One of the things people most associate with Newcastle after its engineering and sometimes chilly climate is its pubs and nightlife. When I created my first pub tour here, as with London, it became obvious there were just too many interesting old pubs to fit into one tour. In the U.K. Newcastle is often depicted… Continue reading My new Get Carter inspired Newcastle-Gateshead Pub Tour
Category: Northumberland and Durham
Posts predominantly related to Northumberland and County Durham
The Newcastle – Gateshead High Level Bridge
There are so many good bridges in Newcastle, it’s almost a city defined by its bridges and certainly its most famous one is a symbol of the city. I wrote last year on another pioneering bridge across the Tyne in the link below but my favourite bridge here is actually the one I;m writing about… Continue reading The Newcastle – Gateshead High Level Bridge
William Campbell – The Heaviest Man In The World
I have spent the last few days creating a few new tours in Newcastle, two of which are historic pub themed tours. Whilst deciding upon which pubs to visit I was reminded of a fascinating if I think tragic story behind the landlord of the Duke of Wellington Pub in High Bridge. William Campbell was… Continue reading William Campbell – The Heaviest Man In The World
John Clayton – The man who planted the most famous tree in the world!
Not many people have heard of John Clayton but most of us have enjoyed his farsighted benevolence even if from a distance. There is a saying that a person is truly generous when they plant a tree that they will never live to see mature. If that is the case then there are few better… Continue reading John Clayton – The man who planted the most famous tree in the world!
Remembering the felled tree at Sycamore Gap
I wasn’t sure what I would post today. I have lots of material but some of them are quite in depth and take an hour or three to write and the busy summer tourist season in London shows no sign of ending. Sadly a few days ago something happened in the news that made my… Continue reading Remembering the felled tree at Sycamore Gap
St Mary’s Lighthouse
For people who live in the U.K. St Mary’s Lighthouse is one that lots of people know if they don’t realise it due to its rugged though photogenic location, it is often featured on photos depicting spectacular sunrises and stormy seas. The rocky, tidal sandstone outcrop 2½ miles north of Whitley Bay, known as St Mary’s… Continue reading St Mary’s Lighthouse
In the footsteps of Stan Laurel
Whilst out and about on Tyneside, I wanted to visit a little spot that I’d never got to make it to previously, the one time home of Stan Laurel, one half of that legendary comedy duo of a century ago, Laurel and Hardy. Like myself, Stan was born in Cumbria and moved to Newcastle at… Continue reading In the footsteps of Stan Laurel
The Lit & Phil Library in Newcastle
In a rather unassuming building close to the central station is a place I’ve wanted to visit for many years but have always been too busy. The Lit & Phil is Newcastle’s exquisite independent library, open to all and free to explore and browse. Founded in 1793, its purpose-built library opened in 1825 on Westgate… Continue reading The Lit & Phil Library in Newcastle
The Newcastle-Gateshead Swing Bridge
Last week to get away for a change of scene, I went to spend a few days in my childhood city of Newcastle Upon Tyne, to meet an old friend and some new ones who made an epic 12 hour return car journey to drop off food for me during the height of Covid and… Continue reading The Newcastle-Gateshead Swing Bridge
The monument to Admiral Collingwood
Everyone knows of the famous Battle of Trafalgar and the great old HMS Victory which you can visit with Ye Olde England Tours when life gets back to normal. I think it is perhaps the best day out! Trafalgar Square is of course known around the world along with Nelsons Column which I take so many… Continue reading The monument to Admiral Collingwood
Stephen Liddell 