Newcastle Highlights
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Port
Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom
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Activity Level
Easy
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Excursion Type
Local Sightseeing,All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$89
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
3½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
The city of Newcastle takes its name from the new castle built by Robert Curthose, eldest son of William the Conqueror. Surrounded by medieval town walls, Newcastle was a great provincial center that grew rich on trade in wool, cloth, fish and hides and prospered further after the discovery of the rich coal seams here in the 1600s.
Your panoramic tour of the city center reveals signs of the history and innovation for which Newcastle is well known. You will pass some of the elegant buildings built during the city's Victorian heyday, including the monument to the Liberal Prime Minister Earl Grey, who was responsible for the Great Reform Bill and also gave his name to the famous tea.
Watch for the delightful Theatre Royal as well as remnants of the city walls and castle. From the quayside, take in views of the city's historic bridges, including the magnificent Tyne Bridge opened by King George V in 1928. This bridge was the prototype for the more famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. Its two-pin steel arch was the longest of its type in Britain, with a span of 531 feet.
Take advantage of some free time to explore the city further or perhaps indulge in some shopping.
Reboarding the coach, you'll head out of the city for a photo stop at the Angel of the North -- a wonderful steel sculpture with wings the size of a jet plane. It completely dominates the surrounding area.
Travel back to the ship, passing through countryside that was once one of the world's most productive coal mining areas.