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Why visit Newcastle?

Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the northernmost city in England, is also one of the coldest, if one refers to the climate. In terms of atmosphere, it would rather be among the warmest, especially on football match days! Its inhabitants, nicknamed the Geordies, still use the old language which bears the same name. They are bon vivant, who love to party and will gladly invite you to join them. Newcastle is not just about football and theaters, it is a city that has many architectural attractions.

Follow the guide, we take you to discover the most festive city in the country.

Travel & Visit Newcastle

To help you organize your stay in Newcastle, we have listed the tours and places of interest to do in Newcastle.

Where to stay in Newcastle (apartments, hotels, hostels, ...)?

Newcastle is a rather opulent city, which has a good hotel offer. You will find a wide range of accommodation, from the youth hostel to the luxury hotel, including the traditional Bed & Breakfasts.

If you are going to Newcastle to party, do not hesitate to settle in the Quayside district, by the river Tyne. You will be near the famous Tyne Bridge, Saint Nicholas Cathedral and Center for Contemporary Art Baltic. Also in the center and close to museums and the castle, the historic city center, the Grainger, is also a good option for accommodation. You can even walk to St James Park if you want to attend a soccer game. Do you prefer a quieter area? Look at Jesmond's side.

How to get to Newcastle?

Newcastle upon Tyne has an airport located to the north of the city, 15 minutes from the center. There are regular direct flights from France (Paris and Nice in particular). You can then reach the city by public transport, or by car if you have opted for car rental or private transfer.

It is also possible to include the city in an itinerary in England from the capital. Trains and buses leave from London daily to Newcastle.

It should also be noted that Newcastle is a two-hour drive from Edinburgh in Scotland. Train and bus transfers are frequent between these two cities. To find a train or coach at the best price for your trip, use TrainPal!

When to go to Newcastle

If Newcastle is a rather cool city, because of its situation in the north of England, it nevertheless benefits from an oceanic climate. As a result, the temperature variations are small and it rarely freezes. Like any region of England, it is regularly watered, but the rainfall remains reasonable there, except in April and the last three months of the year.

Consequently, it is preferable to choose the period from May to October, July being the warmest and least rainy. The temperatures will be around 20 °, but you could have surprises with days above 30 °! The Christmas period is also to be considered to go to Newcastle, to take advantage of its festive atmosphere.

Related articles

There are many types of transportation for travel, and the most common way to travel in the UK is probably by train. Many people like to travel by train, because the train ticket in Britain is cheap and the railway is convenient. In the UK, there are also many wonderful railway adventures, from the scenic seaside train to crossing the desolate Scottish highlands. The relatively small area of this country means that you can enjoy many things in a short time.

So here are five itineraries to get around Britain by trains. Whether you are looking for history and culture, coast and country scenery, or the coolest city in the UK, there is a perfect British rail travel for you.

(*Pictures from the Internet）

Five Itineraries for Exploring Britain by Train

Historic England Travel Route by Train

London > Salisbury > Bath Spa > Oxford > Stratford-upon-Avon > York

This train journey takes you through the country, featuring some of England's historic castles, cathedrals and universities. The train departs from London and it takes your first day to explore the city-there are museums and historical buildings everywhere, so choose a few places to visit, such as the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Windsor Castle, etc. Then take the early train to Salisbury (1.5 hours) to visit its 13th-century cathedral-visit the tower and see the existing copy of the Magna Carta.

Next, you can take the train to Bath Spa (1 hour). Don't miss the city's famous Roman Baths-enjoy a modern version of the spa at Thermae Bath Spa. Bath also has some beautiful Georgian buildings. Then take a train to Oxford (1 hour 15 minutes), one of the most famous university cities in the UK.

You can take a train to Shakespeare's hometown Stratford-upon-Avon after seeing a variety of handicrafts (1.5 hours) at Oxford's eccentric Pitt Rivers Museum. You can visit his birthplace, the house where his wife and daughter live, and you can also go to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre to watch a play. Then end your journey in York (3 hours and 45 minutes). Wander around the Roman city walls, visit the cathedral, explore the cobblestone alleys, and then go home.

