Newcastle Winter Book Festival
F
rom a small library-based programme in 2010, this event has grown into a real Festival of Books.
The Festival combines local authors with a North East flavour such as the critically acclaimed David Almond (left), Michael Chaplin, Ann Cleeves and Simon Donald with folk from further afield too.
When? November
Where? Event Venues include: the new Newcastle City Library, The Lit & Phil Society Newcastle, Star and Shadow Cinema, Blackwells Bookshop Newcastle, Seven Stories and Northumbria University Library.
Who?
Website? Newcastle Winter Book Festival
Social Media?
Previous Festivals?
In 2011 David Almond, Michael Chaplin, Ann Cleeves, Simon Donald , Liz Lochhead, Alistair Moffat, MC Beaton, Hugh Cornwell
Things to Do & See?
Other Things to See and Do
Newcastle is a bright, vibrant city with plenty for individuals to do and there are plenty of family friendly things to do across the city.
Museums and Galleries
Discover all about life in Newcastle and Tyneside, from the area's renowned maritime history and world-changing science and technology right through to fashion through the eras and military history. The museum is bursting with interactive displays, which makes it the perfect place to learn and have fun.
The Great�North Museum�incorporates collections from the Hancock Museum and Newcastle University’s Museum of Antiquities, the Shefton Museum and the Hatton Gallery.
H
ighlights of the new £26million museum include a large-scale, interactive model of Hadrian's Wall, major new displays showing the wonder and diversity of the animal and plant kingdoms, spectacular objects from the Ancient Greeks and mummies from Ancient Egypt, a planetarium and a life-size T-Rex dinosaur skeleton.
The Laing is home to an impressive collection of art and sculpture and its exhibition programme is renowned for bringing the biggest names in historic, modern and contemporary art to the North East.
The Side Gallery is home to constantly changing exhibitions of photography on a whole range of subjects. The cinema also shows a variety of films.
The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art Centre
Housed in a landmark industrial building on the south bank of the River Tyne in Gateshead, BALTIC is a major international centre for contemporary art. BALTIC has no permanent collection, providing instead an ever-changing calendar of exhibitions and events that give a unique and compelling insight into contemporary artistic practice.
Shopping
Northumberland Street
This street has it all. The main 'high street' of Newcastle has major department
stores, clothes shops, entertainment shops, electronics shops and places to have a sit down and a bite to eat. A highlight to this street is the flagship Fenwicks department store.
Eldon Square and Eldon Gardens
Eldon Square is the city's indoor shopping centre with over 150 high street names and specialist shops. With a recently opening extension hosting a flagship Debenhams department store and an Apple store, Eldon Square is the place that will cater for all your shopping needs.
Metro Centre (Gateshead)
Although not in Newcastle, the Metro Centre is only a short distance away from the city centre of Newcastle (just off the A1). It has over 340 shops across two floors, it has three major department stores in Marks & Spences, House of Fraser and Debenhams. The recently refurbished Metrocentre Qube hosts a new IMAX cinema, 10-pin bowling, a NAMCO arcade and a variety of bars and restaurants.
Sightseeing
Newcastle and Gateshead Quayside
T
he Newcastle and Gateshead Quaysides have plenty to see, including some of Newcastles iconic Tyne-spanning bridges; The Tyne Bridge, High-Level Bridge, Swing Bridge and the Millennium Bridge. On the Gateshead side there is the Sage Music Centre and the Baltic Contemporary Arts Centre.
Grey's Monument/Grey Street
Grey's Monument stands at the top of Grey Street and was erected to acclaim Earl Grey for the passing of the Great Reform Act of 1832. It consists of a statue of Earl Grey atop of a 130 ft column. Grey Street curves down towards the Newcastle Quayside and is a superb example of Georgian architecture and was voted 'best street in the UK' in 2002 by BBC Radio 4 listeners. It includes the Theatre Royal and the beautiful Central Arcade.
Exhibition Park
Located near the city centre, Exhibition Park has facilities to cater all the families needs. From a playpark for the kids to large spaces of open grass to sit down and relax.
Leazes Park
Leazes Park is also located near the city centre and offers a large space covered in trees, grass and also lake, where you can hire rowing boats during weekends and school holidays.
St. James' Park is the offical home of Newcastle United F.C. The stadium is the 6th largest football stadium in the U.K. N.U.F.C offer stadium tours which look at the history of the famous football club and the great stadium that dominates the Newcastle skyline.
