GREAT TIME TO VISIT NEWCASTLE/GATESHEAD
Summertime in Newcastle is time for the Great Exhibition of the North – a citywide celebration of art, design and innovation set around the wonderful river Tyne.
It runs for 80 days until 9th September, and there is plenty to see and do for a family or group of friends day out.
Kari lives in Newcastle so here is her insider’s guide to coming to Newcastle this summer:
Pic credit: GetNorth2018.com
The Great Exhibition mobile app has everything you need to know about the events, trails and exhibitions, which are all over the city, but centered around the Baltic centre for Contemporary Art, The Sage Gateshead and the Great North Museum.
It has three trails for those keen to do a bit of exploring – they are the art, design and innovation trails.
The Design Trail starts at the Great North Museum, through Northumbria Uni design campus and down into trendy Ouseburn to the Biscuit Factory art gallery and Seven Stories for Children’s Books – ending with a stroll along the quayside across the Millennium bridge to the Northern Design Centre.
Pic credit: GetNorth2018.com
My favourite point is Seven Stories nestled in Ouseburn’s Lime Street by the canal.
Here you can embark on a journey through Tyneside like never before, discovering how its landscapes, language and people inspired the magical stories of David Almond.
Delve into the writer’s dreamlike world where tales such as Skellig and My Dad’s a Birdman took root.
Ouseburn Valley Pic credit: @7Stories
Bringing to life Almond’s archive, the exhibition at Seven Stories explores themes of love, loss and hope though characters real and imagined.
Meet angels and devils, question what it means to be human and experience the North East through the eyes of one of its most creative sons.
This exhibition is also part of the Winged Tails of the North trail.
Pic credit: GetNorth2018.com
Lauren Laverne's Northern Soundtrack sees Northern music celebrated at Sage Gateshead, ending on July 1 with Kathryn Tickle & The Darkening + Rachel Unthank & Paul Smith + Jim Ghedi - plus a "Parental Guidance Party" family rave style event with Paul Smith on the decks.
Pic credit: NE1 GetIntoNewcastle
The city centre is not to be left out, with NE1 putting on some fantastic events include Family Fun Weekends, Throughout July funky furniture, family zones and fairground rides will appear on a grassed over Blackett Street and Old Eldon Square “Screen on the Green” makes a welcome return – pull up a deckchair and watch a film – or Wimbledon if that’s your thing.
Pic credit: NE1
Fenwick is the jewel in Newcastle’s shopping crown, and to celebrate the Great Exhibition of the North, it will host a number of evenings with special guest chefs at Saltwater Fish Co. in its stylish Food Hall throughout the exhibition period.
The Great Northern Supper Clubs will start on Monday 25th June. Take a look at the calendar of events below:
- 9th July - Maunika Gowardan
- 16th July - Young Guns featuring: Tom Anglesey, Shaun Hurrell and Nick Grieves
- 23rd July - Nigel Haworth
- 6th August - Frances Atkins
- 13th August - Kenny Atkinson
- 3rd September - Shaun Rankin
- 17th September - Andrew Pern
Tickets will be priced from £75 for a multi course menu, including wine. You can book your tickets here.
Finally as you stroll back down Grey Street to the River Tyne, to take in the Quayside views (which are spectacular) make a visit across the Swing Bridge to the latest venue By the River Brew Co, a riverside container park collection of craft brewed ales, Trakol open flame restaurant, HWKRMRKT street food eateries and the Backyard Bike Co for a coffee - all nestled underneath the commanding Tyne Bridge.
Happy exploring!
Kari x