Thursdays and Saturdays during the summer school holidays.
9. Gibside
Managed by the National Trust, Gibside is a historic estate located in the Derwent Valley, a short drive from Gateshead.
The main house, constructed in the early 17th century, has been a ruin since it was stripped and partially demolished during the 20th century.
While the main house offers picturesque views, the primary reason to visit Gibside is for its splendid 18th-century landscaping and various monuments within the grounds.
The Grand Walk, bordered by trees, commences at the Column of Liberty and leads visitors to the grand Gibside Chapel, erected in the late 18th century.
In a Gothic Revival style, the Banqueting House from 1746 stands at the highest point of the estate, providing expansive views over the Derwent Valley.
Similar to the main house, this structure fell into disrepair during the 1920s but was fully restored by the Landmark Trust by 1981.
10. Dunston Staiths
No structure symbolizes Gateshead’s industrial legacy quite like Dunston Staiths on the Tyne.
Completed in 1893 by the North East Railway Company, this immense pier is believed to be the largest timber structure in Europe, facilitating the loading of substantial quantities of coal transported from the Durham Coalfields directly onto ships bound for London or international destinations.
At its height, 5.5 million tons of coal were shipped annually using this method.
As the coal industry in the North East declined throughout the 20th century, Dunston Staiths fell into disrepair.
The monument was restored for the National Garden Festival in 1990; however, it has suffered from fires in 2003, 2010, and February 2019, prompting a fundraising campaign for repairs.
11. Watergate Forest Park
Surprisingly, this park, featuring a lake, woodlands, wetlands, and wildflower meadows, was formerly a colliery.
The landscape underwent regeneration in the 1990s and subsequently opened as a park in 2000. Visitors can appreciate the scenery on two primary trails: a 1.4-mile circular route around the lake, adorned with sculptures reflecting the history of the former mine, designed in collaboration with local children.
The park also includes older natural areas such as Bucks Hill and the woodlands at Washingwell, accompanied by a welcoming café near the smaller of the two car parks.
12. Beamish
For an unforgettable family outing, the esteemed outdoor museum located mere miles south of Gateshead is a noteworthy destination.
Spanning 300 acres, Beamish encompasses countryside, a reconstructed town, and a colliery, immersing visitors in the daily life and labor of the North East during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The 1913 Edwardian town area resembles a time capsule, showcasing remarkable attention to detail, including a functional 1.5-mile tramway.
Visitors can explore local establishments such as a pub, bakery, stables, bank, sweet shop, and chemist/photographer, all staffed by employees dressed in period costume.
Almost every structure observed at Beamish is an authentic building, carefully relocated to this site piece by piece.
Additionally, visitors can experience life within the North East’s mining communities at the Pit Village, which features a schoolroom, band hall, stables, and chapel.
For those adventurous enough, the Mahogany Drift Mine offers an underground experience complete with a working steam winding engine from 1855 and a collection of colliery locomotives housed in the Engine Shed.
13. Newcastle
Being in close proximity to the largest city in the North East affords excellent opportunities to cross the Tyne on the Millennium Bridge and discover numerous attractions.
The revitalized Quayside along the north bank serves as an ideal starting point, presenting stunning views of both the Sage and BALTIC.
Visitors can admire Newcastle’s most distinguished architecture located in Grainger Town, particularly along Grey Street, laid out in a Neoclassical style in the 1830s, culminating with Grey’s Monument (1838), dedicated to Prime Minister Charles Grey, commemorating the Reform Act of 1832. Families will be captivated by the Discovery Museum, one of the largest free museums in the region, which houses the groundbreaking Turbinia, the fastest ship in the world at the time of its launch in 1894.
14. Path Head Water Mill
Further upriver on the south bank of the Tyne, visitors will find a museum situated within a restored water-powered woodworking mill.
Dating back to the 18th century, Path Head Water Mill is nestled in a scenic wooded valley with an available garden area and benches conducive to picnics.
The current waterwheel was relocated from a different mill in 1994 and operates a wrought iron drive shaft linked to three color-coded gears, which power a wood-turning lathe, surface planer, and bandsaw.
A balcony provides convenient viewing of these intricate workings, and knowledgeable staff members are available to elaborate on the operations.
While much of the restoration throughout the site is ongoing, visitors can appreciate a Victorian patent derrick crane, a water turbine, hydraulic ram pump, and a pole barn containing racks and a saw bench.
15. Intu MetroCentre
Since its inauguration in 1986, the Intu MetroCentre has undergone continuous refinements and expansions, and today stands as the second largest shopping center in the UK.
This venue features over 370 retailers across two floors, anchored by prominent department stores including House of Fraser, Debenhams, and Marks & Spencer.
Shoppers can expect to find a comprehensive selection of brands commonly found in a UK high street.
Notable retailers include Zara, Primark, Next, H&M, JD Sport, TK Maxx, Argos, WHSmith, and the Apple Store.
For those seeking culinary options, the variety is equally impressive, encompassing popular dining choices such as Five Guys, Nando’s, Pret a Manger, Pizza Express, Subway, TGI Fridays, Yo! Sushi, and Wagamama.
Visitors can also make a day of their outing by catching a recent release at the multi-screen Odeon cinema.
