Newcastle

Newcastle is regarded as the capital of the North East of England. It is a lively, compact, modern and cosmopolitan city, located on one of the North's major rivers, the Tyne. Whatever your interests, the city has something to offer you. 

Getting Around

Newcastle is a compact city and is easy to travel around. The University is situated in the city center and most of the city is within a 15-minute walking distance. Most of the Loyola Center accommodations are just a short walk to campus and the city center. Newcastle also has a modern underground Metro system, linking the city center to the suburbs and the coast. Newcastle International Airport offers flights to the U.K., Ireland, Europe, and beyond. Students have easy access to the rest of the country by road, rail, and air, with London only three hours away by train and Edinburgh only one and a half hours by train. 

Shopping

Eldon Square and Northumberland Street are the two main shopping areas within the city center and are busy, vibrant places with lots of choice. There are also several traditional markets, both in the city center itself (on the Quayside) and in the nearby suburb of Jesmond and the coastal village of Tynemouth. One of Europe’s largest indoor shopping and leisure center, the Metrocentre in Gateshead, is also just a short bus ride away. In addition to more than 300 shops, there are numerous restaurants and entertainment outlets.

Entertainment

Newcastle is home to the Metro Radio Arena which regularly hosts some of the biggest names in international music, including Rihanna, Katy Perry, John Legand, and many more. The city’s three other music venues, O2 Academy, Sage Gateshead, and Newcastle City Hall, offer a variety of genres and music styles. There are also three cinemas in the city showing the latest Hollywood blockbusters and independent films from around the world.

Food and Drink

Newcastle has a diverse array of restaurants offering foods from around the world. It is also home to Chinatown, one of the most popular areas to eat, with many all-you-can-eat buffets and takeout restaurants, suitable for all budgets. The city is also home to Greek, Indian (a British favorite), Italian, Japanese, Lebanese, Mexican, Persian, Spanish, Thai, Turkish, and Vietnamese restaurants. In Newcastle there is something for every palate. 

Sports

Newcastle United is one of the most famous soccer (football in the U.K.) teams in the country, playing in the Premier League. On game days, more than 50,000 fans come into the city for the game at St. James' Park. The soccer fame of Newcastle doesn’t stop with the home team, though. In 2012 it was also host to some of the Olympic Games, drawing people from around the world and creating a truly international atmosphere.

The city is also home to the rugby union team, the Newcastle Falcons, and one of the most successful basketball teams in the country, the Newcastle Eagles. There is also an international athletics stadium in Gateshead and the Durham County Cricket Club plays home games at Emirates International Cricket Ground in nearby Chester-Le-Street.

The city's sporting personality also extends to campus, where students have the opportunity to participate both in intramural and non-competitive sports.

Culture

The city has a fantastic choice of museums and art galleries. The BALTIC Centre of Contemporary Art on the Quayside offers regular exhibitions in modern art, as well as stunning views of the city from its outdoor viewing platform. The Laing Art Gallery displays a variety of historic, modern, and contemporary art and sculpture.

The University also has its own art gallery on campus, the Hatton Gallery. Newcastle University is the lead partner in the Great North Museum: Hancock, which is located next to campus. The museum offers visitors the chance to see its large-scale interactive model of Hadrian’s Wall, a planetarium, and a scale replica of a T-Rex dinosaur skeleton. For science enthusiasts, The Life Science Centre is the biggest science exhibition in the North of England.

The Theatre Royal hosts plays, musicals, and concerts, including visits from the Royal Shakespeare Company and West End musicals. There is also Northern Stage on the University campus, the Mill Volvo Tyne Theatre, and Live Theatre.

Take a tour of the city or watch a video, and read the Newcastle Student Guide to see what Newcastle has to offer.  You can also see pictures from a recent student's experience.