Newcastle

[MaloryJones]

Hello
Significant Birthday coming up and Me and DM are doing a coach trip
The Hotel is in Newcastle.
DM is keen to see the Angel of the North up close and I note a bus takes You to it, which would be great during our afternoon at Leisure (morning will be in Durham).
Just wondering if anyone had taken the bus and how long it took, roughly.
TIA

From the city centre it should take about 10 - 20 mins on the bus to the Angel depending on which bus you get and how many stops / route it takes. There isnt much else near the Angel but there is normally a refreshments stand in the car park but no toilets so bear that in mind.

Actually, you could maybe ask the driver of the bus you're going on to stop at the Angel on the way back from Durham as it has to pass the Angel anyway. I do it on a daily basis :)

I am hoping it might do that
Its a 5 Day (but 3 visiting areas) Shearing Holiday trip.

Also doing Seahouses and Holy Island (found out a 3rd gt Grandfather was born there), and the last day is Alnwick (really looking forward to Barter Books) and the Northumberland coast.

That sounds like a great trip. Seahouses and Holy Island are both gorgeous and Barter Books is amazing too, I visit every time I'm up there. I'm sure you'll have a fab time. I hope the weather is good for you. Pilgrims coffee house on Holy Island does the best coffee too.

10 minutes on the bus from the town to the Angel? Definitely not, the Tyne Bridge is down to one lane.

20 is optimistic. You’re better off getting the Metro to Gateshead then the 21 along to the Angel which will take 10 minutes.

There’s a nice pub opposite (the Angel View Inn) which does lovely food too.

You could also just get on the 21 back from Durham and get off at the Angel then get back on to Newcastle. It seems daft to get the train back to Newcastle then the bus to Gateshead when you’re going through Gateshead anyway.

The area around the Angel and the Tyne Bridge is a bloody nightmare at the moment due to the fact that the flyover is fucked.

Thank You, this is very useful.

Hopefully the Tyne Bridge will have more than one lane when we go.
October, the beginning of. We will be travelling from Kent .

Oh one more thing
As we have the afternoon in Newcastle I was looking at two Museums. . Discovery Museum and Great North Museum.
We will be at the Leonardo Hotel, and Discovery Museum is closest (Mum is 81 and I am going to be 60 but can walk a shortish distance)
I am interested in Old Newcastle History and I note both contain such, but just wanting some advise there please
TIA

I think the Discovery Museum is better than the Great North, personally, and from what I recall has more Newcastle history. You should go for a drink at 360 Sky Lounge, not far from the Discovery and has fabulous views in all directions across the city

No it isn’t. The traffic is better than it’s been in years because it’s stopped the commuters from Durham, Washington, Chester le Street etc. using Gateshead as a rat run to Newcastle and forced them onto the A1 and Felling bypass which is where they should’ve been in the first place, and freed up Gateshead’s roads for people who actually live here.

There is little traffic at the Angel.

It’s one lane (each way) until at least April 2026.

The Discovery Museum is definitely my favourite, but the Great North is great too.

The Vermont Hotel is also near there and does a lovely afternoon tea and has a lovely roof terrace with views over the castle and railways.

Thank You all very much.
I am going to go on Tripadvisor and have a look at the places recommended as we like a Cream Tea.
Other must sees will be Grainger Market, Newcastle Cathedral, Tyne Bridge and a walk along the riverside.

Its definitely not a nightmare now the A1 is pretty much open again. Certainly only 10 to 20 mins to get to the Angel from Newcastle, I passed through last night and it took me 8 minutes from Jesmond to Low Fell but I was driving my own car.

You can get rover tickets for Tyne and wear ( £6) which cover the bus metro and ferry or for another 80p Northumberland and county Durham as well as tyne and wear.

Great
Thank you

If you're foodies I highly recommend the Black Swan at Seahouse, the food is amazing. Sit in the Orangery if possible. If you do boat cruise Serenity is really good, you might get to see dolphins too.

Maybe I'm in the minority but there's lots of things better to do than see the Angel of the North.

I'd time Barter Books around lunch if you can.

The Discovery Museum is brilliant. We went twice. Newbugging by the Sea has an unmissable museum about the lives of the fishermen and their families.

Ah, ok - obviously getting better. I’ve been avoiding the area as much as possible. And by October should be fine

Which cathedral? There are 3, if you include the cathedral on the hill of St. James's park, home of EFL cup winners 2025!

Seriously, the C of E cathedral is well worth a visit, I would visit the castle after which the city is named too.

If you are walking along the quayside, I like the Pitcher and Piano and a ten minute walk further brings you to the Ouseburn burn scene, Free trade and the Tyne are fab but there is loads more down there too.

If you have National Trust membership, or even if you haven't, I'd highly recommend Cragside. We also love Durham, walking along the river is super nice and there are tons of places to eat there. The Cathedral is also worth visiting. And Alnwick garden is beautiful at this time of the year. Cragside and Alnwick is a bit of a distance but it's totally worth it if you can get public transport there.
I forgot to add also Beamish museum.

Only one is called Newcastle Cathedral though.

I agree about the Angel of the North.I live in Newcastle (Geordie born and bred) and have only visited the Angel once and was vastly disappointed.You might disagree OP when you see it, but that is my honest opinion.Seen once and that was enough.

Thank You
Not long to go now and I am really looking forward to it.