Making the most of a trip to Newcastle

So you've checked into your hotel and picked up a zippy little city car from Metro Vehicle Hire. What next? 

You'd be hard-pushed to squeeze everything Newcastle's got to offer into two months, let alone two days. Whether you're in town for a longer stay or a mini-break, the "Toon" is your oyster! 

Here are a few choice tips to help you whittle it down and make the most of the city's famously warm welcome.

Get your bearings

What better way to start than by taking a spin over the river, as you take in the great sweep of the River Tyne? Newcastle has no fewer than seven bridges over the river, and they get lovelier the closer you get to the sea.

You can only drive over three of them. Starting upstream, Redheugh Bridge is a Brutalist sliver of pressed concrete, which was opened by Princess Diana in 1983.

After that windy trip down memory lane, the next road bridge along, The Swing Bridge, is just as fun as it sounds! Its rounded curves painted red and white like a child's toy, this crowd-pleasing bridge only swings open four times a week nowadays – but it's well worth a watch. 

Finally, you reach the symbol of the city, the stunning Tyne Bridge. This Grade II-listed, Art-Deco icon is resplendent in green steelwork, highlighting Newcastle's industrial history.

Talking of highlights, from here you can catch sight of the luminous Millennium Bridge, which glows at the weekend to tempt you out on the Toon. Why not park up near the Quayside, stroll across Millennium Bridge and head to landmark concert venue the Sage for a show? 

Release your inner culture vulture

Sage Gateshead, affectionately nicknamed "The Slug" by locals, is an impossibly shiny international music centre. It welcomes over two million visitors a year to more than 400 concerts in every conceivable genre. Whether you like symphonies, Spandau Ballet or The Snowman, you're sure to find something to tickle your fancy. 

BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art is just along the Quay from the Sage. 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 their viewing platform for stunning views across the Quayside? Or, if you're more of a collector, head over to independent gallery The Biscuit Factory to peruse what's for sale. 

Want to take in a show? Good news: the area has even more stages than bridges! Live Theatre, Theatre Royal, Northern Stage and Tyne Theatre host world-class dramas and popular musicals. Meanwhile, you'll find more experimental fare at the Alphabetti Theatre, which hosts an annual summer Fringe Festival to rival Edinburgh's.

If you want to head deeper into the city's thriving underground, try bohemian Ouseburn, where you'll find plenty of small-scale music venues and studios – perfect if you enjoy discovering the most exciting up-and-coming acts. The Cumberland Arms hosts an eclectic menu of genre-bending entertainment, while nearby Cobalt Studios promises affordable, accessible arts – and even produces its own 'zine!

Dive into the past

Newcastle is a treasure trove of historical wonders, from dinosaurs and mummies at the Great North Museum to more Roman ruins than you can shake a stick at.

With Hadrian's Wall snaking along the Northern shore of the Tyne, the area was once a prime spot for holding off marauding Scots. As a result, it's dotted with fascinating Roman real estate, like the forts of Segedunum in Wallsend and Arbeia in South Shields. If slightly more recent history's more your thing, a visit to the rugged Newcastle Castle will plunge you into bloody medieval history, while Beamish Museum brings you right up to the 20th century.

If you prefer to immerse yourself in history, a trip into the depths of the city might be for you. The Victoria Tunnel is an underground 19th-century waggonway that was built to transport coal to the River Tyne and was turned into an air-raid shelter during World War II. Tours offer the chance to experience history all around you – you can hear wagons approaching in the pitch-black darkness, and planes passing overhead dropping their bombs. Hadrian's Wall is here too – but this time, you get to see it from underneath!

Fun for all the family

As if that wasn't enough for youngsters to enjoy, the city boasts plenty of other family-friendly attractions.

Discovery Museum features a brilliant science maze, creepy crafts, a flight simulator and the world's first turbine-powered steamship. Or you could "hitch a ride to the stars and beyond" at the Life Science Centre, where curious explorers of all ages can have hands-on fun with lots of interactive activities, discover the North East's biggest planetarium and enjoy an under-sevens "Play Zone".

If you're a footballing family, the highlight of your trip could be a visit to St James' Park. Newcastle Football Club's guided tours capture the rich history of their magnificent stadium, giving you all-areas access to the dressing room plus the chance to walk through that famous tunnel. 

Broaden your horizons

The region has much more to offer, so don't forget to hit the open road and explore further afield. Why not whet your appetite with a trip to the two-mile-long sandy beach at Whitley Bay? The town offers kayaking, surfing, golf and glorious views, and the brisk coastal air is bound to blow the cobwebs away.

And don't forget: if you approach from the South, you can't miss Newcastle's most famous ambassador, the Angel of the North. 

To really make the most of your time in Newcastle, you'll need a vehicle you can rely on. At Metro, we provide small, medium and large cars for hire, as well as SUVs, vans and minibuses. Our specialist local knowledge might make all the difference – so whatever you need, get in touch today!