England: Newcastle Upon Tyne

We based ourselves in Newcastle for a visit to Hadrian's Wall. The city is another of those urban areas that surged ahead during the Industrial Revolution. There were abundant local coal reserves, and Newcastle became the region's preeminent export port. Today, Newcastle feels incredibly vibrant, welcoming tourists and locals, though perhaps we just happened to catch it on a day with exceptionally nice weather.

After taking a "replacement bus" from York to Darlington Station, we hopped on the train to Newcastle along with a group of women headed to the Road to Nashville Festival.




A busy Sunday as we disembark at Newcastle Station.


We stayed at the Historic Masterpiece Art Deco Newcastle Co-Operative Building (1932), now a Premier Inn. Check out the two clock towers.


After dropping off our bags with reception, we walked past the Chinatown Gate, with St. James' Park Football Stadium behind it, to the Quayside Sunday Market under the Art Deco Tyne Bridge with 4 massive towers.








We could not resist a tasty vegan doner kabab at the friendly Vegano food stall; then we walked across the Tyne Bridge and along the river to The BALTIC (Centre for Contemporary Art), a former Flour Mill.








There are amazing views from the rooftop terrace of the BALTIC of The Glasshouse (left), Tyne Bridge (far center), and Gateshead Millennium Bridge (right)


The views from the Millennium Bridge are amazing as well.


On the way back to the Premier Inn we popped into Newcastle Cathedral. Adjacent to the cathedral is a bronze and pink granite statue of Queen Victoria.






The Tyne Bridge again!


And the BALTIC!