I went to iconic UK city and it felt more like a European tourist hotspot
I went to iconic UK city and it felt more like a European tourist hotspot
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As I checked into the hotel, a speed boat and jet ski were making waves on the water, painting a picture more akin to Nice than Newcastle. The sun was casting its glow on hundreds of patrons at various riverside restaurants, bars and food joints, contributing to the holiday atmosphere. It's not what you'd typically associate with my hometown; it would be easy to mistake it for a bustling European tourist destination rather than good old Geordieland.
Newcastle's Grey Street has been lauded by architectural historian Sir Nikolaus Pevsner as one of Europe's most impressive streets, an opinion echoed by Radio 4 listeners in a 2014 BBC poll. The decision to reduce traffic (though buses still have access) and permit outdoor seating was a stroke of genius.
Newcastle is renowned for its vibrant nightlife and warm-hearted locals who know how to enjoy themselves. Now, there's even more to experience, with summer activities such as open-air cinema, kayaking introductory sessions and twilight yoga. Local businesses have joined forces to organise children's events.
Winter ushers in Christmas markets around Grey's Monument and the customary Sunday markets. The city becomes a magnet for Scandinavian tourists, drawn by the cruise ships and ferries docking at the Port of Tyne. Perched on the Quayside, the new Innside by Melia Hotel provides a panoramic view of the action. From your room window, you can watch LNER trains traversing the river on one side, and marvel at the iconic Tyne Bridge on the other.
