A travel guide to
Tyne and Wear
Known for
The Metro, Newcastle, Sunderland, Angel of the North, St James’ Park, St Mary’s Lighthouse…
This is Tyne and Wear.
Welcome to Tyne and Wear, a metropolitan county in North East England that offers a unique blend of heritage, culture, and stunning natural beauty. This region is home to the vibrant cities of Newcastle and Sunderland, as well as a number of charming towns and villages that are steeped in history and character.
Whether you’re interested in exploring the rich industrial heritage of the area, wandering along the picturesque coastline, or immersing yourself in the lively music and arts scene, Tyne and Wear has something to offer everyone. The region boasts world-class museums, galleries, and cultural venues, as well as numerous parks, gardens, and outdoor spaces that are perfect for exploring on foot or by bike.
One of the best ways to get around Tyne and Wear is by using it’s excellent public transportation system, which includes an extensive network of buses, trains, and metro services. This makes it easy to explore all that the region has to offer, from the bustling streets of Newcastle to the tranquil beauty of the Northumberland coast.
Looking for something in particular? use the quick links below to get to the exact section you need.
Tyne & Wear Metro
The Tyne and Wear Metro is a light overground and underground rail network serving Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, and the city of Sunderland. The system began operation in 1980 and and now serves a total of 60 stations, with two lines covering 77.5 km of track.
Tickets
One of the best ways to get about on the Metro is to use a Pop Pay As You Go (PAYG) smart card. You simply top it up at stations and then pay for your journeys as you make them. Rates for single journeys on the PAYG card start at £1.65 for one zone increasing to £2.00 for all 3 zones. You can also use your PAYG card on the buses and ferries.
Metro single tickets are also valid on local rail services between Newcastle and Sunderland, and can also be used on the Shields Ferry. For one zone a single costs £2.30 and for all zones they cost £3.90.
Another option for tickets is to get a Metro Day Ticket, which will allow you unlimited travel for one day. For one zone The ticket costs £3.60, two zones for £4.70 and £5.70 for all zones.
Operating Hours and Accessibility
The Tyne and Wear Metro runs from around 05:00 and 06:00am (between 06:00am and 7:00am on Sunday), with trains running till around midnight. Each line runs up to every 12 minutes during the day (Monday to Saturday), and up to every 15 minutes during the evening and on Sunday.
Generally speaking, the Tyne and Wear Metro is very accessible. The majority of Metro stations offer step-free access, voice announcements at each stop, and visual displays indicating the next stop. Several spacious wheelchair places are available on board; motorised mobility scooters are not, however, permitted on Metro stations or trains.
If you want to find out more information about accessibility on the Tyne and Wear Metro, or require any assistance while travelling, you can contact customer service by telephoning 0191 203 3666 (lines open 06:30am to midnight) or by emailing assistance@nexus.org.uk. They ask that you contact them at least four hours in advance of travelling, so they can prepare anything you might need for your journey.
Alternative Transport
As well as the Metro, Tyne and Wear is connected by a large network of bus routes throughout the region, which interlink together with other public transport services including regional rail and the ferry.
While the Metro might stop operating around midnight, there is a late night bus service running on a smaller number of routes linking North East England’s main cities at weekends.
Another alternative to getting around the city is to hire a Neuron Mobility e-scooter. These electric scooters are a fun and environmentally friendly to get about Newcastle and can be hired using the Neuron app, which is available to download on the App Store and on Google Play.
Getting from Newcastle International Airport (NCL)
Getting to the city from Newcastle International Airport could not be easier thanks to the airport having a stop on the metro. All you need to do is follow these simple steps.
Once you have retrieved your baggage, follow signs in the airport for the metro station. The airport stop is on the green line which runs through the centre of town. You can transfer at any of the stops that are on both lines to reach other parts of Tyne and Wear.
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.
Alternatively, there is a taxi rank in the airport where you can catch a lift into the centre. This option is great especially if your landing late at night when the metro lines are not in operation. Whilst this option may be faster than the metro, it most certaintly is not cheaper. The cheapest possible taxi fare costs roughly £35.
Dial 999 for an ambulance, fire services, the police or coastguard.
Dial 111 for non-emergency medical help.
Things to do in Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear has plenty to offer everyone, whether you want to learn more about the region’s rich industrial history, stroll along the lovely coastline, or get involved in the vibrant music and arts scene. The area is home to various parks, gardens, and outdoor spaces that are ideal for exploring on foot or by bicycle, as well as leading museums, galleries, and cultural venues.
Weather in Tyne & Wear, UK
In Newcastle, summers are mild and temperate while the winters are short and cold. Newcastle is the most northerly city in England and therefore is naturally one of the coldest. That said, the UK is a relatively small island with a generally temperate climate and the difference across the whole country is usually only a couple of degrees.
Monthly average temperautres
January 4°C (39°F) | February 4°C (39°F) | March 6°C (43°F) | April 8°C (46°F) | May 11°C (52°F) | June 14°C (57°F) | July 16°C (61°F) | August 16°C (61°F) | September 14°C (57°F) | October 11°C (52°F) | November 7°C (45°F) | December 5°C (41°F)
Tipping
It’s less common to tip in the UK than it is in other countries and in most cases tipping is done out of politeness. If you go to a restaurant, especially if there is a large number of you, there may be a gratuity charge added on top of your bill. If there is no gratuity charge you can tip 10% – 15% if you think the service was good. Tipping in bars, pubs and clubs isn’t usually done unless you’re receiving table service.
Internet
Newcastle has a number of buildings and facilities, such as art galleries and libraries, that have free public Wi-Fi. Look for ‘City of Newcastle free Wi-Fi’ in your network settings. Numerous other locations will have Wi-Fi that you can use, you may just have to ask a member of staff for the password in order to gain access.
Click here for a Wi-Fi map of hotspots in Newcastle.