Newcastle, Gateshead, and the surrounding area offers event planners an attractive mix of heritage, innovation, and value.
When it comes to hosting events in the North, Newcastle and Gateshead are increasingly catching the attention of event organisers seeking a destination that delivers value, substance, and character. Although the region offers some of the UK’s most competitive delegate rates – it’s also location with genuine depth and distinction, where tranquil countryside and award-winning coastlines sit within minutes of vibrant city centres.
Connectivity is unlikely to be a cause for concern. Newcastle International Airport serves over 80 destinations worldwide, including direct flights to Dubai, Paris, Amsterdam, and London, while daily ferry services from the Port of Tyne provide links to mainland Europe. For domestic delegates, the city is readily accessible for attendees travelling from across the UK. Delegates benefit from the country’s busiest light rail system outside London and the Metro connects Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, North Tyneside, and South Tyneside, offering straightforward transport between venues, hotels, and attractions without the congestion typical of larger cities.
The region presents over 20,000 accommodation options from budget hotels through to five-star properties, providing planners with flexibility across different event scales and delegate budgets. Accommodation and catering costs per delegate typically rank among the most competitive in the UK.
Four universities – Newcastle, Northumbria, Durham, and Sunderland – collectively serve 100,000 students annually, creating a substantial pool of research expertise and innovation and excellent conference facilities. The region demonstrates particular strength in medical sciences, offshore and marine technology, digital innovation, and sustainability – sectors which are rich with relevant content and networking opportunities.
The region that pioneered the steam train and light bulb continues to foster innovation, providing authentic and inspiring stories to weave into conference themes and the choice of venues offered goes far beyond the conventional. Durham Cathedral provides a UNESCO World Heritage setting, while The Glasshouse International Centre for Music – home to the Royal Northern Sinfonia and the first venue outside London to host BBC Proms – offers exceptional acoustics alongside stunning architecture.
The Fire Station in Sunderland, the Boiler Shop in Newcastle, and the further afield The Alnwick Garden in Northumberland and Spanish City in Whitley Bay represent just a few of the distinctive spaces available across the area. These purpose-developed spaces retain individual personality while delivering modern event infrastructure.
Back in the city, the Newcastle Gateshead Quayside provides an accessible focal point for after work, with seven bridges including the iconic Tyne and Millennium crossings framing a waterfront packed with independent restaurants, bars, and cultural venues. The BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art – housed in a converted flour mill – offers ever-changing exhibitions and a rooftop restaurant with panoramic city views.
For those seeking experiences beyond typical delegate programmes, its £5 billion visitor economy supports diverse experiences from kayaking on the River Tyne to stargazing in Northumberland’s internationally recognised dark sky zone. Other options range from descending into the Victoria Tunnel beneath Newcastle’s streets to climbing at Ouseburn Valley’s climbing centre or simply exploring Jesmond Dene’s woodland trails minutes from the city. The historic Grainger Market, operating since 1835 in its Grade I listed building, provides an atmospheric setting for artisan food and independent retail.
Cultural tourism specialists offer curated experiences showcasing the region’s independent food scene, while stadium tours at St. James’ Park tap into the city’s football heritage.
Perhaps the region’s strongest asset is its famed Northern hospitality. More than just marketing hyperbole, it’s a genuine cultural characteristic that event feedback consistently highlights. From venue staff to local encounters, accessibility and friendliness create an atmosphere that delegates remember.
Newcastle and Gateshead present a developed and sophisticated event destinations that have moved beyond simply offering the basic to create memorable delegate experiences without compromising on practical requirements or budget parameters.
Destination North East England’s convention bureau provides practical support for event organisers, from initial planning through to delegate experience suggestions.
conventionbureau@ngi.org.uk
Destinationnortheastengland.co.uk