NewcastleUnited Kingdom · Ferry Destinations

All About Newcastle

Officially known as Newcastle upon Tyne to distinguish it from smaller destinations within the United Kingdom with similar names, Newcastle is the most populous city in the northeast of England.

Founded by the Romans, it takes its name from the ‘new castle’ constructed by King William I after the Norman Conquest of 1066, making the structure close to 1000 years old in places. The city grew to become an important center for shipbuilding, and since then has become northern England’s most important cultural hub, with attractions including the heritage of the River Tyne and Baltic Center for Contemporary Art.

Roughly an hour from the border with Scotland to the north, Newcastle also has excellent sea connections with the near continent. Anyone looking for ferry tickets to Newcastle should start with the Ferryscanner website. The Ferryscanner search and booking engine will help you find the best and most affordable ferry routes.
 

Routes and Ferries to Newcastle

When it comes to ferries to Newcastle, it’s DFDS which handles vessels arriving into and departing from the port. Their well-maintained ships ply the waters of the North Sea between Newcastle and Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands.

There’s an average of one ferry sailing per day in either direction throughout the year, with the journey lasting just under 16 hours. Adult foot passengers are able to get ferry tickets to Newcastle or vice versa for as little as €50 one way. As some of the behemoths of the seas, ships like the Princess Seaways and King Seaways also have a large capacity for motor vehicles, should anyone be looking to make use of the roll-on roll-off facilities.

What’s more, to make the sea crossing as comfortable as possible for passengers of all kinds, those looking to buy ferry tickets to Newcastle are able to choose between a number of private cabins for the duration of the voyage. Elsewhere on board this multi-deck vessel, you’ll also find a range of places to eat and drink, a cinema, casino, and shop.

Newcastle Central Railway Station is an important stop on the UK’s East Coast Main Line, meaning trains running between London and Scotland stop here 2-3 times an hour. It can take as little as two hours to reach London’s King’s Cross terminal, dependent on the exact departure chosen. One of just six grade I listed station buildings in the UK, it was opened in 1850 by none other than Queen Victoria.

Lastly, Newcastle International Airport lies a short distance from the city center and the port of Newcastle. It is a focus destination for budget airlines including Jet2 and Ryanair, as well as national carriers such as Air France, KLM, and Emirates. As a result, Newcastle is very well connected.
 

Ports of Newcastle

The port of Newcastle is more correctly known as the Port of Tyne. The port has been in existence since at least 1275, and today deals with around 4.4 million tons of cargo each year. It is located in the North Shields neighborhood, which is on the north bank of the River Tyne, 13 kilometers from central Newcastle. Here you’ll find a dedicated International Ferry Terminal, which has facilities to be able to handle with up to 2000 people at any one time.
 

Best Beaches

Believe it or not, the British east coast around Newcastle has some very fine beaches. Check out these top picks for yourself.

Sandhaven Beach

A long and wide stretch of pleasant sand you could be mistaken for thinking was somewhere in the Costa Brava, Sandhaven Beach is part of the South Tyneside Heritage Trail. Situated on the southern side of the River Tyne, locals know it as Herd Sand.

King Edward’s Bay

On a particularly beautiful area of coastline, King Edward’s Bay forms a small cove edged by a short sand beach. A favorite with local families, it sits in a bowl formed by grassy cliffs, from where the ancient Tynemouth Priory stands guard.

Marsden Beach

It’s the rock formations of the bay here that are the highlight of any visit to Marsden Beach. Providing suitably picturesque vistas and ideal perches for all manner of seabirds, a public elevator gives access to the sands.

Long Sands South Beach

As its name suggests, Long Sands South Beach is one of the longest beaches in the area. Stretching for an immense 800 meters, this is one of the region’s most active beaches, with surfing, kayaking, swimming, and diving all possibilities.
 

Places to Visit

During the 1000 years of its existence, Newcastle has certainly gathered an impressive collection of attractions. Dating from the birth of the city to the present day, what follows are our picks for the best places to visit in Newcastle.

Newcastle Keep

Saved from destruction when the railways were pushed into Newcastle in the early 1800s, Newcastle Keep is the most significant surviving structure from the castle that gave the city its name. Also as the city’s oldest structure, its ancient walls contain a fascinating account of its long history.

Baltic Center for Contemporary Art

Situated in a converted flour mill on the banks of the River Tyne, the Baltic Center for Contemporary Art reshaped the British art landscape when it first opened to visitors in 2002. Since then, the gallery has received more than 8 million visitors and hosted works by some 500 well-known and up-and-coming artists.

Cragside

For a sense of a typically British stately home and Victorian ingenuity all in one place, there’s nowhere better than Cragside House. Described as a masterpiece of the arts and crafts movement, its interiors became the most advanced of any house of the time (royal palaces included), while the grounds contain Europe’s largest rock garden.
 

Transportation Around Newcastle

Newcastle has its own metro system, which consists of two interconnecting lines. The green line runs from Newcastle International Airport to the neighboring city of Sunderland via Newcastle city center. The yellow line starts at St. James’ Park football stadium and runs across to the coast at Tynemouth and Whitley Bay before returning towards the city center in a roughly circular route. It then continues on the opposite bank of the River Tyne to South Shields. Newcastle Central mainline railway station has access to both green and yellow lines.

The city also has a well-integrated bus network, operated on behalf of the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. Many of the main bus routes travel past the central station, with other important stops being on Pilgrim Street and Blackett Street.