Ready to book your next tour in Newcastle?
Newcastle is a city with deep historical roots and lots of sights and activities around it, so deciding which tour to take can be quite the challenge.
You could enjoy day trips to the majestic Hadrian’s Wall or uncover hidden treasures around the city. And for food lovers, there’s a feast of tastes to explore in Newcastle.
To experience it all, hop on a guided tour to visit the city’s highlights, discover hidden gems on walking tours, or take your time and explore at your own pace with a variety of self-guided tours.
👉 I was born and raised in Newcastle, so I’ve spent plenty of my life touring and day-tripping around the place. For this sightseeing-stuffed guide, I’ve put that knowledge to some use… and I’ve brought you the best tours in Newcastle.
Expect intriguing adventures, remote and rural trips, under-the-radar gems, fun experiences, and a whole load of chewing and chomping. Read on!
1. Guided Walking Tour of Newcastle
Basic but brilliant.
If you’re new to Newcastle and want to discover the city, stop reading and book this tour now!
In most cities, you can take touristy walking tours, where you wander around the city with a guide—and visit historical places, important sites, and tourist attractions (while learning all about them as you go).
You’ll find loads of them in Newcastle, offered by various people, groups and accommodations. But of them all, this walking tour is the best by far. It’s popular, it covers all the most important stuff, and it has an average rating of 5/5. Everyone likes it (including both tourists and locals), so you will too.
The tour guides are passionate about the local area, they know the place well, and they’re always up for answering questions and giving bespoke advice and recommendations.
It clocks in at around 2 or 2.5 hours.
One of the best guided tours we’ve ever done (and we’ve done quite a few) Very informative and entertaining. Running almost 30 minutes over time. Not very far to walk but wear comfortable shoes anyway.
— Dorothea (Read more reviews)
⭐ Tour highlights: Seeing both well-known and lesser-known parts of the city, a load of photo opportunities, and information on Romans, battles, and the Iron Age.
🗺️ Itinerary: You meet the guide in the city center, then start at Grey’s Monument, and end at Newcastle’s castle. Along the way, you hit the Grainger Market, Blackfriars Medieval Friary, the city’s town wall, St. Mary’s Cathedral, and more.
2. Taste of Newcastle Food Tour
A completely different way to see the city, and centered on hunger over history.
Newcastle’s food scene is much more varied and interesting than most people expect. The place has local delicacies, unique and unusual eating venues, and morsels and meals from around the planet.
So if you’re remotely interested in food, you’ll love this food tour. You get three hours of varied eats and treats… including seafood, street-food-style bites, high-end eats, sweet snacks, independent traders, and more.
It’s the perfect way to uncover good food without having to spend ten million years on TripAdvisor.
Our guide, Andrew, was delightful! He had a lovely personality and a great knowledge of the area and its history. The stops were well thought out and the food was delicious!!
— Michael (Read more reviews)
⭐ Tour highlights: Munching on fresh oysters, independent eats at the Grainger Market, great views from the top of the Baltic, and sampling both local and international food.
🗺️ Itinerary: You start your tour at Grey’s Monument, and end it at a cupcake store. Between those two places, you’ll walk past the riverside area, some old market stalls, and some bridges. And loads of restaurants, obviously.
3. Newcastle Castle Entry Ticket
Certainly not the most exciting entry on our list, but a quick and easy way to visit Newcastle’s castle without having to wait in line.
Newcastle’s castle is a weirdly-underrated part of the city (especially since the word ‘castle’ is in the city’s name). Not many tourists or locals seem to come here, but more of them should.
With this cheap ticket to the castle, you’ll learn all about the history of the city, how the place got its name, and all the battles and wars that have made the place what it is. It’s a family-friendly attraction, with some impressive hands-on interactive exhibits (and occasional character actors).
Other perks include views from the castle roof, and a handy city-center location (the castle sits right in the heart of Newcastle).
