The Best Places to Visit in Newcastle During Winter
Say winter city break to people and many will perhaps think of Copenhagen, Stockholm or Geneva, but many of the UK’s cities are perfect for a short break. Newcastle, sitting proudly in the northern reaches of England, makes a particularly good winter destination as it’s home to the annual Newcastle Gateshead Winter Festival as well as countless other attractions.
Festive Spirit
The festival encompasses everything from pantos to art events, Christmas markets to concerts, spread across Newcastle, Gateshead and Northumberland. A stay at Hedgefield House puts you in the perfect location to explore the area, peacefully situated in extensive grounds yet within minutes of the bright lights of the city.
Newcastle and its neighbour Gateshead, which sits on the other side of the Tyne, host the majority of these events, perfect for exploring on foot. Festive markets take place throughout December at various locations, including Newcastle Castle, Gateshead Keys and Grey’s Monument.
Newcastle prides itself on its varied and plentiful shopping opportunities, from Europe’s largest shopping centre, the INTU Metro Centre in Gateshead, to the 19th century elegance of Newcastle’s Grey Street and Grainger Town.
Art lovers should not miss the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Arts, which sits along the quayside on the Gateshead side and is one of the largest art galleries in the world. Located in a former flour mill, it hosts exhibitions of work ranging from the world famous, to the lesser known work of local artists.
A little further afield are two other must-see attractions: Kielder Forest and Alnwick Castle. Kielder plays host to the Kielder Winter Wonderland, a Christmas spectacular aimed at families. The UK’s largest forest contains Kielder Water, Europe’s largest man-made lake, and there are miles and miles of paths and trails to explore.
Alnwick Castle is probably most famous for its gardens and for being one of the locations for the Harry Potter films. A beautiful historic castle and stunning grounds, it’s a lovely day out throughout the year.