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The City

Newcastle was established as a defensive settlement along Hadrian’s Wall, built to guard England against the Scots more than 2,000 years ago. The city takes its name from a ‘new’ kind of castle that was constructed as part of the fortifications in the 1200s. Newcastle grew into a busy trading area for exports like wool and coal through its coastal connections and became the home of several Christian monasteries and nunneries.

Its bridges have come to symbolise the city, which stretch across the River Tyne to connect to Gateshead in the south. The most famous of which is the Tyne Bridge, which was opened by King George V in 1928. Although the city is one of the coldest in England - with an average low of seven Degrees Celsius - the 270,000 Geordie people of Newcastle are renowned for their hospitality as well as their baffling regional accent. The warmth and friendliness of this city could be one of the reasons why 42,000 students choose Newcastle as their home from home.

The City

The heart of the city or ‘the toon’, as it is commonly known by the Geordies, stretches inland a square mile from St Nicholas Cathedral near the Tyne Bridge to the university complexes on the outskirts. Eldon Shopping Centre is the major mall in the city and there is a busy train station and quayside.

Haymarket

Newcastle and Northumbria universities are beacons for the city’s cheap pubs, restaurants and clubs. Although it is mainly a business area, Haymarket is home to some of the city’s cultural attractions, such as the Northern Stage gallery and theatre, as well as to the city bus station, pool and civic centre. The Church of St Thomas the Martyr is a prominent landmark in the area.

Quayside

International students can find out more about Newcastle’s industry and many bridges that cross the River Tyne by visiting the Quayside. The up-market restaurants and bars provide stunning panoramas of the waterway as well as much of the city’s evening entertainment. A cycle route along the river takes bikers as far as Tynemouth and North Shields in the east to Hexham in the west.

Central Station

The Central Station area harbours the rail and coach connections in the city. It is also home to the entertainment venues that form part of Newcastle’s gay scene. Central Station attractions merge the old and the new, with Newcastle Cathedral reverberating from the Metro Radio Arena’s big gigs. Visitors can find the Discovery Museum and Journal Tyne Theatre here.

Grainger Town

International students will find bargains galore at Grainger Market, which was the largest under-cover market in Europe when it was opened in the 1830s. It mainly sells food, but hosts an arts and crafts fair once and month and is the new home of Newcastle fish market. Come here to stare at neo-classical architecture, which includes the Theatre Royal and Grey’s Monument.

Gallowgate

Much of the low-cost accommodation is located here, at St James Metro Station by Newcastle United Football Club ground. Some pubs and cafes are scattered around the vicinity, but it’s mainly a place for wholesome pursuits like tennis, bowling and basketball in Leazes Park that hosts Newcastle’s annual Green Festival.

The Universities

The city is home to two universities, Newcastle, which was created in 1963, and the former polytechnic Northumbria, which was formed later out of the city’s art, commerce, technology colleges.

Newcastle University teaches 3,300 students from 120 countries and ranks seventh in the world on the International Student Barometer for foreigners’ overall experience. It offers international students a range of support as well as a low cost of living and specialist societies. An in-house study showed international students chose Newcastle because of its reputation and quality.

Northumbria University advertises itself as a modern institution that guides students onto the next step on their career ladders. There is a 90 per cent course completion rate among more than 3,000 international students that enrol here, which has been attributed to the institution’s support services. The university also runs Erasmus student schemes.

Transport

The city centre is compact, so it is easy to walk around. For journeys outside the central business district there are several options available, which consist of the bus and underground metro, which link the universities to the train station and international airport. Newcastle International Airport flies to several destinations in Europe and offers connections elsewhere via London. It is 30 minutes away from the city centre by metro and is also connected to the city by bus.

The Metro is mapped out into zones ranging from one in the city centre to three on the outskirts. Special passes are available for students at a rate of £44 per month, which offers unlimited travel across all areas. For information go to a Nexus travel shop with proof of enrolment and a passport photo.

The other option for international students is a £189 term-time student bus card, available from Arriva, which can be used on services across the whole of the north east of England. Buying an annual ticket works out at £11 per week and congestion is kept to a minimum thanks to designated bus lanes. Haymarket Bus Station services generally head north of the city and buses from Eldon Square go south, while St James Boulevard coach station sells tickets further afield.

Newcastle Central Station is the hub for rail travel outside the city, principally using the East Coast Main Lane train track. Manors is the only other station in the city with limited services. There is a metro platform inside the station, bus stop and taxi rank for connections. Buying a young person’s railcard can slash train prices by a third. International students can check Traveline to plan their way around.

Food and drink

The student unions provide filling pit-stops for people on a budget, and the University of Newcastle manages to do so at the Global Cafe, Cochrane Lounge, Campus Coffee and Stone Willy’s using fair trade ingredients. Northumbria’s student union offers visitors the chance to surf the Internet while savouring flavours from four award-winning cafes. There’s a range of cheap eats on offer from breakfasts and burgers to wraps and deli-sandwiches. For a global gathering of gastronomic specialities head to the Quayside for Italian, Thai, Turkish, Indian food. Kublai Khan is an eat-as-much-as-you want Chinese and Mongolian buffet where punters choose the ingredients that are cooked fresh in the pan. Not bad for under £10. Portofino Italian restaurant is also low-priced, with main meals starting from £5.65. Chinatown by the sports ground provides a range of good value oriental dishes and buffets. Choose the cheapest of Lau's Buffet King’s 60 dishes and you will be rewarded with a £4.99 dish and a full belly.

