Rent your car in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Newcastle upon Tyne is situated in northeast England on the bank of the River Tyne. Better known as Newcastle, it is a thriving destination popular for night life, good shopping and Victorian elegance.

From the quayside bars on the Tyne to art galleries and surf beaches of Tynemouth, you’ll be charmed by this city with a true Geordie outlook.

What to see

Newcastle lies at the conjunction of two main highways – the A1 and the A69 so it is very accessible for visitors. Additionally, there are lots of park and ride facilities to avoid parking in the heart of the city center, and we recommend parking further from the city.

Open 7 days a week, a must-see attraction is the Great North Museum that incorporates interactive displays of Hadrian’s Wall, the animal and plant kingdoms, and antiquities from Ancient Greek and Egypt.

Wander Grainger Town at the heart of the city with heritage-listed buildings, boutiques, caféterias and Grainger Market with vendors selling British sausages, seasonal vegetables and cream cakes.

Not far from the city center you will find Jesmond Dene, a wooded park that offers a slice of nature and tranquillity in the midst of an urban area. There is an old water mill, stream, coffee shop, 19th century mansion that now functions as a hotel, children’s petting zoo, picnic areas, walking trails and ruins of St Mary’s Chapel.

What to do

Attend a sports match – Geordies (locals from Newcastle) are fervent sports fans. Grab some tickets for football at St James Park, rugby at Kingston Park or basketball at the Metro Radio Arena.

Drive 10 minutes from the city to Gateshead where you can stand under Britain’s largest contemporary sculpture, the Angel of the North. This huge steel sculpture of an angel is 20 meters tall with wings that span 54 meters across and is an iconic landmark for Northern England.

Follow the pedestrian pathways along the River Tyne for some bridge spotting – seek out the Tyne Bridge, High Level Bridge and the tilting Gateshead Millennium Bridge. Then join the night life hotspots by queueing at the bars at the Quayside or Bigg Market.

Nearby things to see and do

Drive 20 minutes from Newcastle to the coast where you will find Tynemouth, a town with a strategic position at the mouth of the River Tyne that continued to be important for coastal defense until World War Two. Walk along the pleasant beaches at King Edward’s Bay or Tynemouth Longsands, then visit the Priory and Castle ruins on the headland.

One of Northern England’s most popular attractions is the UNESCO World Heritage listed Hadrian’s Wall that was built from AD 122 by Roman Emperor Hadrian to prevent the Scottish Picts from entering England. Situated just 45 minutes from Newcastle, you can hike the Hadrian’s Wall Path to Housesteads Roman Fort, one of 15 forts along the wall.

One hours’ drive north from Newcastle is an area peppered with historical castles and ruins. Learn about the history and restorations of Bamburgh Castle, the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle and at low tide venture across to Holy Island to see Lindisfarne Castle before finishing your day with some fish and chips on the beach.