Getting around Newcastle

[rmt4ever]

Hi. In a few weeks I am having a city break in Newcastle. I will be travelling from Berlin and have booked what looks like the simplest journey. Flying from Tegal to Doncaster, then train to Newcastle (there are no flights from Berlin to Newcastle) on the Friday. We are staying in Jesmond area, so upon arrival will goto the hotel check in and then probably go into the city to see the sights / have some dinner, drinks etc.

On Saturday we want to go to the Shields and use the ferry over to the other shields. Hoping there is some nice bars and stuff there by the river/sea. Then get the Metro back into the city again.

On the Sunday we will be going to Mass at the Cathedral and hopefully do a bit more exploring and want to try some craft beer bars and get a nice Sunday lunch in, before heading to the airport early evening for flight back to Heathrow.

Can anyone advise what ticket(s) are best for the journeys as above. And how easy these journeys are?

And any recommendations for other things to see/do in Newcastle??

Cheers

 

[317 forever]

You could get a Nexus Day Rover if you just plan to stay in Tyne & Wear to use buses, ferries and the Metro.

http://www.networkonetickets.co.uk/tickets/day-rover-tickets

If you want to go further such as to Durham or Morpeth, your best bet will be a North East Explorer.

http://www.networkonetickets.co.uk/tickets/explorer-tickets

 

[edwin_m]

Jesmond is easily accessible by Metro with all services passing through the two stations (confusingly West Jesmond is north of Jesmond) and serving all the other places you mention. Your hotel is probably on or near Osborne Road, in which case a bus may get you closer to it, but as the routes have no doubt changed since I lived there I can't offer any advice on which bus would be best.

It's a reasonably short walk into the centre from Jesmond, at least if you don't have luggage, but make sure you know in advance how to get across the central motorway (often visited by foreign highway engineers as an example of how not to do it) as it's possible to get very lost if you don't know the crossings.

 

[rmt4ever]

Jesmond is easily accessible by Metro with all services passing through the two stations (confusingly West Jesmond is north of Jesmond) and serving all the other places you mention. Your hotel is probably on or near Osborne Road, in which case a bus may get you closer to it, but as the routes have no doubt changed since I lived there I can't offer any advice on which bus would be best.

It's a reasonably short walk into the centre from Jesmond, at least if you don't have luggage, but make sure you know in advance how to get across the central motorway (often visited by foreign highway engineers as an example of how not to do it) as it's possible to get very lost if you don't know the crossings.

Thanks. Staying in the Holiday Inn which looks close to the Station at Jesmond.

When we arrive we will probably take the train from central station to Jesmond then back into town then back to the gaff later in the evening to retire. Should we just get singles for each of these three journeys ?

The furthest we want to go out is to the shields crossing the river by ferry on Saturday, and obviously just out to the airport on Sunday.

Is there come sort of 3 day travelcard that is good for the Metro system and Ferries? That would be perfect

Thanks

 

[MetroCar4058]

Hi. In a few weeks I am having a city break in Newcastle. I will be travelling from Berlin and have booked what looks like the simplest journey. Flying from Tegal to Doncaster, then train to Newcastle (there are no flights from Berlin to Newcastle) on the Friday. We are staying in Jesmond area, so upon arrival will goto the hotel check in and then probably go into the city to see the sights / have some dinner, drinks etc.
Cheers

I would use the Metro, this would be a Metro Daysaver (if you were to make more than one trip) in Zone A from Central to Jesmond, this would cost £2.80 per person or £1.70 for a single. The journey time is around 5 minutes and Central is served around every six minutes from Platform 2 towards Jesmond.

On Saturday we want to go to the Shields and use the ferry over to the other shields. Hoping there is some nice bars and stuff there by the river/sea. Then get the Metro back into the city again.

This would be best served by the Metro, this will cost £4.80 for an all zone daysaver and will cover you from Jesmond to South Shields and then your ferry journey and shuttle bus from North Shields to the station if you wish to take that. Trains to South Shields call at Platform 1 every 12 minutes, this journey will take around 30 minutes.

Jesmond Timetable: http://www.nexus.org.uk/fd?file=documents/metro/MT1212.A4.JES_.pdf

On the Sunday we will be going to Mass at the Cathedral and hopefully do a bit more exploring and want to try some craft beer bars and get a nice Sunday lunch in, before heading to the airport early evening for flight back to Heathrow.

