Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

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Previous issues for Newcastle

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United Kingdom : Newcastle - September 2010

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Autumn’s on its way in the jewel of the UK’s northeast, but there are still lots of hot spots. This month, don’t miss some of Africa’s top musicians at The Sage Gateshead’s L’Afrique Festival (11 September, lafrique festival.com). Marissa Peel is our city guide

Getting around

Newcastle International Airport,

Train: Metros also run directly from the airport to various locations across the city centre. Trains depart every 15 minutes until 11.59pm. The journey from the airport to the city centre takes 20 minutes and a single ticket costs €2,66/£2.10
Taxi: You can pick a taxi up from outside Arrivals. The journey to the city centre will cost about €12/£10 and takes 10 minutes.
Tourist information: Newcastle Tourist Information Centre is at 8-9 Central Arcade in the city centre (tel. ).

GRAINGER TOWN

With high-street shops, quirky boutiques, classy cocktail bars and cute cafés, there’s plenty to keep you busy in the city’s historic heart. Take a stroll down Grey Street, lined with stunning listed buildings.

Sleep soundly – The Royal Station Hotel (Neville Street, tel. , royalstationhotel.com, rooms from €84/£70) is an ideal central base.

Must eat – Stowell Street is home to the city’s Chinatown, while at Japanese Fujyama (35-39 Bath Lane, tel. ), your food is cooked in front of you.

Must drink – For great cocktails, head to Collingwood Street; try the tropicalthemed Florita’s (28-32) for a tasty selection and some funky beats.

Shop til you drop – If it’s well-cut cloth and designer chic you’re after, Cruise (Princess Square) offers an endless line of high-end labels. For quirky boutiques, hit the cobbles of High Bridge.

GOSFORTH

Escape the hustle and bustle of city life in this leafy suburb that’s home to a quaint mix of restaurants, bars and shops.

Sleep soundly – For super-stylish sleeping head to The Townhouse Hotel (1 West Avenue, tel. , thetownhouse hotel.co.uk, rooms from €90/£75) – it’s a beautiful converted Victorian townhouse run by two friends who have a real eye for chic.

Must eat – For fine dining, Loch Fyne (West Avenue, tel. ) is a must. Set in a former church, it offers a menu of sumptuous seafood. Or for a bit of Mediterranean flair, try Adriano’s (90 High Street, tel.).

Shop til you drop – MaoCouture (Station Road) sells stunning, handmade designs – worth a look even if you’re just window shopping.

GATESHEAD AND THE QUAYSIDE

Take a stroll along the Quayside and enjoy the views of Newcastle’s iconic bridges before stopping off for a drink at a bar.

Sleep soundly – Set in the former home of the Tyne Tees Steam Shipping Company, the boutique Hotel du Vin Newcastle (Allan House, City Road, tel. , hotelduvin.com/newcastle, rooms from €187/£155) oozes style.

Culture vultures – For unparalleled views of the river Tyne and award-winning contemporary architecture, visit iconic music centre The Sage Gateshead (Gateshead Quays), then take in the sights at next door’s Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art (balticmill.com).

Must eat – Soak up the smells of the delectable Indian dishes at the upmarket Raval Luxury Restaurant and Bar (Church Street, Gateshead Quays, tel. ). Or for classic bistro cuisine head to renowned local chef Terry Laybourne’s Cafe 21 (Trinity Gardens, Quayside, tel.).

FURTHER AFIELD

Enjoy the beginning of the new season with a trip to nearby Northumberland, taking in rolling countryside and long stretches of golden sand.

Culture vultures – Spend the day wandering The Alnwick Garden (Denwick Lane, Alnwick), with its mystical plants, fabulous fountain and water sculptures. The gardens surround Alnwick Castle, home to the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, where parts of the Harry Potter films were shot.

Must eat – Dine in the tree tops at the fairytale Treehouse Restaurant (Denwick Lane, tel. ). Not only is this one of the world’s biggest treehouses, it’s also a great restaurant whose ingredients are sourced from local, Northumberland farmers.

Must drink – Quench your thirst in The Cook and Barker Inn (Newton-on-the-Moor, Felton) and admire the countryside while sipping some fine locally brewed ale.

Shop til you drop – Browse the rails of quaint Mint (Fenkle Street, Alnwick) for men’s and women’s fashion and shoes, before losing yourself in Barter Books (Alnwick Station). This vast secondhand bookshop is set in the market town’s former train station; you can snuggle down in the old waiting room, which has an open fire, and dive into your purchases with a cup of tea and a scone. As the name suggests, you can also barter your old books for credit.

Compiled by Marissa Peel