T

here’s a lot more to this northern city than shipbuilding and Cheryl Cole, you know. Whatever Simon Cowell thinks.

Medieval history, contemporary art and world class shopping are just a few of the things you can cram into a day here, so why not start where the ‘toon’ itself did – at Castle Keep.

Located in the centre, conveniently close to the railway station, its biscuit-coloured battlements date back to the 12th century – and yes, this is the ‘New’ Castle that gave the city its name. Climb to the top and you’ll get cracking views of modern Newcastle – stretching away beyond the River Tyne.

Nearby there’s another slice of history, in the form of the Blackgate – a relatively ‘new’ addition – completed in 1250.

If you’re here at the weekend, head to the river for the Quayside Sunday market, where you can pick up a bargain. You’ll find everything from artwork and jewellery to clothes and cupcakes – the latter courtesy of Sarah and Rachael at the Cupcake Kitchen.

Now you’re re-energised, why not head across the river to BALTIC for a dose of contemporary art, before nipping into a pub to discuss it all over a pint of ‘newkie brown’ (that’s Newcastle Brown Ale to the rest of us).