Scenic Scotland Travel Route by Train

Edinburgh > Glasgow > Fort William > Mallaig > Kyle of Lochalsh > Inverness

This Scottish railway itinerary takes you all the way to the highlands, passing through rugged coastlines, lakes, moors and castle ruins. Starting from Edinburgh, spend one day exploring the highlights of the city, such as the Castle and the Royal Mile. Then take the train to Glasgow (1 hour 15 minutes), where the focus is on art, design and culture-from street art trails to the striking modern riverside transportation museum.

Next, you can head north into the highlands and head to Fort William (3 hours 45 minutes), which is a riverside town and an adventure sports center near the Nevis Mountains. Take the train across the Glenfinnan Viaduct to Mallaig (1 and a half hours). Or between April and October, you can take the Jacobite steam train, famous for Harry Potter movies. Then get off the train and take the ferry to Skye. Before crossing the bridge to Kyle of Lochalsh, take a bus tour of the island.

Take the train from Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness (2 hours and 40 minutes). The Kyle train line passes lakes, mountains and deer herds along the way. Explore the castles and cathedrals of Inverness or take a monster discovery tour on Loch Ness. Finally, you can go back to Edinburgh by train (3.5 hours).

The Cornish Coast Travel Route by Train

London > St Ives > Falmouth > Newquay > Looe > Plymouth > Exeter

This is a British train journey that takes you to southwest of England, along Cornwall's most beautiful coastal and country railways. You will start your journey from London, where you can take the train to Cornwall. Arrive in St Erth early the next morning, transfer to St Ives Bay Line, and pass through the golden beaches of Carbis Bay to St Ives. This art-filled coastal town has some beautiful beaches and promenades.

Next leave St Ives, you will take the train to Falmouth (1.5 hours), change to the coastline at Truro, crossing the countryside to the coast there. Before taking the train back to Truro and along the Atlantic coastline to Newquay (3 hours), you must go to see Falmouth Castle and Maritime Museum. Then visit the seven-mile beach. Then continue your journey to the beautiful fishing port of Luye (2.5 hours).      

Be sure to taste Looe's fresh seafood before going to Plymouth (1 hour). Walk along the city's waterfront, visit the aquarium, and climb the lighthouse at Smeaton Tower. Finally, catch the train from Plymouth to Paington (1 hour). Then continue taking the train along the Riviera line for 45 minutes to Exeter.

City Hotspots Travel Route by Train

London > Brighton > Bristol > Manchester > Liverpool > Leeds > Glasgow

This train route will take you to the coolest cities in the UK, with many coffee shops, antique shops, street art and bars along the way. Departing from London, head to the most fashionable community in East London-Shoreditch. Taste food from all over the world in the Box Park containers. Then take the train from South London to Brighton (1 hour 15 minutes). Shop on the narrow streets, play arcades on the pier, and then walk along the beach to the neighboring Hove.

Next, take the train across the UK to Bristol (3.5 hours). The city is the center of an independent food, arts and crafts enterprise-taste delicious food at St. Nicholas Market and Wapping Wharf. Next head north to Manchester (4 hours). In bars and clubs in the northern region, it is a good choice to go to a concert or buy vinyl records. Or you can visit the museum and media center in Salford Quays.

It takes only 45 minutes by train from Manchester to Liverpool. Look at the design symbolism at RIBA North and Tate Liverpool. Then head northeast to Leeds (1.5 hours). Visit the city for shops and stunning settings. Finally, take the train to Glasgow (4 hours) to end your journey in the cultural city of Scotland. Learn about its museums and galleries, and try out some of the best restaurants in Finniston.

Wales and the Borders Travel Route by Train

Cardiff > Shrewsbury > Aberystwyth > Harlech > Llandudno > Chester > Cardiff

This last British train journey takes you through Wales, from the capital to the coast and mountains. Strating from Cardiff, spend an afternoon exploring its old city in Cardiff Bay and the castle. Then take the train north to Shrewsbury (2 hours), a traditional market town across the border of England, which is the home of Charles Darwin. Visit its castle and buy local gifts.

