Day-time in Newcastle Gateshead
Shopping
North Easterners have a canny eye for the original, and value for money. This is reflected in the astonishing range of shops and boutiques. Both Eldon Square in Newcastle City Centre and MetroCentre in Gateshead have big high-street names and major department stores. The MetroCentre’s new red mall will again re-instate the centre as the largest in Europe.
Designer label lovers should head for the shops in Princess Square in the heart of the city, and in the side streets you’ll find individual boutiques for picking up that one-off bargain.
Why not buy some original art? The Biscuit Factory is Europe’s biggest centre for original art. Prices for original paintings, photographs, drawings, sculpture, glass and furniture range from £20 to £20,000. Or try Art Works and David Welsh Gallery, both are studios and galleries. You can also pick up some wonderful handmade jewellery, pottery, glass and card in small outlets throughout the city.
If you like the hustle and bustle of markets try the covered Grainger Market, full of all sorts of goodies, the farmers market in Grainger Town (on the first Friday of every month) or the local craft market on Armstrong Bridge on Sundays.