Day in Newcastle with teenage girls

[earlydoors42]

Me and my friend have a day booked in Newcastle and are taking our teenage daughters - though we let them go off and do their own thing. We are getting the train up from York.

Has anyone got any recommendations of what we can do, where to go, what to see, where to eat or have a drink? We haven't been before.

Also I assume the centre has the usual shops and is easy to find from the train station? Anything else cool for teenage girls? They will want McDonald's which I'm sure is easy to find?

Finally - my friend really wants to see the Angel of the North and the Tyne Bridge. Does the train go past the Angel? I have seen it from a car but don't remember from the train when heading up that way.

Thank you!

The train will go past the angel, and as you slow down to approach newcastle station you'll be able to see the tyne bridge.

Northumberland street (aka central shopping area) is ~8 minutes walk away - head out the station cross the road and go straight ahead.

It's an amazing city, but even with teenagers it seems a shame to waste a day on shopping and McDonald's - the shops will be the same as you have at home and so will the Big Mac!

To be honest there isn't much to do in Newcastle for teenagers! Or at least, not something different to anywhere else. There is a cinema in the Gate and a bowling alley (Lane 7) which is good.
Foodwise, there are loads and loads of chain places which is quite annoying. What sort of food are you looking for?
The bridges are really nice to see and just a short walk from the train station. The Angel isn't in the centre so you will (usually) see if from the train but otherwise you have to drive out to see it.
For shops you're better off exploring Eldon Square or getting the bus/train to the Metrocentre.
What age are your teenagers? What do they like doing?

Escape room? There are some good ones. Plenty of art galleries and museums if that’s their thing. Get the metro out to Tynemouth/ the coast? Walk along the quayside or across the millennium bridge to the Baltic gallery? Plenty of eateries down there too.

where to eat or have a drink?

The Stack. It is a collection of old containers, and has various types of food outlets. There is often live music there. DD is a student in Newcastle and loves it. She is also particularly fond of The Hungry Hippo, which sells all types of burgers – meat and vegetarian.

it seems a shame to waste a day on shopping and McDonald's - the shops will be the same as you have at home and so will the Big Mac!

I agree, hence my suggestions above.

To be honest there isn't much to do in Newcastle for teenagers!

Rubbish. DD is a teenage student in Newcastle and finds loads to do. If you want shopping there is Eldon Square. I wouldn’t bother going to the Metrocentre. Grey Street has fine old buildings. You could wander down to the river, there are several museums, have a mooch around Chinatown or visit the castle. I’m sure I have missed loads out.

Marco Polo Italian restaurant on Dean Street is lovely and not expensive. I’ve been going there since I was a teenager myself.

Eldon Square shopping centre and Northumberland Street for shopping.

The Laing Gallery for a quick visit.

The Castle and Cathedral. The latter is nice for their tea and cake.

If you are anywhere near the station, stop by their bar for even a soft drink. It was formerly the first class waiting room and the decor is stunning

Fenwicks food hall. Yummy.

Grainger Market.

Central Arcade, very lovely architecture.

Beamish Museum not far away.

Go down to the quayside, go to the Baltic art gallery? You can see the tyne bridge in all its glory, walk over the millennium bridge.

@ginfordinner
I was a teenager who found newcastle didn't have a lot for me to do. I spent my time hanging out in leazers park or down the skate parks because there was nothing else to do.
I now work in the city centre and dont think it's changed much.

There is loads to do for 18+ and loads to do with small children. Teens on the other hand...

Biancadelrioisback we live in the arse end of nowhere . DD loves Newcastle. She loved it as a young teen, but we used to go for museums or shopping when we were up staying with family, and now she is a student there.

There's a deal on Martin Lewis for Carlccios at the moment for £1 meals with every main meal bought (Italian restaurant in the centre of Newcastle). I'd go down to the Quayside and walk across the Millenium Bridge.
I agree with the trip on the metro to Tynemouth unless you want a day of the usual e.g. shopping, museums, art galleries, escape rooms, cinema, bowling etc.

See I grew up here so I suppose I take bits for granted!

In Grainger market there is a stall that sells crepes they are amazing, my teen insists on a visit there when we go to Newcastle. Enter Grainger market opposite Wilkos and it’s straight ahead on the corner.

Go to the Fat Hippo Underground for burgers, its next to the Theatre Royal on Grey Street. I promise you won't regret it as they are so good! Have the double PB and J, it's a burger with bacon jam, smoked chilli jam, and peanut burger. Seven million calories I'm sure but I'd step over my own granny for one.

The Gate on Newgate Street has an escape room, a VR arcade, and a gaming lounge if they're into any of that.

There are a few cinemas. Cineworld in The Gate, nice but pricey. Tyneside Cinema on Pilgrim Street which is a proper old style cinema. Or the Everyman Cinema on Grey Street which has sofas instead of seats.

There is Clip and Climb (climbing walls) and Ten Pin Bowling inside Eldon Square at Eldon Leisure. Lane 7 is bowlong too and is down by the coach station and is a bit more hipster. There is a space themed mini golf place next door to The Gate too.

There is a cat cafe on the Quayside as well as the Baltic art gallery.

Eldon Square itself has plenty of shopping places, all the usual chains, as well as the surrounding streets if they like shopping.

What are they into as that would help narrow down some places.

Ah yes, I meant The Fat Hippo, not Hungry Hippo.

The great British cupcakery do amazing cakes and it's a really pretty cafe

Stack is also good for food

Depending what day of the week you're going theres a great market on the quayside

The Stack looks great but I've never been. I love The Botanist, it's central too.

The life museum sometimes has an outdoor ice rink don't know if there's one this year though.

As a past student of the uni I’m afraid you don’t want any advice from me .........

But seriously, the shopping is great. The city is very welcoming.

And I remember when Fenwicks was called Bainbridges.

Teenagers will be grand. Lots of restaurants and shopping to be enjoyed.

Red Meze on Leazes Park Road (minutes from the shopping centre does amazing food. Looking forward to going there this Saturday

Can I just say that sadly, the current exhibitions at the Baltic are truly uninspiring 😳. It’s a lovely walk down there though, along Grey and Dean streets and along the quayside, especially if the sun is shining. My step-son and his girlfriend rave about The Stack On the Gateshead side of the Tyne. If the girls are into shopping they will be spoiled for choice.

Tynemouth is lovely, great beaches and some nice restaurants but possibly a bit of a trek if you only have a day in Newcastle and want to explore the city.

Ps. Lifeoverhaul thanks so much for the Information about the Carluccios deal. Will definitely check that out.

Slattern Fenwicks has always been Fenwicks. It’s John Lewis that used to be known as Bainbridges 😊

Do you mean John Lewis? Fenwicks on Northumberksnd street has been Fenwicks since 18-hundred-and-something. Bainbraidges was where John Lewis is now.

I remember Farnons from when I was little which is where Wilkos is now and Binns and the big Co-op department store on Newgate Street with the Rainbow Rooms restaurant which we thought was vair vair posh as it had chicken kiev on the menu

Hoik. I remember those too. Farnons for school uniforms. Can’t remember what we ever bought at Binns. Bedsheets I think! And the
Co-Op was a big department store, selling everything from food to furniture. I remember opening a bank account there!!!

My mum used to buy curtains at Binns and nets from Kelly Bedding. We loved the Santa's Grotto at the Co-op. She used to take us in the Grainger Market to get something for tea from the butchers and the greengrocer, there was a shop with loads of dead rabbits, ducks, and pheasants hung up outside which used to freak me right out.

Sorry to hijack your thread, OP!