For this, I would travel Jesmond - Central Station and then walk the short distance to the Cathedral, if you do go to the Ouseburn/Quayside for drinks you can use your Metro Daysaver zone A ticket to use the Quaylink buses.

On a Sunday, trains run to the Airport every 15 minutes, the journey from Central is around 25 minutes and 20 from Jesmond.

I hope you have a great time in Newcastle! For service information on the Metro, I would use http://www.nexus.org.uk/

Metro ticket info - http://www.nexus.org.uk/tickets?mode[]=45
Metro zone map - http://www.nexus.org.uk/sites/default/files/Metro Fare Zone map _13_1.pdf

 

[gordonthemoron]

I've stayed at Jesmond Holiday Inn and it's just a 5 minute walk to the Jesmond Metro station

 

[Tetchytyke]

Jesmond Holiday Inn is about a five minute walk from Jesmond metro. Turn right out of the station then left and follow the main road. It's about a 15-20 minute walk from the Haymarket, it is signposted as a cycle path these days. No buses run past the hotel, but plenty run along the parallel Sandyford Road.

When you arrive you'll be best off with a Zone A DaySaver, as you'll have bags.

A three-zone (ABC) Metro Daysaver is valid on the Shields Ferry, and on the shuttle bus from North Shields ferry terminal to the town centre. If you're going from North Shields it's not a bad walk down, but walking up the hill is less fun.

Don't forget the pubs in the Ouseburn.

 

[telstarbox]

The Free Trade Inn is a great pub for beer and views into the city.

You'll need to get a bus or taxi from Doncaster Airport to Doncaster station.

 

[Zamracene749]

There are lots of nice bars in both North Shields and South Shields. In S Shields I'd recommend the 'Steamboat' and the 'Alum Ale House', both close to the ferry landing. In N Shields, there are sadly no longer any pubs near the ferry landing, but in town I'd recommend 'The Oddfellows' or the 'Magnesia Bank', at the fish quay I'd try the 'Low Lights' tavern.
There are a couple of canny restaurants on the fish quay, alternatively, if you can be bothered to walk along to Ocean Road in S Shields there are lots of well established curry houses- this is one of the oldest areas in the UK where curry has been sold due to settlling Asian seamen in the 1900s!

Newcastle has many fine bars and food outlets, if u want to try probably the best pint of real ale in town I'd recommend the 'Split Chimp' micropub in the arches behind the station, then the 'Crown Posoda' and the 'Bridge Hotel', also as already mentioned the 'Free Trade' and 'Cumberland Arms' in the Ouseburn area.

Enjoy your stay in the 'Toon'

PS for craft beer, cocktails and nice food 'Pleased To Meet You' is canny on High Bridge street too.....

 

[rmt4ever]

Dear All

Thanks for the help and tips, that sounds great.

As for tickets I think the best thing would be if we buy the zone 1 ticket at £2.80 each on the Friday. Then Saturday and Sunday get the all zone ticket for £4.80 each which will be good for the ferry service on Saturday and out to the airport on Sunday.

Are these tickets deffo valid on the bus between the ferry port and station at North Shields? It doesn't mention anything on the website about this.

Similarly, someone mentioned we can take it from central area to Quayside, would our £2.80/£4.80 ticket be valid on this bus as there is no mention of this either..

It has to be one of the most confusing transport websites I have come across lol.

Really looking forward to Newcastle now

 

[Tetchytyke]

Are these tickets deffo valid on the bus between the ferry port and station at North Shields? It doesn't mention anything on the website about this.

Valid ferry tickets are valid on the 333 (not the 19) between North Shields ferry landing and the town centre. An all-zones Metro DaySaver is a valid ferry ticket.

Similarly, someone mentioned we can take it from central area to Quayside, would our £2.80/£4.80 ticket be valid on this bus as there is no mention of this either.

Metro DaySaver tickets are not valid on Quaylink, which is the service from Newcastle city centre to the Quayside and Gateshead or the Ouseburn. A Quaylink day saver for the central area (Newcastle and Gateshead centres, Ouseburn, Quayside) is £2.30.

 

[mad_rich]

You've already had a recommendation for the Free Trade, which I'd second. There are a lot of excellent pubs in the Ouseburn Valley, which runs from Byker Bridge to the River Tyne.

Start at The Cumberland Arms (excellent beer and often music or comedy), work your way down to the Cluny (live music), the Tyne (lovely beer garden) and the aforementioned Free Trade.

If you like craft ale, there is a Brewdog pub on Grey Street. You can catch the Quaylink not far from the Tyne or just walk along the Quayside and up Grey Street.

