“We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone“
Katie Thurmes
I was able to spend some time in this gorgeous northern city this past week. I only had a very short amount of time so here is Newcastle in 24 hours:
The Castle in Newcastle
Who knew there was a castle in Newcastle? Just south east of the train station you will find the remains of The Castle. The stone structure we see now was first built around 1172-1177 by King Henry II. King Henry III added the grand entrance named the “The Black Gate” around 1247-1250. This place is absolutely gorgeous. There is a small fee to pay to go inside, which we did not do this time but visiting even to walk around the grounds is worth it!
Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas
On the way to the Castle we passed the cathedral, first built in 1091. I was absolutely obsessed with the lantern spire that sits top of the building (this was later added in the 14th century.
Grey’s Monument
Heading north, we came across Grey’s Monument- a 135 foot tall column holding a statue of Lord Charles Grey. I have two fun facts with this one: 1.) Apparently, in 1941 a bolt of lightning knocked the head off of the statue but luckily was replaced in 1947 making the statue is no longer headless today. And 2.) Earl Grey is named after this man. How cool would it be to have an entire tea named after you. This monument and the area surrounding it was stunning. I realised I never got a chance to take a picture of the full monument because I was too busy taking pictures of it with the view behind it. The buildings that line Grey Street make up a breathtaking view.
Chinatown
We stayed just around the corner from Chinatown Newcastle. The historic Stowell Street is filled with vibrant restaurants and businesses. We ate at a restaurant called Mannaza tucked in an alley off the main road. The relaxed and cozy atmosphere paired with the amazing food made this experience one to remember.
Eldon Square Shopping Centre
Of course, we did a little shopping before heading home. Eldon Square Shopping Centre is such a nice mall with a variety of stores. We enjoyed a nice warm drink (tis the season) outside the centre where we found a war memorial monument surrounded by benches and grass area.
Although this visit was short, I really enjoyed Newcastle and look forward to visit again in the future! I received my timetable for this next term and needless-to-say, I am very excited to start studies again, especially with the prospect of in-person classes. I hope you all have an amazing week. Love and miss you all. xx
P.S find more info about the places I visited here:
newcastlegateshead.com/business-directory/things-to-do/greys-monument
Sierra Malone 
Thanks for the pics. Just love the ambiance of early European architecture. The similarities of the many beautiful cathedrals, castles, and town centers throughout Europe are incredible. I never tire of the imaginations they inspire.
You are so fortunate to have that epic era so close to explore. I can imagine COVID 2020 and beyond was terribly frustrating to deal with. Glad you are more able to explore Such beauty.
LikeLike