Serviced Apartments in Gateshead

Discover the best activities and attractions Gateshead has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

The Angel of the North
The Angel of the North is Antony Gormley’s iconic 20-metre steel sculpture perched on a former colliery site. As a landmark visible from miles around it has become a symbol of Gateshead and the North East, drawing tourists, photographers and media attention. Its presence has helped anchor local regeneration efforts, increased visitor spending in nearby cafés and shops, and strengthened civic pride and identity — all of which contribute to the area’s cultural reputation and economy.

BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art
Housed in a dramatic converted flour mill on Gateshead Quays, BALTIC is a major contemporary art gallery with free public exhibitions, changing commissions and learning programs. It attracts national and international visitors, supports local artists through commissions and residencies, and stimulates employment in the creative and hospitality sectors (café, bookshop, events). As a cultural catalyst it has played a central role in the waterfront’s regeneration and positioned Gateshead as an important UK centre for contemporary art.

Sage Gateshead
Sage Gateshead is a striking riverside concert, music education and conference venue known for its ambitious programming across classical, folk, jazz, pop and community music projects. It brings high-profile touring acts and festivals to the region, provides extensive music education and outreach for schools and adults, and generates significant visitor spending on accommodation, dining and transport. The venue’s architecture and year-round events program have helped raise Gateshead’s cultural profile and supported jobs in arts, hospitality and event services.

Saltwell Park
Saltwell Park is a large, well-maintained Victorian park popular with families, sports groups and community events. Offering ornamental gardens, boating lake, play areas, sports pitches and seasonal events, it provides free green space that enhances residents’ quality of life and public health. The park also attracts visitors to local cafés and nearby businesses, supports volunteerism and community cohesion, and contributes to Gateshead’s appeal as a place to live and visit.

intu Metrocentre (Gateshead Metrocentre shopping and leisure complex)
One of the UK’s largest shopping and leisure complexes, the Metrocentre (in Gateshead) combines major retail brands, eateries, cinema and entertainment venues under one roof, serving shoppers from across the region. It is a major local employer and a key driver of retail and leisure spending, with strong transport links that keep footfall high year-round. Beyond retail, the centre stages seasonal events and promotions that support local independent businesses and contribute substantially to Gateshead’s economy and regional shopping draw.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Gateshead, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Tyne and Wear Metro - Frequent light-rail network serving multiple stations across Gateshead (including interchange/links into Gateshead town centre, Quayside and Heworth) with fast connections into Newcastle, Sunderland and to Newcastle Airport.
- Bus network - Extensive local and regional services operated mainly by Go North East (and other operators) from Gateshead Interchange and street stops, linking Gateshead to Newcastle, Washington, Sunderland, County Durham and surrounding communities.
- National Rail connections - The nearest major mainline station is Newcastle Central (quickly reachable by Metro/bus); Heworth provides a local National Rail interchange alongside Metro services for regional routes toward Durham and Sunderland.
- Taxis and ride‑hailing - Licensed local taxi firms, private hire vehicles and app-based services (e.g., Uber) operate across Gateshead for on‑demand travel, especially where direct public-transit links are limited.
- River crossings and pedestrian links - A number of road, pedestrian and cycle bridges (including the Millennium Bridge and nearby crossings) provide direct cross‑Tyne links to Newcastle and support pedestrian/transit interchanges.
- Park‑and‑ride and commuter car parks - Several long‑stay and park‑and‑ride locations feed Metro and bus services, enabling multimodal commuting into Newcastle and other regional centres.

Major Highways
- A1 / A1(M) - Major north–south trunk route skirting the Gateshead area and providing primary long‑distance road access to Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds and London.
- A184 - Key east–west dual carriageway linking Gateshead to the A1 and to Washington/Sunderland corridors.
- A167 - Important local north–south route through Gateshead and into Newcastle (the former A1 alignment serving local traffic and access).
- A69 (via Newcastle links) - Principal westbound route toward Hexham and Carlisle accessible from Gateshead via connections to Newcastle and the A1.
- Local arterial routes (A183, A695 and others) - Network of A‑roads providing connections across the Gateshead borough and to surrounding towns.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Cycle network and riverside routes - A combination of segregated cycle lanes on key corridors, traffic‑free riverside and Quayside paths (including routes across the Millennium Bridge and along the Tyne), and connections to the National Cycle Network and regional Sustrans routes, with increasing provision of secure bike parking at transport interchanges.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Tyne and Wear Metro renewal - Ongoing Metro modernisation programmes in the 2020s including new rolling stock, station upgrades and signalling/track improvements aimed at better reliability, capacity and passenger comfort.
- Bus fleet and service upgrades - Gradual introduction of newer, lower‑emission buses and local route investment and priority measures to improve punctuality and frequency on key Gateshead corridors.
- Active travel and cycle improvements - Recent and planned schemes to expand segregated cycle lanes, improved pedestrian crossings and riverside access as part of Gateshead’s active‑travel and public‑realm programmes.
- Gateshead Quays and town‑centre access upgrades - Regeneration projects around the Quayside and town centre that include enhanced pedestrian/cycle links, improved public-transport access and streetscape works to support walking, cycling and transit interchange.
- EV charging and sustainable transport infrastructure - Growing rollout of electric‑vehicle charge points, improved bike parking at interchanges and initiatives to encourage low‑carbon travel modes across the borough.
- Regional highway and junction works - Targeted junction improvements and ongoing maintenance on the A1/A184/A167 corridors and regional schemes that ease congestion and improve reliability for commuters travelling into and out of Gateshead.