The whole visit was really interesting! We spent about 1.5hrs looking round! There was a little tour run by one of the staff members but we just made our own way round! There is plenty to read and plenty to see, the views at the top are incredible (even in the rain!!) There are so many steps though, just a warning hehe!
— Chloe (Read more reviews)
⭐ Tour highlights: Seeing the castle, all the immersive exhibits, and (most importantly) not having to wait in a queue.
🗺️ Itinerary: There isn’t one—you just turn up to the castle, skip any queues, and spend as much time (or as little time) as you want in the place.
4. Newcastle Travel Genies History Tour
Another history-centric walking tour around the city… but with a firm focus on covering a wide range of historical periods.
In terms of concept, it’s not hugely different to the other historical walking tour we brought you above. But it’s a little shorter (between 1.5 and 2 hours), and a little more superficial (it visits more places over a shorter period of time).
Its insights cover a massive amount, running from Medieval days all the way to the present era. You’ll learn about industrial history, literary and cultural stuff, religion, wars, and more.
Again, it’s a good choice for both tourists and locals.
Very interesting tour from a very knowledgeable and friendly guide. Despite being locals we learnt loads of new things and saw our city in a new light.
— Vicki (Read more reviews)
⭐ Tour highlights: Hidden historical spots, new insights on some of the city’s most famous places, and learning about the city from a passionate and knowledgeable guide.
🗺️ Itinerary: You start the tour at Newgate Street, and end it at Grey’s Monument. Between them, you’ll wander to Blackfriars Medieval Friary, the city’s train station, bridges, riversides, an ancient library, and more.
5. Hadrian’s Wall Full-Day Tour
More history. But this time, you’re heading out of Newcastle, to visit the most significant and well-known historical site in all of northeast England.
I personally highly recommend this guided tour.
Back in the 2nd century, Emperor Hadrian oversaw the construction of the appropriately-named Hadrian’s Wall—built to stop northern barbarians from entering Roman territory.
So it’s a pretty historical place, dotted with museums, mile castles, ancient stretches of wall, and a load of other stuff. But more importantly than that (well, according to me), it’s all located in one of the most beautiful parts of the region.
If you’re looking for a trip outside of Newcastle, I can’t recommend this one enough. It’s a full 7-hour trip, so you squeeze in plenty of stuff.
There’s only one downside—you have to make your own way to and from the wall, and between all the locations you visit. So you’ll need your own car/transportation, or you’ll need to call a taxi each time you’ll need one.
Difficult to pick out the single most memorable part. It was all very good, from the introductory talk through a walk along a stretch of the Wall to fascinating visits to the two forts of Vindulanda and Housesteads where Kevin brought the places to life with his knowledge and explanations.
— James (Read more reviews)
⭐ Tour highlights: Taking a short walk along some remote hills, visiting the archeological dig site of Vindolanda, hitting Housesteads Fort, seeing the famous sycamore tree, and being guided around by a costumed man.
🗺️ Itinerary: You’ll drive between a hiking area, two museums (Vindolanda and Housesteads), and some hidden en-route spots.
For more information on the region, check out my bumper guide to the multi-day Hadrian’s Wall Walk.
6. Newcastle Gory Tour
If you like grisly and gory stuff, you’ll love this experience. If I was to take only one tour in the center of Newcastle, it would be this one (but that’s mainly cos I’m a horrible little misery-lover).
Like pretty much every major city in the UK, Newcastle has a pretty big history of murder and the macabre.
And on this tour, you’ll learn all about it. For almost 2 hours, you’ll hear some juicy gossip about gangsters, ghosts, ghouls, crimes, criminals and prisons.
Alex, tour guide extraordinaire, was incredible- his depth and breadth of Newcastle knowledge was astonishing; I learned so much and feel I already need to do the tour again. Trust me, you will never view Earl Grey tea the same once you know about the man himself. Alex could not have been kinder and was so communicative about meeting points and fitted around my plans. The walking is not strenuous and adds to the experience, but if you have mobility issues, let Alex know and he will accommodate you. Alex is a gem and would make a trip to Newcastle richer as the city holds so much fascinating history.
