Castle Garth Keep and other Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom Things to Do Tips

Castle Keep is one of Newcastle's oldest buildings, as well as the city's name-sake. 2,000 years ago, a Roman fort occupied this area, but after the Romans departed Britain in the 5th century, the fort became a ruin. In 1080, the eldest son of William the Conqueror founded a new fortification to replace the Roman building, calling it his "new castle upon Tyne"--and then bingo!you have the city's name.

New additions and renovations have expanded the present structure since its conception in 1080, but nevertheless, a lot of the oringal structure (most of it from 1168) still stands. Much of its medieval aurora, like the coldness, sprial staircases, crampt quarters and tales of its turbulent past, remain for tourists in modernity.

This place is absolutely fascinating, and gives you insight into how military garrisons and members of monarchy and the aristocracy lived centuries before. You'll walk away and thank coincidence that you were born now and not then.

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Phone: 0191 232 7938
Directions: Down near Melbourne St. to the east of Central Station.
Website: www.s-h-systems.co.uk/tourism/newcastle/castle.htm

The number of bridges (all six of them unique from the other) crossing across the Tyne, connecting Newcastle with its southern portion that proceeds down to Gateshead, is a truly remarkable site.

The bridge that truly steals the show is the large green Tyne Bridge, which opened in 1928 by King George V. If for any reason you think the bridge looks familiar, it is: the bridge was built in the same style as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which incidently was built around the same time. Its sheer size and grandness makes it a very cool thing to see.

Nearby is the High Level Bridge. Although it doesn't look like much to us today, it has a very important past. Opened in 1849, this bridge was the first in the world that was both a road and railroad bridge.

The newest addition to the lot is the Millennium Bridge, built in the early 2000s, and looks like something straight from a Dr. Seuss book, making it a very unique sight as well as a interesting walk across. How many times do you get to cross a bridge where everything seems to bend?

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Address: Along the River Tyne, near Central Station.
Directions: All these bridges cross the Tyne, in the heart of the city. The river itself is close to Central Station