The Crows Nest student pub near Haymarket metro station does two-for-the-price-of-one tummy-fillers and serves up live entertainment with its beer. Do not miss the traditional English roast dinners on Sundays that come in two and three courses. The Goose at the Garden is one of the largest pubs in the city and serves English pub grub from £5. For vegetarians, the Sky Apple cafe serves up English breakfast as part of its meat-free menu.

Things to do

People began settling in Newcastle around the same time as they did in London. To delve into the city’s rich history start at the Arebia Roman Fort and Museum, which has been created in a reconstructed Roman military base. Segedunum Roman Fort and Baths unearths another ancient site and provides a viewing platform so visitors can look out over the ruins. Woodhorn Colliery Museum reveals more of Newcastle’s industrial past free of charge, while admission to Newcastle United Museum is among the cheapest in the country at £4 for students. Watching Newcastle United is not as cheap as the museum, but students who can hear the roar of the crowd at St James’ Park from their accommodation in Gallowgate might be tempted by the discounted prices of £26 for university-goers, which are available by telephone or at the box office.

For other skilled arts, Newcastle has converted many old industrial structures into galleries. The Baltic centre for contemporary art is a vivid new addition to the Quayside and provides ever-changing exhibitions that are fresh, experimental and exciting. Add this to the traditional Laing Art Gallery, the works of co-operative 36 Lime Street and the modern Art Works Galleries and you have almost filled your Newcastle canvas.

Out on the Town

Newcastle nights are characterised by rum guys and girls queuing for ‘toon’ nightspots, wearing next to nothing whatever the weather. Get wise to this and wear a coat. The fact one in seven people living in Newcastle are students means there is plenty on offer in the way of discounted admission, cheap drinks and cut-price cloakrooms.

For impressive visiting performances, keep up-to-date with what’s on at the O2 Academy Newcastle on Westgate Road or the Metro Radio Arena Newcastle by central station.

As well as the bars along the Quayside, the Venue on Market Street offers nights to suit all. Expect everything from punk, rock and ska to live bands, salsa, indie and old school. Admission is discounted with a student card. For cheap prices, cheaper ale and very cheap pool choose the Hancock. It’s a favourite among students who want to listen to alternative music while catching up with their friends over a few drinks.

For house music check Shindig and for indie do not miss Bulletproof at the 02 Arena or the Other Rooms in the Centre for Life and StoneLove at Digital. Music fans can also increase the peace at Jazz Cafe for food, music and admission for £3.

Laugh off university lectures by making a date with the Hyena Comedy Cafe on Leazes Lane. It advertises itself as the ultimate one night stand. Entrance is expensive, but can be purchased with a two or three-course meal. A great place to visit for on a special occasion.

The Theatre Royal is an enticing architectural masterpiece from the outside, but it is what is inside that counts. Several theatre companies rest their laurels here on global tours, with recent productions including Blood Brothers and West Side Story.

Day Tripper

Trips across the River Tyne are made easier with discount travel cards that allow international students to explore the rest of the north east. For shopping, eating and cinema Sunderland’s Metrocentre is a mere half hour bus or metro ride away. The adjacent city, which is populated by Mackems opposed to by Geordies, has plenty of attractions including Herrington Country Park and Hylton Castle.

Whitley Bay paints a pretty picture of English coastal life before the arrival of big cities. The attractions are sparse, but the space is huge. Whitley is popular for its unpolluted beaches, Roman historical sites, lighthouse tavern and Wet n Wild water park. Check out The Spanish City fairground on the sea front, which is open during bank holidays and the weekends. The ice-rink and nightclubs are also favourites for tourists, especially the stag and hen party crowd.

Durham is less than an hour’s drive south down the motorway. Must-sees include the spectacular Durham Castle, which has survived the centuries to become annexed by the city’s university. The nearby cathedral is a pretty amazing tribute to Romanesque architecture too. Durham is also home to High Force, which is the largest waterfall in England and a perfect picnic spot in warm weather. How to make your life easier

As one in seven people are students, Newcastle nightlife can get busy and queues to get into nightclubs are common, so get in early to enjoy cut-price happy hours to the full. Shops and pharmacies are generally open from Monday to Friday from 09:00 until 17:00, but supermarkets are open later. Newcastle has several markets that sell cheap food and term-time travel passes could save students a fortune travelling to and from city centre stalls. Visit the free museums and galleries and take a trip outside the city to explore the coastal towns and cities further south on the cheap. International students should take their time getting to know some of the local Geordies, who make Newcastle such a charming place to stay.

Finding Student Accommodation in Newcastle

Here is a very quick guide to help you find your ideal student accommodation in Newcastle. First of all you should check out our student residences and our private student accommodation lisitings. Your next port of call should be to contact the university. If you are studying at Newcastle University their student accomodation website is http://www.ncl.ac.uk/accommodation/. The Durham University student accommodation webpage: http://www.dur.ac.uk/colleges/queens/type. The Northumbria University student accommodation website is here http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/brochure/facilities/acc/. 

 

 

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