Newcastle

Ah Newcastle. The home of Greggs, cheap pints, and a sense of humour you’ll find nowhere else in the country. It’s affordable, full to the brim with culture and has a massive student community with both Newcastle and Northumbria universities. If you want a city where you can study hard, party harder, but still walk everywhere you need to go, this is the place to be.

Food and Drink

When talking about Newcastle, if there’s one thing that always gets overlooked, it’s the world of choice you have for places to eat. No matter what you’re looking for, Newcastle is full of quality options. Whether you’re looking for something cheap and cheerful, or somewhere to impress a first date, the city has you covered.

Pizzeria Francesca - 4.7/5

Jesmond’s legendary Italian. Cozy, authentic, and perfect for both when the family visit or relaxed date nights. Everyone ends up here at some point (and for good reason).

Shijo - 4.5/5

Japanese street food right by campus. Quick, affordable and their chicken katsu curry is a real student staple.

Firestone Artisan - 4.4/5

Right next door to Shijo. Large New York style pizza slices. Fair prices and a serious lifesaver when you need something quick.

The French Quarter - 4.7/5

A classy wine bar and bistro, tucked away under the arches, serves delicious French food and great wine. Perfect if you’re really looking to impress your date (and you’re willing to part ways with a little more money).

Grainger Market - 4.5/5

A Newcastle icon. All sorts of food stalls, from pizza to fresh dumplings. Great for tasty food on a budget. Worth exploring even if you’re not hungry.

The truth is, wherever you end up in Newcastle, there’ll always be something good to eat. And worst comes to worst, you know you’re never more than a stone's throw away from a Greggs.

Things to Do & Culture

Another underrated aspect of Newcastle is how much more there is to do than just go out (although that is a highlight). Whether you’re into sports, music, shopping, or just exploring the outdoors, Newcastle has it all on offer.

St James’ Park - 4.6/5

Game day in this city is truly electric. Whether you’re a football fan or not, the atmosphere is unlike any other in the country.

Eldon Square - 4.4/5

If shopping’s your thing, Newcastle city-centre has all the high street staples you could ask for, with some independent options worth checking out too.

Metrocentre - 4.4/5

One of Europe’s biggest shopping centres, just a short trip to Gateshead away. With just about everything you could ask for.

The Baltic Centre - 4.3/5

Free contemporary art gallery on the Quayside. Even if modern art isn’t your thing, the rooftop views of the city make it worth the visit.

Jesmond Dene - 4.7/5

Words can’t really describe the Dene. The way it’s tucked into the city is kind of baffling really. Great for walks and picnics. A must visit.

Tynemouth and Whitley Bay - 4.6/5

25 minutes on the Metro and you’re by the sea. 2 nice seaside towns, perfect for chilling out when the weather is finally good. A surprisingly good surf at Tynemouth too.

Northumberland - 4.8/5

Castles, coastline and countryside, just north of the city. If you need a weekend escape, this is it.

Angel of the North - 4.6/5

A real Newcastle cliché. But can you say you’ve done Newcastle if you haven’t been?

Whatever you’re into, Newcastle punches above its weight, and manages to keep it all within (usually) within walking distance.

Going Out & Nightlife

Now if there’s one part of Newcastle that it gets credit for, it’s the nightlife. Cheesy singalongs, underground raves, or just a dirt cheap pint, Newcastle is the place to be. I mean where else can you buy 3 trebles for £9?

Osborne Road - 4/5

Jesmond’s bar strip. Whatever vibe you’re feeling, there’s something for everyone here. Doesn’t matter the day of the week, odds are good Osborne road is still going to be lively.

Market Shaker - 3.9/5

A student favourite. Cheap drinks, ABBA from start to finish (somehow) and good vibes. You’ll find a lot of your nights revolve around this place somehow.

Flares - 4.6/5

As cheesy as they come. Throwback tunes, disco lights and (you guessed it) more cheap drinks.

Cosy Joes - 4/5

The home of karaoke in Newcastle. Once you’ve had a few trebs and you’re in the mood to embarrass yourself, nowhere does it better than Cosy Joes. If you're a bit shy, or looking for a private party, you can also book a karaoke pod for up to 25 people.

World Headquarters - 4.4/5

Worldies has to be one of the more iconic venues that Newcastle has to offer. A real good underground scene, with some surprisingly big names coming to play here pretty often. Keep an eye on their to see what's on.

