Gateshead

Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear in the northeast of England. It stands on the south bank of the River Tyne looking across to Newcastle upon Tyne on the north bank. It's industrial and in 2011 had a population of 120,046. It was historically in County Durham, but in 1974 became part of the metropolis of Tyne and Wear.

Understand
"No true civilisation could have produced such a town…, it was designed "by an enemy of the human race""

- JB Priestly, English Journey 1934

Gateshead stands on a hill on the south bank of the River Tyne and was industrial from the 14th century through coal mining. This was sufficiently lucrative for the north bank city of Newcastle to attempt a takeover; but the coal was from shallow bell-pits that soon became unworkable, where upon Newcastle's interest waned. The main deep-mining belt was south towards Durham, and those pit owners became stinking rich, while Gateshead developed metal-bashing and other traditional smokestack industries. It never had much architectural heritage, and that little was blown away by the great fire and explosion of 1854 when a burning worsted mill set off sulphur and other combustibles in a nearby warehouse. So great were the devastation, the deaths and the mutilation of survivors, that special trains had to be laid on for all the thousands of trippers thronging to enjoy the spectacle.

Gateshead was further assaulted in the 20th century by industrial decline and by modern "brutalist" architecture. However, in the 21st century, it was revived, along with Newcastle, by attractive developments. Sage and the Baltic Gallery are on the riverfront near the Millennium Bridge, and The Angel of the North stands guard by the motorway from the south.

Get in
For long-distance routes see Newcastle upon Tyne.

By train
Gateshead doesn't have its mainline station. But from Newcastle Central, it's a short walk, bus, Metro or taxi ride into the town centre.

By Metro
Gateshead is on both lines of the Tyne and Wear Metro:


 * The Green Line runs from the airport via Jesmond, Newcastle city centre and Central Station to Gateshead, then heads south to Sunderland.
 * The Yellow Line makes a grand loop from the city centre around the north bank towns and burbs, circles back to Jesmond, the city centre, Central Station, Gateshead and Heworth, then follows the south riverbank to Jarrow and South Shields.

Trains run every 10–15 min between 5:30AM and 11:30PM. Gateshead is in Fare Zone A, so in 2022, an adult single from the city centre is £2.30. The airport is in Zone C so that's £3.90.

By road
By road from north or south follow A1, which bypasses the conurbation to the west. Exit onto A184 to come into Gateshead.

By foot
The Tyne bridges, Sage and Baltic are all within a 15-minute walk, with the International Stadium a little further.

By bus
The main bus routes are by Go North East:
 * Bus 1 to Newcastle, North Shields and Whitley Bay
 * Bus 21 to Angel of the North, Chester-le-Street and Brandon
 * Bus 49 and 96 / 97 to Metrocentre and Blaydon
 * Bus 51 / 52 to Heworth and Newcastle

See

 * , opened in 2001, is a cyclist and pedestrian tilting bridge. It's often called the Blinking or Winking Bridge for the way the footpath deck tilts up to allow river traffic to pass. That's an infrequent occurrence: Gateshead Council lists upcoming tilts. They'll even let you request a tilt for free, given 7 days notice, at any hour 365 days a year. They're more likely to grant such a request if you turn up with a vessel of mast no taller than 23.9 m.
 * Cross this or any other bridge for sights in Newcastle upon Tyne.
 * St Mary's on Oakwellgate next to Sage is a former parish church and now a small museum. It's open Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM.
 * is a Victorian confection, now the centrepiece of Saltwell Park. There's a visitor centre and tea room.
 * : see Beamish for this heritage steam railway on the boundary with County Durham.
 * is a Victorian confection, now the centrepiece of Saltwell Park. There's a visitor centre and tea room.
 * : see Beamish for this heritage steam railway on the boundary with County Durham.
 * : see Beamish for this heritage steam railway on the boundary with County Durham.
 * : see Beamish for this heritage steam railway on the boundary with County Durham.
 * : see Beamish for this heritage steam railway on the boundary with County Durham.

Do

 * Cinema: Vue Cinema is next to the Interchange.
 * is multi-use, and its sports facilities can be used by members. It has its own Metro station.
 * Football:
 * Golf: local courses are Ravensworth and Whickham. Heworth GC only accepts visitors as competitors in occasional open competitions.
 * Derwent Walk follows a former railway trackbed for 12.5 miles beside the River Derwent. It starts in Derwenthaugh Country Park just west of Metro Centre and heads southwest via Gibside to Shotley Bridge and Consett.
 * Derwent Walk follows a former railway trackbed for 12.5 miles beside the River Derwent. It starts in Derwenthaugh Country Park just west of Metro Centre and heads southwest via Gibside to Shotley Bridge and Consett.

Eat

 * Beneath Tyne Bridge are Träkol (below), Windows on The Tyne (within Hilton Hotel) and Raval.
 * Low Fell two miles south on the old Durham road has a strip with Primavera, Rosa 12, The Bank, Imperial and Ilbay's.
 * Plenty more in Newcastle just across the bridge.
 * Plenty more in Newcastle just across the bridge.

Drink

 * The central pub cluster (often with live entertainment) includes The Black Bull, The Central, Grey Nag's Head, Metropole, Curley's, Ye Old Fleece and William IV.
 * Hadrian Border Brewery on Hills St has its own pub, Station East.
 * Steampunk Spirits produce gin and rum. No tours.

Sleep

 * See also hotels north of the river in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Connect
As of July 2021, Gateshead has 5G with EE and 4G from the other UK carriers.

Go next

 * Walk across a bridge to Newcastle upon Tyne
 * Take a Metro east to Jarrow and South Shields
 * Southeast to Washington and Sunderland
 * South to the attractive cathedral city of Durham.
 * West to Hadrian's Wall: the best sections are between Hexham and Haltwhistle.
 * The Northumberland coast becomes attractive from Alnwick, with battered castles and the Holy Isle of Lindisfarne.
 * Beamish has an extensive open-air industrial museum.