Hidden gems to visit in Gateshead

Gateshead hasn't always enjoyed a sparkling reputation as a tourist attraction. Much of its mediaeval architecture was destroyed by a devastating explosion in 1854. This disaster conspired with the town's proud industrial heritage and a slew of 1950s brutalist development to turn poor Gateshead into something of a maligned urban Cinderella.

Writer JB Priestly once declared that it must have been designed by "an enemy of the human race". And as recently as 2007, newspapers reported that a foreign visitor had been "refused entry to Britain because visa officials ruled it 'not credible' that anyone would want to spend a week in Gateshead". Crikey!

Yet the new Millennium brought the town a Fairy Godmother in the form of two major regeneration projects – and today, Gateshead has been transformed into a picturesque riverside haven, bustling with shoppers, hipsters and culture vultures.

Is Gateshead worth visiting? You bet it is – and here's why.

It has world-class culture

The stunning new Quayside development at the heart of Gateshead boasts not one but two world-class arts venues.

The spectacular Sage concert complex welcomes over two million visitors a year to more than 400 concerts. Its famous shiny glass shell conceals three separate music venues that host everything from Beethoven to Blondie.

Just along the Quay from the Sage, you'll find The BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. Once a flour mill, this vast warehouse space is now a free art gallery featuring exhibitions and activities for all ages. Why not take a trip in the BALTIC's glass lift up to its viewing platform and take in some stunning views across the Quayside? 

The panorama is completed by the extraordinary Millennium Bridge, whose arches tilt out of the way to let boats pass underneath its pedestrian walkways. This beautiful bridge is illuminated in an ever-changing rainbow of coloured lights on weekend evenings. 

It's a foodie paradise

The Quayside also boasts an array of artisan eateries, microbreweries and a street food market. On a warm summer afternoon, it feels more like a bohemian embankment in Paris than the northeast of England!

Further afield, foodies might also like to check out the popular Staith's Cafe and local family business Beckleberry's, which offers lovingly handmade cakes, pastries and ice cream. You can pick up a scoop or two at Europe's largest indoor shopping mall, Metrocentre, where you'll also find designer wares alongside more than 300 popular high street shops.

It has great views (seriously)

Gateshead Council has worked hard to improve the town's vistas. Gateshead now has a skyline to rival any European tourist hub.

The most impressive innovation of all has to be Anthony Gormley's world-famous sculpture, the Angel of The North. Towering above the junction of the A1 and A167 as you approach from the south, this astonishing public artwork was conceived by the local council as a "millennial image that would be a marker and guardian for our town".

Meant as a homage to the area's industrial heritage, the statue stands 66 feet tall, while its rusty wings spread 177 feet wide (wider than those of a Boeing 757 aircraft). It's thought to be the biggest sculpture of an angel anywhere on Earth. The statue's vertical iron ribs direct oncoming wind down to its foundations, helping it stay upright amid gusts of over 100 miles per hour. Wow!

Even at ground level, Gateshead is a brilliant place to blow the cobwebs away. Its towering elevations offer impressive views across Tyneside to Sunderland and the North Sea, from local lookouts with breezy names like Windmill Hills and Windy Nook. 

It offers loads of outdoor activities

If you fancy stretching your legs, you'll be pleased to know that the area boasts lots of excellent walks.

If you're in the centre of town, head to Saltwell Park. It's a lovely spot for a stroll – and children can blow off some steam in its play areas, maze and pets' corner.

Further afield, Watergate Forest Park and Derwenthaugh Park are both former industrial sites woven into pretty natural landscapes. Or, if you prefer a walk in the woods, you could visit Chopwell Wood, whose pathways include an accessible trail ideal for wheelchair users.

Fancy a longer trudge? Set off along a converted railway line out of town to reach Derwent Walk Country Park, which hosts miles of meadows and wetlands.

Gateshead has lots to offer for thrill-seekers too, from karting, climbing and jet-skiing in the town centre to kayaking, paddle-boarding and coasteering on the nearby North Sea coast. More sedate sports fans can head over to Gateshead International Stadium to watch football and rugby matches – or even an international athletics competition.

History buffs will love it

If international sport isn't glamorous enough for you, why not head over to Gateshead's very own Statue of Liberty?

The Column to Liberty is a Grade I-listed monument on the National Heritage List for England. This 146ft column is just a touch taller than Nelson's more famous one in Trafalgar Square and was originally covered in glistening gilt.

The statue towers over 600 acres of landscaped gardens at Gibside Hall, a National Trust stately home whose grounds also feature a chapel, ornamental ponds and an orangery. There's plenty to keep younger busy too, with its Strawberry Castle play area and a family low ropes course.

For history buffs, it's also well worth a trip to St Mary's Heritage Centre. This medieval former church is full of displays about the history of Gateshead, from its early days as a Roman settlement to modern times. 

Children and adults alike are bound to enjoy a trip on Tanfield, the world's oldest railway. Here, you can relax aboard a lovingly-restored vintage steam train for a six-mile trip through gorgeous rolling hills and wooded valleys. It also hosts special themed events like a 1940s weekend and its popular Legends of Industry Gala. 

If you really want to make the most of your time in Gateshead, you'll need a vehicle you can rely on. At Metro Vehicle Hire, we offer small, medium and large cars for hire in Gateshead, as well as a selection of vans and minibuses. Our specialist local knowledge might make all the difference – so whatever you need, get in touch with us today.