Then return to Wales and the seaside town of Aberystwyth (2 hours). It has a sandy beach, Victoria Promenade and the oldest pier in Wales. The next stop is the scenic Cambrian coastline, going north through the Snowdonia National Park to Halekh (3 hours). When you cross the estuary along Barmouth, remember to enjoy the amazing scenery outside your window. Explore the hilltop castle of Harlech, or travel to the Italian-style village of Portmeirion (the nearest station is in Minffordd, a 15-minute drive from Harlech).

(*Pictures from the Internet）

Next, go to Porthmadog (25 minutes), you can transfer to the historical steam train of the Ffestiniog railway and go to Blaenau Ffestionig (1 hour 15 minutes) in retro style. Then return to the 21st century and head to Llandudno (1 hour and 15 minutes), another Victorian seaside resort in Wales. From there, cross the border to Chester (1 hour). Explore the Roman ruins of the city, stroll through the city walls, and shop. Then return to Cardiff (3 hours) to end the journey.

If you are interested, book your ticket now at trainpal.com. Trainpal offers the cheapest train routes throughout the UK

If you have free time, slow down and relax, traveling by train is one of the best ways. Britain’s most breathtaking scenery can be admired from the train window, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money for an epic journey. You can buy the cheapest train tickets at trainpal.

Traveling by train is a beautiful and relaxing way to discover Britain, adding a real sense of adventure to your trip. The railway network covers the entire country and serves more than 2,500 stations. The system is efficient and reliable: you can leave London and reach Scotland in the shortest 4 hours.

Since London has 7 main terminals, most of the lines radiate outward from London, so there may be some changes when travel around the UK by train.

Train tickets are worth buying at trainpal because they will provide tourists with unlimited journeys and discounts, giving you the freedom to go at your own pace.

Train travelling across the Highlands in Scotland

How to buy train tickets

You can buy train tickets online through our ticket purchase page. First-class fares are about one-third more expensive than standard fares. Sometimes buying a two-way ticket is cheaper than buying two one-way tickets.

Plan enough time to buy your train ticket in advance before travelling, and check for special offers or reduced prices at any time. Advance tickets are usually cheaper than those bought on the day, but may limit your ability to change or cancel your journey. You always have to try to click through the page more. We will mark you the cheapest train ticket on the day of your trip, saving yourself a lot of money, which you can spend on the travel of the destination.

Two main reasons to travel in the UK by train

If traveling by car in the United States is the best choice, traveling by train in the United Kingdom is the best choice for these two reasons.

British driving on the left, the road is narrow, the speed is fast, and the requirements for the driver are very high. Especially when crossing roundabouts and intersections, British drivers are very fastidious about the road priorities. The driver with the road priority does not slow down at the intersection. They will think that the other driver will let them pass first. In fact, this is indeed the case. As long as the British drivers don’t have the road priority, they will not snatch the road, and they will stop obediently to let the other driver go first. In this new environment, domestic drivers are unaccustomed to driving on the left. Coupled with unfamiliarity with various road priorities, they often react slowly on the road and are prone to car accidents. The picture below is the famous roundabout in the UK. Most people are confused directly!

The train system in the United Kingdom is very developed. This is different from the United States. Basically, cities at all levels have trains. Take London as an example. It has been counted on Google maps. There are dozens of train stations of various sizes in the London area alone. So when traveling between different cities in the UK, trains can undoubtedly be your first choice.

As shown above, there are three railway stations in Euston, St Pancas and King's Cross (the famous Harry Potter 9 and three quarters are here) just around the London University campus.

Tips on travel by train

The fastest and most comfortable trains in Britain are on the main line. It is always wise to reserve a seat in advance, especially if you want to travel during peak hours, such as Friday night. Mainline trains have dining cars and air conditioning, and are very fast - for example, it takes only 4 hours and 20 minutes from London to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, or 2 hours from London Paddington to Cardiff, the capital of Wales.

The yellow line above the train window indicates the first-class compartment. Note that even if the train is full, you cannot sit in first class without paying the full ticket.

Normally, buses will post eye-catching notices in the city center and major attractions, and buses will usually stop outside. Trains on Sundays and public holidays may be slower than usual and less frequent.

Be inspired for your next train journey

We picked some of the best places in the UK for you to explore by train. Check out our tour guide itinerary, find an inspiration, and see things you can do when you reach your destination.