Discover the delights of the North East, as NewcastleGateshead Initiative explains what’s drawing conferences to the region.
NewcastleGateshead and North East England is a place packed full of adventure. Our dramatic coastlines, tranquil countryside and vibrant towns and cities are all within 30 minutes of each other – so you can go from sunrise paddleboarding in King Edwards Bay, to rambling across ancient history at UNESCO World Heritage Site Hadrian’s Wall to world-class shopping and dining at the iconic Fenwick luxury department store, all in the same 24 hours.
Connected by the largest and busiest light rail system outside of London, the Tyne and Wear Metro and the recently awarded ‘Best Airport in the World’ Newcastle International, getting around is easy with direct air, rail, land and sea connections from London, Europe and further afield – including regular direct flights to and from Dubai with Emirates. Our towns and cities are bursting with fun, but compact enough to get round easily via all kinds of travel allowing you to travel sustainably and conveniently night and day.
The area is known for its eclectic event spaces, from castles to dedicated conference centres, to unique quirky venues and top-notch hotels. Take time to recharge after a busy conference or meeting with one of our carefully created experiences on our regional booking platform Newadventures.org.uk like a culinary adventure in the UK’s oldest dining rooms at Blackfriars or stare in wonder at the night’s sky on an astronomical Dark Skies evening in Northumberland.
Soak up cutting edge contemporary art at the internationally renowned BALTIC, stroll through centuries of history at Durham Cathedral or take in a show direct from the West End at one of the largest theatres outside of London, the magnificent Sunderland Empire. And don’t forget our famous Geordie nightlife – with a mix of bars, pubs, late cafes, restaurants and clubs to dine and dance the night away. For a spot more culture, surround yourself with the enchanting sounds of the Royal Northern Symphonia at the iconic Glasshouse International Centre for Music or visit lively grassroots music venues which have nurtured music superstars Sam Fender and Sting.
If you’re a film and TV buff, walk in the footsteps of Hollywood A-Listers as you wander through iconic film locations like Alnwick Caste (the home of Harry Potter) and Beamish Open Air Museum – a regular feature in hit ITV drama Downton Abbey. Take in one of Europe’s most beautiful streets – Grey Street – with its stunning sandstone architecture and quaint pavement cafes and restaurants doubling for Paris in the Transformers film franchise or discover the dramatic locations used for crime series Vera in all corners of the North East.
The region is also home to world-class sport, from the famous roar of St James’ Park, home to Newcastle United to thrilling international cricket at the Riverside International Cricket Ground in Chester-le- Street – there’s always a sporting fixture to get swept up in or an exhilarating event space to nook.
And when it comes to settling in for the night, our unrivalled range of accommodation to suit every budget ranges from glamping under the stars in the tranquil countryside to luxury 5-star retreats in the heart of the city.
An unforgettable adventure, with our famed North Eastern welcome awaits you here.