Gateshead: The Complete Guide

CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wilka Hudson

Gateshead is a large town in Tyne and Wear, England, on the southern bank of the River Tyne. It is located across the Tyne from Newcastle upon Tyne to which it is joined by seven bridges. Together they form the urban core of Tyneside. The town is known for its architecture, including the Sage Gateshead, the Angel of the North and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.

There has been a settlement on the Gateshead side of the River Tyne, around the old river crossing where the Swing Bridge now stands, since Roman times.

History of Gateshead

Gateshead: Early Beginnings

Gateshead’s history dates back to Roman times when it served as a small settlement. The town’s name is derived from the Old English “Gatesheaf,” meaning “goat’s head.”

Gateshead: Industrial Growth

In the 19th century, Gateshead experienced rapid industrial growth, becoming a hub for coal mining, shipbuilding, and engineering. The development of the railway further boosted its economy.

Gateshead: Modern Era

Today, Gateshead is known for its cultural landmarks and modern architecture, including the iconic Sage Gateshead and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.

Visiting Gateshead for the first time and wondering what are the top places to see in the city? In this complete guide, I share the best things to do in Gateshead on the first visit. To help you plan your trip, I have also included an interactive map and practical tips for visiting!

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This complete guide to Gateshead not only tells you about the very best sights and tourist attractions for first-time visitors to the city but also provide insights into a few of our personal favorite things to do.

This is a practical guide to visiting the best places to see in Gateshead and is filled with tips and info that should answer all your questions!

Sage Gateshead

Sage Gateshead is a concert venue and an international home for music and musical discovery, located in Gateshead on the south bank of the River Tyne, England. The venue which opened in 2004 is built of curved glass and stainless steel. It has two main stages of acoustic excellence, a 26-room music education centre, a […]

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Location: Sage Gateshead Sage St Mary's Square Gateshead NE8 2JR United Kingdom | Distance: 1.7km

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Visiting Sage Gateshead

BALTIC – Centre for Contemporary Art

CC BY-SA 2.0 / Jimmy McIntyre

The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art is a center for contemporary art located on the south bank of the River Tyne, England. It opened in 2002 in a converted flour mill, a landmark industrial building, and hosts changing programme of exhibitions and events, with no permanent exhibition. BALTIC is now a huge mustard-coloured art gallery […]

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Location: Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, South Shore Road, Gateshead, UK | Hours: 10am-6pm Wed-Mon, 10.30am-6pm Tue | Website | Distance: 1.9km

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Visiting BALTIC – Centre for Contemporary Art

Washington Old Hall

Public Domain / ProhibitOnions

Washington Old Hall is a manor house located in Washington Village, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom. It was the ancestral home of George Washington, the first President of the United States. Washington Old Hall is now operated by the National Trust. Visitors can explore the inside of the manor’s old Hall with its wood-panelled […]

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Location: The Avenue, Washington, England, NE38 7LE, United Kingdom | Hours: 10:00 - 17:00 | Website | Distance: 7.8km

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Visiting Washington Old Hall

Beamish

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Mjobling

Beamish Museum is an open-air museum located at Beamish, England. The museum’s, which is spread over 120 hectares, intends to preserve an example of everyday life in urban and rural North East England at the height of industrialization in the early 20th century.You can travel from the Georgian period of the 1820s to the pre-World […]

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Location: Beamish, the Living Museum of the North Regional Resource Centre Beamish DH9 0RG United Kingdom | Hours: 10am-5pm Easter-Oct, 10am-4pm Nov-Easter, closed Mon & Fri Jan–mid-Feb, last admission 3pm | Price: Adult/Child £19/11 | Website | Distance: 8.6km

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Visiting Beamish

Gibside

Gibside is an estate in the Derwent Valley with a 18th-century designed landscapes located in North East England. Gibside was created by one of the richest men in Georgian England, George Bowes. It is now a National Trust property and this 243-hectare (600-acre) estate once a pleasure ground for the Georgian elite, can now be […]

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| Price: Adult £12.00, Child £6.00, Family £30.00 | Website | Distance: 8.9km

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Visiting Gibside