Written by Michaela, International Business Management MSc
A day at the coast
I have to admit that even though I have lived in Newcastle for almost a year, I have only headed down to the coast once (I know, shame on me). I realised how much I missed by not going there more often, and I don’t want you to make the same mistake and therefore here is a guide to a beautiful day in this coastal area, with tips on where to spend time, what to visit and where to eat.
Transport
I would recommend you to take a metro from Newcastle to the Tynemouth Station, which should take about 30 minutes, depending on which station you travel from. After you visit Tynemouth, you can take a lovely walk from there to Whitley Bay, which takes just about an hour and then take a metro back to the toon from Whitley Bay station.
Tynemouth markets
When you get off the metro, you can enjoy a bit of shopping in the Tynemouth markets. Those markets are held every Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 – 15:30, and you can find practically anything there, from old records to great food. Don’t forget to visit the Cookie Freaks´ stall – their cookies and cookie pies are lush! And the best thing (except the great cookies, obviously) is the roof which offers shelter if the British weather decides not to participate (when it´s raining)!
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What to visit
Tynemouth Priory and Castle
Tynemouth Priory and Castle is a great place you shouldn’t miss! You can enjoy the view and have a picnic in front of it. If you love history and want to learn more about this place and how it was used in the past, you can buy a ticket which costs around £6. If you don’t want to spend money on admission, you can just have a walk around. If you go to the Tynemouth Pier Lighthouse, you can see the priory and castle from the other side and also have a better view of the beach and the city.
Minigolf
If you want to have more fun, you can visit the Lost World Adventure Golf – in this tropical-like golf course, you can play 18 holes for just £4.50, which is a good value for your money! Just bear in mind there might be a lot of kids around *noise alert*.
Beaches
There are a lot of beaches in this area, but two of them definitely shouldn’t go unnoticed– Long Sands Beach and Whitley Bay Beach. If you pack a blanket, picnic basket and a great book, you can spend a day just laying on the beach, listening to the sound of the sea, reading and enjoying the sunshine. Don’t forget to bring some snacks with you or buy them in any of the local shops. There is a Coop near the Tynemouth station, which is great if you fancy a sandwich or a packet of crisps.
Surfing
If you’re a fan of water sports and not afraid of cold water, you can try the surfing classes. There are a lot of surf schools which offer their services and also lend equipment. Just have a quick search on Google and find the one which suits you the best.
Where to eat
As I mentioned previously, bringing a picnic basket full of sweet and savoury snacks can be great, however, if you fancy saving some time, you can always opt for visiting one of the restaurants – and there’s a lot to choose from:
Elder and wolf
If in the area, you definitely should visit this restaurant. It’s probably better to make a reservation, because they use to be really busy on Friday nights and weekends. They serve mouthwatering tacos, delicious pizzas and much more! If there, give a chance to their Halloumi fries and if you don’t mind a little bit spicy food, try the Ancho Chilli Beef and thank me later 😉
Hinnies
This Geordie restaurant is a must. It is decorated in a cosy home-like style which makes you feel welcome. They offer a great lunch menu from 12:00 – 14:00 (Tuesday to Saturday) which is 2 courses for £13 and you can add dessert for another £3. If you visit them, try the home-made pastrami with a rye pancake and wicked mustard dressing.
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The Spanish City
A beautiful building with stunning architecture and an impressive dome – there are a few restaurants and cafes in there and the Trenchers one serves the best Fish and Chips in the UK (I am not joking, they recently won the 2020 National Fish and Chip Awards) if you don’t want to sit in (or they don’t have any table available) you can order a takeaway from its little corner shop.
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Fisherman’s Bay
Talking about fish & chips, there’s another place worth mentioning – this restaurant offers to sit in as well as takeaway and gosh, they know how to make a proper canny Chippy.
Lola Jeans
A newly refurbished venue which recently opened its door to the public. You probably heard of them, since they serve the award-winning burgers and other various platters (my favourite is the signature steak platter) in Newcastle city centre, however, they also have this other branch where you can find more of their delicious food and great cocktails.
Are you ready to go? Let us know how you enjoyed your trip to the coast – tag @ncl_business on Instagram