Best Things to Do in Newcastle

Newcastle United Football Club's home is St James' Park, one of the biggest stadiums in the UK. It's well worth taking a stadium tour as well as getting tickets for a match. You can also go on the Roof Top Tour, which gives you views across the area.

The Great North Run, a half marathon, winds it's way from Newcastle, across the Tyne Bridge and into Gateshead before finishing in South Shields after 13.1 miles. It takes place in September, and thousands of people cheer the runners on during the televised race.

The Metro Centre has hundreds of stores to visit, as well as an IMAX cinema, bowling alley and other children's play areas. It's sister venue, Eldon Square, is in the centre of town, but if you like your shopping with a bit more history - visit the ornate Fenwicks. Opened in 1882, it's now one of the UK's leading department stores.

Newcastle Brown Ale is one of the city's most famous exports, even though its no longer brewed in the city. The Northumberland version of Potato Dauphinoise, Pan Haggerty, is worth trying, especially in winter, and you can follow that up with the savoury Pease Pudding for desert. The latter goes well with another local classic, Stotties, which are the north east version of flat bread.

House of Tides has a Michelin star and atmospheric location, but TV chef Kenny Atkinson and his locally sourced ingredients are the main attraction. Another restaurant with a historic location is Blackfriars Restaurant and Banquet Hall, a 13th century medieval friary, you can go for a normal dinner, or try their Medieval Banquet Menu - where they really go to town. Cafe 21 serves up bistro-style food in the Quayside, and Newcastle also has a decent Chinatown.

On your way home, pop into The Centurion pub at the station. You can have a pint in the converted former first class lounge - the tiling alone is worth nearly £4 million. The Bodega has a Victorian long bar to order your drink at, and it's sister pub, Fitzgeralds, won the CAMRA Pub of the Year 2016. If you want to try some local beers at source, visit the Wylam Brewery, which is in the Palace of Arts - you can also book a tour on Saturdays.

The Botanist at Monument Mall has a lovely terrace, with twinkly lighting at night. Tokyo cocktail bar has both an indoor and outdoor roof terrace to sip a mojito on. Tucked out the way is The Forth, who's small rooftop terrace is a cheeky little suntrap. The Bridge Hotel has an outdoor terrace over the River Tyne, as does the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead.

The area's maritime, scientific and technological breakthroughs are the main focus at the free Discovery Museum. There's a Great Hall on the fourth floor with an Art Deco ceiling and wood panelling. The Live Science Centre is part of a self-sustaining science village and you can easily spend half a day exploring all the different zones. You can do proper experiments, experience the 4D Motion Ride and young children even have their own special zone to get them into science from the start.

Seven Stories - The National Centre for Children's Books was set up to preserve the UK's rich heritage in producing stories specifically for children. It houses many authors personal archives, including Judith Kerr, who wrote and illustrated The Tiger Who Came to Tea, and the Mog the Cat series.

Beamish open air living museum is about half an hour drive from the city centre. Taking you from the 1820s up to the 1940s, you can a 1940s farm, a 1900s Pit Village and a Georgian area, and try food and drink from the past.

Gateshead's Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, was once a flour mill and is now one of the biggest contemporary arts venues in the world. They don't have permanent collections, so whenever you visit there will be a different exhibition, artist or event going on. The Biscuit Factory was once a Victorian warehouse and now is the largest art, craft and design gallery in the UK. Founded in 1901 by a local alcohol entrepreneur,  The Laing Art Gallery is the place to see British oil paintings, watercolours, silver and glassware. Another local businessman, this time a solicitor, donated his collection to create The Shipley Art Gallery.

The vast Town Moor stretches from Gosforth in the north down to the city centre. It's been the venue for festivals in the city since the 18th Century and hosts The Hoppings - Britain's largest travelling fair - every June for around a week. Saltwell Park has everything a Victorian park should have: majestic formal gardens, wild woodland, a boating lake and maze, as well as more modern stuff - a play park and sports facilities.

You can hire a cycle and ride around the area at The Cycle Hub. There's a cafe, workshop and bike hire place. You can download cycle routes - although at 62 miles long, the Hell of the North-East might not be for everyone.

Geordies are renowned for having funny bones - just ask Ross Noble or Sarah Millican. The Stand Comedy Club is a good place to start - there's something going on most evenings, with Wednesdays being the turn of new local acts trying out gags, while over the weekend you'll see more seasoned names.

You can see all the major stadium acts at the Utilita Arena - the largest concert venue in the North East. Sage Gateshead on the Quayside is famous in its own right with its curved steel and glass roof. On a much smaller scale, The Cluny in Ouseburn Valley is a great live music venue for local bands. A short walk away on the riverside is The Tyne Bar, which has a huge outdoor area by the water. It's got a free jukebox for when it doesn't have free live music.

The historic Theatre Royal in Grainger Town is one of the few Grade I listed theatres left in England. Another Grade I listed venue is the Tyne Theatre & Opera House which still has wooden stage machinery operating. This opulent building shows opera, musicals and comedy gigs as well.

Jacobean splendour can be found at Bessie Surtees House on the Quayside. Saltwell Towers (1842) is a glorious mish-mash of French, Elizabethan and Gothic styles and was built by a stained glass manufacturer.

Just south of the city, The Tanfield Railway lays claim to being the oldest in the world. Visit for a ride on a steam train, you can even have afternoon tea on certain days. The Bowes Railway Museum is run by volunteers (Tues-Sun) and also holds special open weekends throughout the year.

• If you're travelling by train, Newcastle Central Station is right in the middle of the city centre. It only takes around three hours to travel there from London by train. 
• You can also fly - Newcastle Airport has flights to and from 80 destinations, and it takes 30 minutes by train or metro to and from Newcastle. 
• If you want to get around the city's neighbourhoods - they have a Metro system, as well as buses to get you from A to B - a cheaper alternative for travelling in the city centre.