I’ll give you a little teaser of your first year at Newcastle University if you’re planning to study at BNS school.
When I was giving the offer holders’ students a tour of the school, I noticed that some of the questions they asked were quite similar. For example, how are the lectures, what modules are we studying, and so on.
Therefore, I’ll go over some of the things I believe you should all know. Hopefully, after reading this, you have a better idea of how your first year of university will go. Okay, let’s get started!
Our exploration of Newcastle is far from complete. Welcome to Part 2 of our list of locations to visit in Newcastle upon Tyne, one of England’s most major destinations for tourists and students.
Let’s pick up where we left off in the previous section of the series. We saw largely historical structures in Newcastle. Now we’ll continue on the tour of the city, from the popular nightlife district to spots where you can relax and enjoy the weather.
1. Quayside
Where have all the night owls gone? This is the perfect location for you.
Newcastle residents refer to the area along the Tyne river as “quayside.” Pubs, bars, and eateries line the streets surrounding this site. As a result, this area is well-known for its nightlife. When you’re here, you can do more than just party and drink; you can also take in the breathtaking views of the river and bridges. I encourage you to visit here at sunset so that you can enjoy the beautiful sunset panorama. The scenery is just as stunning at night as it is during the day, with lights illuminating the street and the river, and music from the bars accompanying you. This area is excellent for enjoying the moment and socialising with friends or family. (You should try the Wetherspoon in Quayside; they offer such good food at a good price!)
Look at how stunning the view is! I captured this photo around sunset. The picture was taken by me
In addition, the Sunday market is a weekly market that opens on the quayside. You should be able to figure out when it is open each week just by reading the name; yep, the market is open every Sunday. There were over 20 vendors selling a variety of items, including food, drinks, artwork, flowers, and much more. They sell a wide range of foods, including Italian fare such as pasta and pizza, Indonesian fare, Greek fare, Chinese fare, and so on. (Must try!)
2. St. James Park
Apart from the country’s history, who doesn’t know that England is also known for its football? Newcastle United Football Club is also one of the most well-known football clubs in the world. Newcastle United’s logo features the classic black and white stripes that gave them the nickname “The Magpies.”
I should have taken a better picture of the stadium cause it’s literally so amazing. The picture was taken by me
Newcastle United’s home football stadium is called St. James Park. Do you want to have a tour inside the stadium or want to watch a football match? You can book the ticket here (https://book.nufc.co.uk/) (Don’t forget to take pictures with the legends out front of the stadium!)
3. Greggs
It’s time for a snack! Have you noticed that there are a lot of Greggs stores around town?
Fun Fact of the day: Do you know that this store with the well-known blue and yellow logo was founded in Newcastle?
This is the Greggs store at Quayside; have a bite to eat while admiring the view of the river. The picture was taken by me
That is why you must try their food while you are here. Greggs is known for its savoury and sweet items including sausage rolls and doughnuts. Not only do the locals enjoy it, but so do students, including international students like me, who also love their food so much. Give it a try!
4. Leazes park
Take your snacks and head to one of Newcastle’s most popular parks.
Leazes Park, which is next to St. James Park, is a lovely place to sit and unwind yourself. You could sit on the benches beside the lake and watch the ducks and geese while taking in the sunshine. (If I’m feeling stuffy in my room, I like to go sit there for hours.)
I arrived at the perfect time when there were very few people. The picture was taken by me
This park also allows you to enjoy a picnic; benches and tables are available for the public, but you may also bring your own picnic mat and sit on the grass. However, once your picnic is over, please remember to clean up all the trash.
5. Exhibition Park
Do you want to go on another picnic? Another park to visit is this one! This huge park is also available to the general public. If you wish to enjoy a picnic, there are several spots to choose from. In addition, there is a skating arena that is always open and popular.
Don’t worry, the park also has a lake with benches close to it where you can sit and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.
Look at how beautiful the scenery is, and you can even see the brewery in this photo. The picture was taken by me
Want to eat or drink anything but forgot to bring it with you? In the park, there are cafes and a brewery. Wylam Brewery is the name of the brewery, and they make excellent beer.
This concludes my recommendations for this part. There are still a few locations I want to tell you about, so stay tuned for the next part!
For prospective and current students don’t forget to check out our university website!
Are you visiting Newcastle for the first time? This blog post is for you if that’s the case. I’ll recommend a few locations to visit in Newcastle while you’re here. Even if you aren’t, you should read this in case you forget or don’t recognise these areas.
Newcastle is one of England’s most popular cities, known for its heritage, nightlife, and much more. That is why I am separating this series into two parts because I will be recommending a lot of places for you. Now, without further ado, let’s get started!
This blog post is the hardest I’ve ever had to write…narrowing down my favourite Newcastle food spots to just 7 is a task and a half. However, I have managed to just about do it, with a sprinkling of extra tips of course. I know most of us are living on a student budget so eating out isn’t always a regular occurrence BUT isn’t good food just the solution to everything?! I personally think so. Since living in Newcastle, my friend and I have collated an Honours list of our favourite restaurants and food spots, rated by food, atmosphere, and value for money. I’m sharing our top 7 with you!
That’s how I would describe my experience transitioning to Newcastle University from NUMed. Life is pretty similar; people are friendly, the teaching is amazing, the city is as beautiful as home. The only difference is that these things are all bigger, bolder, and brighter here in the U.K. And I’m definitely not complaining!
The red bricks of Newcastle University’s Armstrong building looking glorious in the sun
The move from Malaysia was definitely a tough one. I grew up in Penang, an island just northwest off mainland Malaysia, and this was the only home I’d known. Moving 10-hours away to Johor to start my degree in Biomedical Sciences was scary enough, but NUMed turned to be a home away from home. We’re such a small, tight-knitted community, and on campus we could bond in ways students in a larger university wouldn’t be able to.
“Choosing to begin my studies at NUMed has been the best decision I’ve ever made!”
