What are the top ten free attractions in Newcastle?

The cultural heart of the north-east, Newcastle is alive and buzzing so finding great things to do when you're staying in the city is never going to be difficult.

Having an amazing time on a budget is just as easy, as there are so many places to  explore and making your way around the city is simple.

The user-friendly public transport network of buses, Metros and ferries offers great value, and if you have any problems, the notoriously friendly locals will be sure to point you in the right direction - so don't be scared to ask!

So, if you're staying in a Newcastle hostel and looking to have fun without spending too much dosh, you're definitely in the right place. Here are the top ten things we like to do for free on our days off...


Browse the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art...

Housed in the converted Baltic Flour Mill on the Gateshead side of the River Tyne, the imposing contemporary art gallery is probably the number one tourist destination in Newcastle.

The stunning building is a wonderful location for an art gallery and now it is recognised as the best gallery in the north-east. Exhibitions from the likes of Yoko Ono, Damien Hirst and Anthony Gormley have graced its wide open spaces and this year it hosted the Turner Prize for the first time.

To get there from Newcastle you have to walk across the iconic Millennium Bridge so it is worth it just for that and, if you're feeling flush, Six Restaurant on the sixth floor has food as good as the panoramic views it offers. Entrance is free and the BALTIC is open from 10am until 6pm, seven days a week, except Tuesdays when it opens at 10.30am.


Hang out on 'the hippest street in Britain'...

After you've finished casting an eye over the BALTIC's various exhibitions and decided whether they really do constitute art or not, you're perfectly placed to stroll along the 'hippest street in Britain'.

South Shore Road, the street that the art gallery sits on, was presented with the title in last year's Google Street View Awards and, from here, you can also explore the fantastic Sage Gateshead, a stunning glass music hall designed by the architect Sir Norman Foster.

In reality, there is not a huge amount else to explore on South Shore Road (though it's worth the visit just to tell your mates), but following the Tyne in either direction as far as your legs can carry you will provide a great taste of the north-east and is sure to bring you past some fantastic pubs when you need to stop for the occasional breather.


Get lost in Jesmond Dene (or maybe just have a picnic)...

Jesmond Dene is vast expanse of city parkland that stretches from the suburb of Gosforth at one end to Byker at the east-end of Newcastle, covering a huge swathe of the city in dense woodland park.

It is teeming with wildlife and the river (complete with mini-waterfall) that flows through the middle of it eventually makes its way to the Tyne.

Known locally as 'The Dene', you could spend days exploring its many walkways and it is great fun on a bike too. There is even a little petting zoo at the Armstrong Bridge end of the park known as Pet's Corner. As well as an array of birds and farm animals, it has a cosy cafe that is perfect for a cuppa after a morning pounding the footpaths.


Take a trip to Tynemouth Market...

Hopping on the Metro at Newcastle will have you at the upmarket seaside town of Tynemouth within 25 minutes and it is definitely worth it.

Every weekend, the beautiful Tynemouth Metro Station turns into a thriving flea market with all kinds of weird and wonderful wares plied by locals. Originally built in 1882 for the North Eastern Railway, you literally step off the Metro into the hustle and bustle of the market. It runs from 9am until 4pm.

Once a month, a farmer's market comes to the station, and while the market is great fun to browse - even if it's just to spot the weirdest stall you can find - the coastal town itself is also well worth a look.


Stand beneath the Angel of the North...

Considered by many (perhaps with tongue planted in cheek) to be the Eiffel Tower of the north-east, the imposing Angel of the North is a work of contemporary art by Anthony Gormley that stands proud by the side of the A1 motorway.

Initially greeted with huge scepticism by locals who claimed it looked like an aeroplane had crashed into the side of a hill, the work of art is now affectionately regarded on Tyneside and appreciated as the icon that it is. A visit is a must.

Standing fully 20 metres tall and with a wingspan that measures a staggering 54 metres, the monumental steel sculpture cost £1 million to create by the time it was finished in 1998.

To get there by car you have to follow the A167 road to Low Fell and follow signs. By bus you can just hop on the number 21 or 22 Go North East services from Eldon Square Bus Station in Newcastle.


Delve into the Discovery Museum...

The Discovery Museum is Newcastle's answer to the Science Museum and there are few better ways to kill a couple hours if you're stuck for something to do in the city centre.

No more than a five minute walk from Central Station, the museum is packed full of exhibits that chart the history of Newcastle from a technological perspective, but there are also loads of hands-on displays that are great fun for big kids.

As well as charting the region's maritime, military and mining histories, there are lots of more general science exhibits that put a big emphasis on the kind of touchy-feely interaction that made school trips fun when you were younger.

The museum can be found at Blandford Square off Westgate Road and is open from 10am until 5pm Monday to Friday and 2pm until 5pm on Sundays.


Explore the Ouseburn...

The Ouseburn area of Newcastle is a true hidden gem that locals know all about but visitors rarely stumble across, and there's a good reason it's so popular.

A former industrial district in the east-end of Newcastle, the Ouseburn is built upon the river Ouse (the same river that flows through Jesmond Dene) but has undergone sustained regeneration in recent years to become a thriving cultural hub.

Former glassworks and factories have been converted into brilliant bars, pubs, music venues, workshops, studios and galleries. There's even a stable and a city farm to visit, while the annual Ouseburn Festival in the summer is always great fun with free events left, right and centre.


Go back in time at the Great North Museum...

Formerly known as the Hancock Museum after its founder, the Great North Museum recently underwent a £26 million refurbishment and is all the better for it.

If the Discovery Museum is Newcastle's answer to the Science Museum, then the GNM is its answer to the Natural History Museum. Visitors can get up close and personal with a Tyrannosaurus Rex and mummies from Ancient Egypt, as well as the Ancient Greeks.

The award-winning museum also boasts its own planetarium and has live animal tanks and aquaria as part of its permanent Living Planet display.

Various temporary exhibitions run throughout the year and the museum also regularly hosts one-off events as part of local festivals. Entry is free and the museum is open from 10am until 5pm Monday to Friday and from 1pm until 5pm on Sunday.


Follow Newcastle's Town Wall...

Newcastle is one of the only cities in England that still has its original defensive city wall, and much of it is still standing.

Originally built in the 13th and 14th centuries to protect the city from invaders, the wall was around 3km long, but much less remains today, after parts were pulled down during the city's redesign.

The huge stone structure is almost 8 metres high in places and some of its original gates survive to this day, with the longest stretch - the West Walls - running along the western edge of the city in the shadows of St James' Park.


Feed the ducks at Leazes Park...

Sitting right beside Newcastle United's stadium, Leazes Park lends its name to the ground's adjacent stand - the Leazes End - and it has a little bit of everything going for it, making it a great place to unwind on a sunny afternoon.

Having first opened in 1873, the park has a historic bandstand at its centre with recently updated tennis and basketball courts at its periphery.

With two adventure playgrounds and a boating lake full of ducks, there is plenty to keep you occupied, while every June it hosts one of the highlights of the local calendar - the eco-friendly Green Festival celebration of music and arts.

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