Newcastle is often described as the friendliest place on the planet and the city's tourism and hospitality sector is what brings this reputation to life. Offering access to a range of cultural and heritage assets across North East England, Newcastle is the international gateway to a regional visitor economy that is worth £5.4bn.
Newcastle has been on the global tourism map for a number of years, with international visitors coming to the city to experience a vibrant city centre nightlife scene and explore award-winning coastlines and rolling countryside in close proximity.
The city is the gateway to UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Northumberland and Durham, Blue Flag beaches along the North East coast and industrial history from Victoria Tunnel to Beamish Museum and Bowes Railway.
Newcastle has developed hotel infrastructure to cater to a variety of tastes, from international brands such as Hilton, INNSiDE by Melia and Crowne Plaza to luxury mansion houses such as Matfen Hall Estate and Jesmond Dene House.
The local food and drink scene is also incredibly diverse with independent restaurateurs and suppliers thriving in the city and providing unique dining experiences to visitors. Newcastle-based chef Kenny Atkinson has two Michelin stars and Blackfriars is believed to be the oldest dining room in the UK.
In the heart of the city is Newcastle United Football Club, which following a £350m takeover led by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) in 2021, has been transformed into a powerhouse of English football. 52,000-capacity stadium St James’ Park is sold out every week and since qualifying for UEFA Champions League, the football club is attracting fans from across the globe to the city.
Newcastle is connected to Europe and the wider world by air, rail and sea, with Newcastle International Airport providing links to more than 70 destinations and DFDS providing a ferry link to mainland Europe via Amsterdam. Situated on the East Coast Mainline, Newcastle also offers direct connections to London, Edinburgh and Manchester in under three hours.
One of the key developments set to transform the visitor economy in Newcastle is the new £400m arena and international conference centre on the Gateshead Quays. The 12,500 capacity arena will attract more than 100 shows and concerts a year and the international grade conference centre will include 17 conference suites. It is projected to attract one million visitors annually, create 2,000 jobs and bring a £70 million boost to the regional economy.
Tourism and hospitality is worth £5.4bn to the regional economy of North East England.
Newcastle International Airport has links to over 70 destinations worldwide.
DFDS runs direct passenger and logistics ferries to mainland Europe via Amsterdam.
1.79m bed nights filled in Newcastle and Gateshead in 2022.
Sub Sectors
Take a look at the corporate services clusters driving growth in Newcastle.
Sports Tourism
Newcastle is home to Champions League football team, Newcastle United, Britain’s most successful basketball team, Newcastle Eagles, and the world’s largest half marathon, the Great North Run, each of which attracts millions of visitors each year.
Screen Tourism
Newcastle is benefiting from significant screen tourism growth across North East England, where visitors come to the region to experience the locations of popular films and tv programmes such as Harry Potter and Netflix’s The Last Kingdom.
Business Events
Newcastle continues to attract a strong pipeline of conferences and business events both nationally and internationally thanks to our strong sector specialisms and modern event infrastructure.
Heritage Sites
Newcastle offers access to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites within an hour's drive and serves as a gateway to centuries of history for visitors who want to explore ancient castles and classical architecture.
Who’s here
Infrastructure
Explore the assets local companies are using to power innovation.
Newcastle International Airport
Named Airport of the Year 2023 at Routes World Conference, Newcastle International Airport connects the city to over 80 destinations worldwide and is just 20 minutes outside of the city centre. In 2023, they were also announced as a sustainability sector leader in the GRESB Infrastructure assessment.
Newcastle Central Station
With millions of passengers passing through the station each year, Central Station is one of the major gateways to the city and wider region. The Victorian station has been granted £2.5 million towards redevelopment with a new entrance and upgrades to make the station more attractive to passengers. London, Manchester and Edinburgh are all accessible from Newcastle Central Station in under three hours.
Port of Tyne
Just nine miles from Newcastle city centre, Port of Tyne welcomes visitors with connections to five continents via regular ferries and cruises, including daily ferries to and from Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Newcastle College
Newcastle College’s Aviation Academy offers Level 2 and Level 3 courses for the training and development of cabin crew and aviation professionals. The college also offers courses in Travel and Tourism creating a strong pipeline of talent for the visitor economy.
Northumbria University
Northumbria University is the only university in the North East of England to be recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Institute for Travel and Tourism, the UK’s professional body for the travel and tourism industry. The university also ranks within the top 30 in the sector for further study, sustained employment or both for Business Management 12 months after graduation.
St. James’ Park
Home to the Magpies, Newcastle’s Premier League football club, St. James’ Park is one of Newcastle’s top attractions regularly selling out on matchdays and hosting large-scale concerts, conferences and other events.
The Glasshouse International Centre for Music
On the banks of the River Tyne, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music is arguably as architecturally iconic to Newcastle as the Tyne Bridge. Not only does The Glasshouse host a variety of concerts, gigs and classes, including being home to the Royal Northern Sinfonia, but it also attracts international conferences and business visitors who enjoy the region whilst here. The charity is dedicated to unearthing and growing talent and bringing global artists to the region, attracting two million people to the venue each year.
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
Housed in a disused flour mill, the Baltic has 2,600 sqm of exhibition space dedicated to artists of today and tomorrow. Having attracted over eight million visitors since opening in 2002, the gallery is free to visit and is open year-round. It was the first Gallery of Sanctuary in England in 2022.
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