— Rhian (Read more reviews)
🗺️ Itinerary: You start and end the tour at Grey’s Monument. During your wander, you’ll see Dean Street (one of the prettiest in the city), some riverside stretches, the Bigg Market, the outside of the city’s castle, and some other places.
Newcastle Gory Tour Check Rates and Book Now Last Updated April, 20267. Puffin-Spotting Farne Island Boat Trip
If I could only tackle one tour on this list, it would probably be this one.
If you head north along the northeastern coast, you’ll eventually hit the family-friendly funfest of Seahouses. A super-loveable coastal town, it’s close to some of the best beaches in Northumberland… but it’s most famous for being close to the little Farne Islands.
These islands are home (well, temporarily at least) to 20 different species of seabirds. Including puffins! And you can see them on one of these tours.
Note: Again, just like the Hadrian’s Wall tour, the meeting point for this tour isn’t in Newcastle. Instead, you need to make your own way to (and from) Seahouses. So you’ll need your own car, or you’ll have to tackle a lot of public transport (the one-way journey is around two hours). Whichever way you do it, it’s absolutely worth the long ride.
We recently visited these islands via Bill Shields boat trips, we had a comfortable trip onto the Islands and were amazed and the staggering amount of birds nesting on every available space, I was so lucky to get photos of Puffin’s and other birds during our stay. There are a number of buildings on the island which you can explore. The National Trust Rangers were both very welcoming and knowledgeable on the different species of birds that use the island. We were lucky it was a clear day to go bird spotting, the ranger also advised there are over 70,000 Puffin’s nesting, which ensured you least get to photograph this incredible bird.
— Paul (Read more reviews)
⭐ Tour highlights: Taking two boat trips, visiting a remote island, plenty of nesting birds, and seeing a load of puffins!
🗺️ Itinerary: Over a total of three hours, you’ll take two boat trips (one to the islands, one back), see loads of birds, look at a lighthouse, and take a short wander around one of the islands. There’s a lot crammed into the experience.
For more family fun in the region, get yourself over to our guides on the best pumpkin patches near Newcastle, and the best zoos, farms and aquariums near Newcastle. And for more seaside fun, here are the best beaches near Newcastle.
8. Ouseburn Food Tour (and the Victoria Tunnel)
This tour is a massively underrated adventure, and a perfect choice if you’re looking for something unusual.
Newcastle’s Ouseburn area is my favorite part of the city (and I’m not the only one who thinks it—most locals will tell you the same thing). A hipster haven with a load of independent venues, it’s brimming with street art, brunch spots, unusual venues, some kid-friendly stuff, and loads of friendly locals.
It’s also the city’s best neighborhood for eating and drinking. And on this food tour, you can explore all that stuff, on a gastronomic glutton-fest through the district’s best munching spots. You can expect independent eats, locally-made drinks, and even some Michelin-starred fayre.
The tour also takes you to Victoria Tunnel, one of the most underrated attractions in Newcastle. This tunnel has been a whole bunch of different things, including an air-raid shelter, a coal-shuttling epicenter, and even a music venue.
Totally amazing day, would highly recommend this day out. Food and drinks surpassed all expectations along with the tunnel tour it made for a great day out.
— Jo (Read more reviews)
⭐ Tour highlights: A Michelin-starred mouthful, quirky street art, a bunch of independent venues, and wandering around the strange confines of the dimly-lit Victoria Tunnel.
🗺️ Itinerary: You’ll meet at the Victoria Tunnel, where you’ll also end your trip. Along the way, you’ll follow your guide to different parts of the Ouseburn Valley.
9. Newcastle Silent Disco
Like weird stuff? Or singing in public? Or being stared at by bewildered locals?
