Best Time to Visit

Thanks to its strategic position close to the ocean, Newcastle is a city offering warm summers and very cool winters. To skip extreme temperatures, avoid July and January which are respectively the hottest and the coldest months of the year. However, the weather here is rather unpredictable, as it often is in the rest of the UK, so if you want to visit Newcastle when the weather is perfect, choose spring as best time to visit the city: temperatures are warm but not extremely hot and the sunny days make the city take on a special kind of charm.

Passport / Visa

Citizens of the European Union member-states, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Switzerland, and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) only require a valid passport to enter the UK. Residents of a further 10 countries do not require entry visas for stays under 6 months: the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, South Africa, Hong Kong, and Malaysia. Nationals of some further countries do not require a visa, but need to hold an entry certificate. Use the UK Government website to check for specific requirements: www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.

Airport

Newcastle airport is located 12.4 km from Newcastle city centre. There are several ways to get to/from the airport: By Bus Newcastle (Eldon Square) - Ponteland. Lines: X77, X78, X79 (Bus stop located on B6918). For more information: www.stagecoachbus.com By Taxi Arrow Cars is the airport’s official taxi service. Book your journey online, by phone, or via email: www.arrowcars.co.uk 0191 2449966 newcastlebookings@arrowcars.co.uk. By Metro Tyne and Wear Metro is a light rail system with 60 stations serving Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, North Tyneside and South Tyneside. The journey to Newcastle city centre (Haymarket, Monument or Central Station) takes around 25 minutes. There are trains every 12 minutes from approximately 5:39am (Sundays 6:26am) to 11:09pm. www.nexus.org.uk/metro By Car Newcastle International Airport is conveniently located in the heart of the North East region and offers excellent accessibility as a regional airport. Its advantageous location allows for easy access via the A1, a major north/south road which bypasses the city centre and provides a direct route to the airport. On the ground floor opposite domestic arrivals, you’ll find a handful of car hire companies.

• Web:

  www.newcastleairport.com

• Address:

  Newcastle International Airport, Newcastle upon Tyne

• Phone:

  +44 871 882 1121

Public Transport

Getting around Newcastle Gateshead is easy, thanks to the city’s extensive Metro system and a range of bus services. You can buy a Day Rover ticket for adults and for children. It is valid on the Metro, ferry and railway services as well as on almost all local buses. Tickets can be purchased from Metro ticket machines, all drivers of the major bus operators’ services and on-board the Shields ferry. If you are staying for a week you can buy the MetroSaver weekly travel card. The card is valid on Metro, Ferry and local rail services between Newcastle and Sunderland. Tickets can be purchased at any Nexus Travelshop, but you need a passport-sized photograph the first time you buy one. There are several Travelshops, including those at the Central Station and Monument Metro stations in Newcastle, and MetroCentre bus station and the Gateshead bus/Metro interchange.

• Web:

  www.nexus.org.uk

• E-mail:

  contactmetro@nexus.org.uk

• Phone:

  +44 191 203 3199

Taxi

The taxi service in Newcastle is one of the best in the UK. Below is a selection of a few companies: Noda Taxis +44 191 222 1888 www.noda-taxis.co.uk Blue Line Taxis +44 191 262 6666 www.bluelinetaxis.com Airport Taxis +44 191 214 6969 www.airport-taxis.co.uk Dean Taxis, Gateshead +44 191 444 4444 www.deantaxis.co.uk

Electricity

110 volts. Adapters are normally available for purchase at airports or in electrical stores. Flat three-pin plugs.