Newport Transporter Bridge and other Newport, United Kingdom Things to Do Tips

Probably Newport's most interesting and quirky attraction is the transporter bridge over the River Usk...

Built in 1906, it is an aerial ferry able to transport people and cars across the river without obstructing shipping to what was a very busy port back then.

There are thought to be about ten transporter bridges left in the world and of these about half a dozen are still operational, with the Newport one being the largest and most impressive example remaining.

It is such an impressive structure and novel solution to an engineering conundrum and great to travel on - especially as it is FREE for foot passengers, or a piddling 50p if you're driving...

Every so often (this Aug 30th), they do a bridge climb where you climb the 75m structure and walk across the top for a mere £2 (Eat your heart out Sydney Harbour Bridge!) and at night the bridge is floodlit...

There is a fascinating little visitor centre that is also free which includes a video about its history. Also here are plenty of souvenirs such as mugs and pins etc which I recommend you buy as the bridge has been operating at a financial loss ever since it opened (almost 100 yrs!), and with the New Bridge due to open just upstream it will have to rely more and more on tourist revenues and charities for its future...

The old guys that run the bridge are a hoot and I spent ages chatting with a couple of them and joking around with the cheerful banter.

A month ago I never knew it even existed, now it is one of my favourite bridges of all time! :-)

(I'm planning on doing the bridge climb, and getting a decent full length pic and night time pic in the future...)

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Phone: +44 (0) 1633 250322
Address: Usk Way
Directions: Due south of the city centre, follow the river and you can't miss it!
Website: http://www.newport.gov.uk/_dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=thingstosee.transporter

"A cross between a cuckoo clock and an expresso machine - the only white knuckle clock in the world!"

Situated in John Frost square is a crazy tongue in cheek updated copy of those old mediaeval clocks with the animated skeletons and stuff (I know there is a proper term for those kinds of clock but I can't remember it offhand!) entitled 'In the Nick of Time'...

Every hour on the hour it puts on a show, starting with the Devil appearing out of a hatch in the side (the Devil = Old Nick, in the clock - In the Nick of Time!!! ;-) ).

Then a couple of skeletons appear out of the capitals and then the top splits open and the columns go wonky - and all hell breaks loose!

Well, ya gotta be there to believe it! :-)

(Do you think I should show an 'after' picture - or would that spoil the surprise...? ;-)

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Address: John Frost Square
Directions: In front of Newport Museum and Art Gallery.

MAP

Perhaps in a way to offset its gritty urban heavy industrial legacy, the city has commissioned a very extensive array of impressive and thought provoking public art throughout the central parts of the city...

Perhaps the most controversial piece is Peter Fink's Steel Wave which is on the river embankment opposite the bus station, it is now almost a civic emblem not that everyone likes it (I think it's cool!).

Other major installations include the Chartist Statues outside The Westgate Hotel, 'Stand and Stare' commemorating local author WH Davies to name a couple.

There are maps and 'city trails' you can get at the information centre at the Newport Museum and Art Gallery that detail all the pieces of interest in town...

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Address: All over!

Newport museum is part of the Newport Art Gallery, Museum and Library complex in John Frost Square facing the crazy clock!

It is quite an interesting local museum with a couple of excellent exhibitions covering two major parts of Newport's history, as well as all the usual little collections on natural sciences, archaeology and local history...

The first major display forms the centrepiece of the museum, and that is of the major findings at the Roman city of Caerwent about 10 miles to the east. Newport Museum, is part of 'The Roman Triangle' with Caerwent and Caerleon just a few miles away...

There are some truly impressive finds housed here, including most of a large mosaic floor...

The other major exhibition charts the progress of the Chartist Uprising in 1839, which was the precursor to the right for ordinary men (women would have to wait almost another century!) to vote - so pretty important really... ;-)

It is not a large museum but there are some great things here and should keep you occupied for at least an hour or so - more if you combine it with the gallery...

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Phone: +44 (0)1633 656656
Directions: Situated in John Frost Square, in the centre of Newport

Just recently opened, this decent sized venue has jumped in straight at no.1 as Newport's premier arts centre - it's funny, I've been here twice already to see Lord of the Flies and Jamaica Inn, and I still haven't managed to visit the WMC in Cardiff yet!

Its main focus is as a theatre with a diverse array of comedy, opera, dance, music and drama shows in its main 493 seat auditorium. It also has a smaller more intimate studio that shows arthouse films.

Other facilities include a dance studio and recording studio, and a small gallery.

They are also in the process of setting up a small museum for the old wooden merchant ship they discovered here whilst building the centre, though I haven't seen this open yet.

There is a reasonable cafe that is open during the day in a nice space with an outside area overlooking the Usk river, and there is also a bar that opens during performances - though I did find this expensive.

Architecturally the building isn't particularly impressive - or boring either! Though I'd say the best time to see it is at night when they light it in a changing array of primary colours...

So, feeling cultural - come to Newport! ;-)

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Phone: +44 (0) 1633 656 757
Address: Bristol Packet Wharf, Newport, NP20 1HG
Directions: The big blue building on the waterfront - you can't miss it!
Website: http://www.newport.gov.uk/_dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=riverfront.homepage