While Newcastle’s status as a truly cosmopolitan city is to be celebrated, sometimes it’s good to immerse yourself in all things English, and with St George’s Day coming up this weekend, we thought we’d walk you through some suggestions on how to spend an excellent day in the city.
Early Morning – Start Your Day With a Full English
A traditional full English breakfast
Can you think of a more quintessential St George's Day activity than chowing down on a full English breakfast? There are tonnes of places in Newcastle to get a hearty full English with all the trimmings - bacon, beans, eggs, mushrooms, sausage, tomatoes and some toast to soak it up with. Head to Quay Ingredient on Queen Street for a classic full English that comes with black pudding and optional extras like hash browns, or venture across the street to Queens Cafe where you'll find a flavoursome, no-frills full English plus "Belly Buster" and vegetarian options too. Blake's on Grey Street is another great option and offers a basic full English, a veggie-friendly version and a breakfast stottie crammed with all the full English classics.
Late Morning – Soak Up Some History and Culture in the City
The magnificent Grey's Monument
What better way to mark St George's Day than exploring some of our historic city's most iconic cultural venues and landmarks? Explore Tyneside's rich industrial and maritime history at the Discovery Museum on Blandford Square, or head to Westgate Road and stop by The Lit & Phil which is the largeset independent library in the UK outside of London and home to the first-ever public room lit by electricity. Alternatively, why not take a walk up Grey Street and marvel at the magnificent Grey's Monument, built to commemorate locally-born 19th century prime minister Charles Grey. Book a tour of the landmark with Newcastle City Guides and you can even hike it to the top and take in breath-taking views of the city and beyond.
Lunchtime – Enjoy a Hearty Pub Lunch
The delicious pies served at Redhouse
The pub is a British institution and Newcastle is home to several serving up delicious pub grub perfect for celebrating St George's Day. Elevated pub food like beer-battered haddock and spicy black pudding dominate the menu at The Broad Chare while Quayside eatery Redhouse serves up tasty pies teamed with mash and peas that are perfect washed down with a pint or two of its many cask ales. Any St George's Day trip to the city wouldn't be complete without stopping by Newcastle's oldest pub The Old George Inn which dishes up planety of beefy burgers and refreshing craft ales.
Afternoon – Enjoy a Classic Afternoon Tea
Cafe 21's delightful afternoon tea
If pub grub and huge breakfasts aren't your thing (or if you're still hungry!), why not try a quintessentially English afternoon tea on St George's Day? Cafe 21 in Fenwick serves up one of the most popular afternoon teas in town with a selection of sandwiches, scones and hand-made pastries and the option to upgrade to champagne. Alternatively, head to 3SIXTY at the top of Hadrian's Tower for an afternoon tea that's elevated in more ways than one to enjoy panoramic views and options that include classic, kids' and vegan versions. For something a little bit different, The Vermont Hotel offers a gentleman's afternoon tea featuring fare like burgers, fries and scotch eggs.
Evening – Take a St George's Day Tour of Newcastle Castle
St George's Day Twilight Tours at Newcastle Castle
Newcastle Castle has the perfect event to top off your day with its St George's Day-themed twilight tours of the iconic fortress. Explore the Castle after hours and wander ancient halls where medieval knights once roamed as tour guides regale you with tales of the landmark's colourful history. They're offering two St George's Day Twilight Tours on Sunday 23rd April at 6pm and 8pm and tickets cost just £15.
Hopefully we've given you some inspiration on how to celebrate St George's Day in Newcastle, no matter the time of day. So, what will you choose? Let us know what you get up to and don't forget to tag @NewcastleNE1 in your snaps on Instagram!