If your answer to any of those questions is a big fat yes, this is the tour for you.
Here’s how this one works: you get some headphones, a tour guide, and a blistering soundtrack of iconic pop music. And for one hour, you wander around the central streets of Newcastle, singing and dancing, and looking like a bit of an idiot.
If you like silly stuff, you’ll absolutely love it. If you’re shy or easily-embarrassed, you won’t.
We visited Newcastle for a night. This came up as an activity and we were both really pleased we did it. City was busy but our guides did fantastic job of keeping us grooving along. Would highly recommend. Got to dance in the streets with my beautiful girlfriend.
— Adrianus (Read more reviews)
⭐ Tour highlights: One hour of unbridled music-based fun. And you’ll also see some parts of the city (though you won’t learn anything about them).
🗺️ Itinerary: You meet the tour guide at Newgate Street. You then dance around the city for an hour, and finish your tour exactly where you started it.
10. Full-Day Northumberland Tour of Vera Locations
Just in case you haven’t heard of the TV show ‘Vera,’ here’s a speedy introduction for you:
The show is centered around a detective named Vera (no surprises there). She’s a bit older than her colleagues, and a bit miserable. But she’s good at her job.
The show is filmed in (and set in) northeast England…
…and on this sightseeing tour, you can visit some of the most scenic and iconic shooting locations. If you’re interested in the TV show, you’ll love this tour. If you’re not, it’ll probably all be a bit lost on you (even though most of the locations are super super beautiful).
You’ll hit more than 15 on-show locations, during 8 hours of fun. Expect castles, coasts, lots of remote spots, and (of course) some insights into the TV show itself.
Everything was perfect. Including the weather. Fran the guide and Bryn the driver were absolute stars. They answered all the questions and knew all the facts. Will be going on the tour again.
— Karen (Read more reviews)
⭐ Tour highlights: Warkworth Castle, Bamburgh Castle, the coastal town of Alnmouth, the weird little island of Lindisfarne, and all the views along the way.
🗺️ Itinerary: The itinerary isn’t completely fixed, so you might see slightly different stuff depending on when you take the tour. But you’ll get picked up in central Newcastle, and dropped back there when you’re done. You’re driven between each en-route site.
11. Newcastle Treasure Hunt
Another fun-filled option for families, groups of friends, couples, and locals.
Like the silent disco we covered above, this one isn’t really about the city or its people. Instead, it’s a fun experience that happens to be located in Newcastle.
It’s not a tour in the traditional sense. You don’t have a guide, you don’t follow a set itinerary, and you don’t have to be in any particular place at any particular time. Instead, it’s a WhatsApp-based game you can play pretty much any time you want, and you can take it at your own pace.
It’s immersive and unusual, it’s a different way to see the city, and it’s nice if you want a fun combo of wandering, problem-solving, and seeing some city sights. And because you can go as quickly or slowly as you want, you can even combine it with shopping, eating, drinking, or whatever.
We completed this as a family (62, 28, 25 and 24) and all enjoyed it! We hadn’t been to Newcastle before and wasn’t sure what to do around the city. My partner’s Mum booked this and it was a great way to see the city and learn some of the history. The riddles were tough at times but well thought out and not hard enough that we didn’t manage it, just sometimes we’re looking at the wrong thing – we didn’t have to use any hints so that’s a bonus. It took us a few hours but we weren’t in a rush and we did stop for coffee and for lunch at random points along the route. Great fun and would highly recommend!
— Katie (Read more reviews)
⭐ Tour highlights: Solving problems, answering questions, and interpreting clues.
🗺️ Itinerary: You start and end the game at Grey’s Monument. But apart from that, where you’ll wander is (of course!) a mystery.
Before You Go
Alright, that’s us done—they’re the best tours in Newcastle and nearby!
If you’re still unsure which tours to take, follow my lead:
Thanks for reading, thanks for checking out Travelness, and we’ll (hopefully) see you again soon. Bye for now!
