A modern, thriving destination in the heart of North East England, NewcastleGateshead is home to over half a million people, and has a proven track record of hosting major events and conferences.
From majestic rolling countryside to our stunning coastline, awe-inspiring castles and ancient ruins to our vibrant cultural scene, our region gives ESOT delegates the opportunity to see and do all.
Stunning architecture, fantastic shopping and leisure opportunities, exciting night-life, inspiring heritage, 2,000 years of history and passion for sport – it’s all here for you to explore. Combined with the legendary friendliness of our local community, NewcastleGateshead is the perfect destination to welcome your delegates, form vital professional connections, and help create lasting memories.
(Source: 2Chill.co.uk based on a country-wide poll)
(Source: Survey by OnePoll)
(Source: Rough Guides 2018)
Outside of the congress you’re never stuck for something to do in NewcastleGateshead. From galleries and museums to theatre and music venues, restaurants and pubs to shopping destinations, our compact city offers this all within walking distance.
Indulge in some retail therapy in the historic heart of the city and experience traditional British markets. Visit the famous
Grainger Market, dating back to 1835 and featuring over 100 vendors selling food, drink, vintage clothing or more, all in one of Britain’s most beautiful covered markets. Take a weekend stroll along the River Tyne at the Sunday Quayside Market, part of Newcastle’s history as far back as 1736, where you can find street food, fashion and more.
Fancy exploring a little further? We have two UNESCO World Heritage sites right on our doorstep with Durham Cathedral
and Hadrian’s Wall. NewcastleGateshead is the gateway to a spectacular region with a diverse landscape of history,
culture, coast and countryside.
NewcastleGateshead benefits from excellent rail, road, ferry and air links, making it one of the best connected and accessible cities in Britain.
With an international airport right outside the city centre, to the city’s location on some of Britain’s main rail and road networks, and an extensive urban Metro
system, NewcastleGateshead is ideally located for ESOT delegates and council members from around the world.
BY RAIL:
Newcastle Central Station is right in the heart of the city centre and offers direct services to and from most major British cities, with many routes served by high-speed rail links. Nearly 200 trains arrive in Newcastle every
day from across the country, over 40 of which are direct from London Kings Cross in under three hours, also allowing easy access to St Pancras International and Eurostar connections for those delegates wishing to travel to and from Europe by train.
BY AIR:
Only a 27 minute Metro ride to the city centre, Newcastle International Airport has direct connections to over 70 destinations, with daily connections to worldwide hubs including:
- London Heathrow with British Airways
- Dubai with Emirates
- Amsterdam Schiphol with KLM
- Frankfurt with Lufthansa
- Paris CDG with Air France
- Dublin with Ryan Air
Newcastle is also well-connected to other international airports, including Edinburgh and Manchester.
BY SEA:
The North Shields International Ferry Terminal is the north of England’s main sea link with Northern Europe. DFDS Seaways operates frequent sailings to and from Amsterdam (Ijmuiden) in the Netherlands, with bus transfers available to make your way between the Ferry Terminal and central Newcastle.
There are also a number of other international ferry ports across Britain, including Dover, Folkestone, Portsmouth and Liverpool, among others. Ferry services from these ports include routes to France, Spain and Ireland, making travel by ferry an option for many European delegates.
NewcastleGateshead is a compact city centre, and we’re proud of our status as a 15-minute destination, meaning delegates can walk or cycle and have access to
local goods and services within only a few minutes.
The Tyne and Wear Metro system is the second largest light rail system in Britain, second only to London’s Underground. The Metro connects key locations around the region, calling at 60 stations across the North East.
QuayLink buses offer a high-frequency, accessible and easy-to-use service, and are the best way to get around central Newcastle and Gateshead. With the bus connecting directly to NewcastleGateshead Quays Conference Centre, this is an ideal option to getting to and from the congress campus.