Studying in North East England

Things to do in North East England 

The North East of England offers students plenty to do in their downtime, from eating world-class fish and chips to stargazing in the countryside.  

Food and drink 

The North East is no slouch when it comes to food. For a night out on the town, visit By the River Brew Co on Gateshead Quayside or jump on the metro to South Shield's seafront and sample a great British tradition, fish and chips. Colmans is a well-known South Shields name for fish and chips, with its Ocean Road takeaway and Seafood Temple on Sea Road. 

For a slower weekend, Durham has plenty of cafés, restaurants and traditional tearooms to explore. 

Arts and culture 

The Bowes Museum has an extensive art collection, including works by artists such as Goya and El Greco. MIMA, Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, brings together Middlesbrough’s art collections and hosts modern and contemporary exhibitions. There’s also the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art on Gateshead’s Quayside, and the Life Science Centre in Newcastle.  

Outdoors 

Kielder Water and Forest Park is one of the best spots in the UK to watch the stars. Its secluded location makes it almost totally free of light pollution. It’s also a great spot for wildlife watching. The Durham Dales are another idyllic landscape for walking, cycling or horse riding.  

If the coast is more your thing, try walking, stargazing, visiting a fishing village or giving water sports a try along the Northumberland coastline. This stretch is known as an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’, recognised for its natural beauty and national significance.