Ouseburn Valley - 4/5

The whole Ouseburn area is worth a visit. Quirky pubs, indie bars and live music. The place to go if you’re after something different.

If you’ve been to Newcastle, you’re probably looking at this list ready to list out 5 more places that deserve a mention here, and honestly, you’d be right to. This list could’ve been twice as long and it still wouldn’t have covered it all.

Hidden Gems

Here are a few spots in and around Newcastle that probably don’t get the credit they deserve:

Ouseburn Valley - 4/5

As mentioned before, Ouseburn is perfect for when you’re after something just a little different and might be the best first date spot in the city.

Tynemouth Market - 4.5/5

A great way to spend a Sunday. Vintage finds, food stalls and a huge variety of all sorts to see and buy. Another good date spot, as Tynemouth itself is worth the trip too.

Tyneside Cinema - 4.7/5

An indie cinema in the heart of the city, that replays the cult classics, new releases and even holds movie marathons at times. They even offer 35mm film screenings for an authentic old-school experience. Worth the visit for film buffs and with the bar attached, another lowkey date location, if cinema is your thing.

The Lady of the North 4.7/5

Everyone knows about the Angel, but not many know about the Lady of the North. A massive land sculpture shaped like, well, a lady. Makes for a good little daytrip, when you’re looking for something to get you out of the house.

These are just a few favourites, ask around and you’ll find plenty more places that need more love.

Study Spots/Student Essentials

Being a student in Newcastle means you’ll never be short on places to study, hang out, or just grab a cheap bite between your lectures. Here are some of the essentials to know about:

Philip Robinson Library - 4.6/5

The Robbo is Newcastle Uni’s main library. It’s reliable, sometimes busy, but has enough quiet spaces for when you’ve got to actually get some work done. Most students find that this is their second home when in Newcastle.

Marjorie Robinson Library - 4.8/5

Right next door to the Robbo is the Marj. The study spot for people actually trying to focus. Main downside is that it doesn’t have the 24hr opening times of its Philip counterpart.

City Campus Library - 4.5/5

The go-to for Northumbria students. Open 24hrs, and has everything you could ask of a library.

Student Unions (NUSU & NSU) - 4/5

Places to study, cheap food, drink and societies galore. Make sure you cash in with the discounts and events that get put on. NUSU might have a Wetherspoons built in, but don’t underestimate how easy it is to get sucked into not doing work here.

Jesmond & Heaton - 4/5

The classic student suburbs. If the busy libraries aren’t your scene, both Jesmond and Heaton are rife with quiet cafe spots, perfect for crunching down on some work. You’ll find that Heaton is both typically cheaper, and quieter.

For once, when it comes to hype, you can believe it when it comes to student life in Newcastle. Whether it’s exam season, post-lecture pints, or just working Wi-fi, student life is sorted in Newcastle.

City Advice

All in all, Newcastle is one of the most student friendly cities in the country. Affordable, walkable and full of character. Here are a few tips worth knowing before you settle in.

Getting Around - Newcastle is incredibly compact. Walking from one end of the city to the other is very easily done. But, if you’re short on time, or you just can’t be arsed, the Metro has you covered. For relatively cheap, it gets you all around the city, all the way to the beach and if you really feel like it, all the way to Sunderland too. If you know you’re going to use the Metro a lot, get a Pop card, it’ll make using the metro even more worthwhile.

Saving Money - Although drinking in this city is cheap, don’t fall into the trap of shopping in Jesmond for your groceries. The Jesmond Tesco is (was?) known for being the most expensive Tesco in the country and Sainsbury’s round the corner isn’t much better. Save yourself a penny and make the journey over to Aldi if you can.

Where to Live - Jesmond is the home of students in Newcastle, but don’t count out the surrounding areas. In comparison to Jesmond, the city centre, Sandyford, Heaton and Gosforth all feel like serious bargains and with them all being so close to each other, it’s not like you’re missing out on anything.

Local Quirks - We’ve not addressed the accent here but if you’re not local, there’ll be a few people out and about that will convince you that you don’t actually speak English. But the Geordie’s are excellent people and you’ll pick it up as you go, so no need to stress about it.

And finally, let's address the trebles. 3 shots in a glass (and they typically come in 3s). Simply a life lesson in poor decision making that you won’t learn anywhere else.

Whatever you’re into, there’s one thing you can be sure of: You’ll never be bored in Newcastle.

You can find all these spots here.