I find the Jesmond bars a bit characterless, but there's no shortage on Osborne Road.

Really no need to get the Metro into town from the Holiday Inn - you'll be at Newcastle Uni in ten minutes and at Momument in 20 - but if you have a ticket anyway, and you're walking the metro station...

 

[rmt4ever]

Hello everyone. Returned from Newcastle yesterday. Firstly, Doncaster airport is a bloody dream compared to Heathrow. Berlin terminal D, on the other hand, is a 3rd world shack! There are literally no airside facilities except one little shop and tiny bar. A stark contrast to last time I flew out of TXL with BA in business class... But never mind.

The flight was on time and had the whole front row exclusively, as it was a pretty quiet flight and I had paid extra for row 1. Because it was so quiet I had my own hostess almost refreshing me drinks and snacks. (It wasn't as nice as the BA experience though when I had to pay the £30-odd bill at the end of the flight, but hey ho!).
After touch down, I was first out and my bag was the second on the conveyor. Immigration took about 5 seconds and was in a cab within 5 minutes ! So quick it was unbelievable.

Anyway in Newcastle we headed to the underground at the station from the train. There was no ticket office or anything which was disappointing, but a barrier attendant helped with the machines and went into an office to get us a map of the system (you would have thought these would be available in the ticket hall for tourists not familiar with the system).

It was quick and easy to get around on the underground. The trains were frequent-ish. I felt sorry for the drivers ! The cab they have to sit in is like a tiny wardrobe, I am amazed the unions let that one happen. Trams have bigger cabs!

At the station near our hotel, Jesmond, it was a really poor show. There was NEVER a member of staff to be seen. The gates were always fully open. No attendants or ticket office there either. I just dread to think what would happen if there was an assault or even worse train de-railment or similar.

Anyway it was a good weekend, despite terrible weather on Friday and Saturday, and enjoyed a good few pubs including the recommendations given above I enjoyed the City and the Church service at the Cathedral was so lovely. We also visited the Castle which was fun and got some great views of the city from up the top.

One thing I noticed was that hardly any of the pedestrian crossings worked! When pressing the button, hardly any of them work and illuminate the 'wait' light- it just remained blank. So ended up often taking life into our hands and just going.

The underground was easy to the airport yesterday. Again a very quick airport, no queue for check in or security. Enjoyed the bars and restaurants in the terminal before getting on a very busy and full flight to LHR T5. There were loads of passengers wearing green London Irish tops. Luckily I had already secured my emergency leg room seat a week previously.

Overall really enjoyed it and would visit again, but it was a shame about the lack of staff on the underground, or that we could not buy weekend tickets or tickets from the machines for the next day. Even the Airport station was unmanned! When I was coming out there was some oriental tourists who had obviously bought their tickets on the machine, and because it was unmanned the barriers were open, they were trying to insert their paper ticket thinking they needed to validate before travelling. Nobody to help at an airport station in a tourist city is pretty poor!

 

[jkkne]

You struck unlucky with Jesmond, due to the nearby private school and large number of students, it's always manned Monday to Friday, rarely on the weekend because footfall doesn't justify it. It's barely used.

The Metro isn't really a tourist system so outside of the main central stations, it's not manned because again, demand isn't there. Most users are commuters. Until a few years ago there were no barriers and indeed most stations are still barrier free. Newcastle is a very small 'major' city and most tourists tend to stay within the centre itself. It's probably not clear but there are help points at all stations.

Re-traffic crossings. Just because the Wait light doesn't illuminate, doesn't mean it's not working, it just means the bulb is out. Same story in most UK cities

 

[Tetchytyke]

None of the Metro stations have ticket offices, they never have, though some of the bigger stations do have a Nexus travel shop for advice and help (though they don't sell day Metro tickets). The underground stations are staffed, although not necessarily visibly- and Jesmond is an underground station- but nearly all the above ground stations are not staffed. Jesmond's barriers are switched on at peak times, especially when the private schools in Jesmond are starting and finishing, but are switched off the rest of the time as the station is very quiet.

The Metro is primarily a commuter service and commuters already know how to get around the system. The machines are a lot better than they were- until about five years ago, the ticket machines didn't take cards and didn't take notes. It's no different to London Underground really, which also doesn't have ticket offices anymore.

Glad you enjoyed the city. Austerity is taking its toll up here though, hence why the lightbulbs in the traffic signals are not getting replaced. The signals are working, it's just that the bulb has blown.