If you are visiting Newcastle, you’ll want to explore the city’s many attractions. One of these is Newcastle Castle, a fortified tower in the heart of Newcastle. It was completed in 1172 and has numerous medieval chambers and displays of artifacts. From the tower, you’ll have a great view of the city.
Newcastle Castle
When visiting Newcastle, there are many things to do in Newcastle Castle. For starters, this medieval building is full of history and culture. It is also home to ghost sightings and exhibitions. You can also learn about the famous Poppy Girl, who was once imprisoned for not paying her debts. During her time in jail, she was beaten and eventually died.
Kids will love exploring the castle’s many rooms and passageways. There are even dungeons and prison pits for kids to explore. There are also actors in medieval costumes who tell the history of the castle. The keep is another great spot to take in the views of the Tyne.
Once upon a time, the castle was a stronghold for the English kings. King Edward I spent time here during his reign. It has four floors and ancient chambers, including a 43ft-high Great Hall. You can also explore the Keep, which once hosted knights, noblemen, and kings.
If you’re feeling a little adventurous, you can also try an escape game. EXIT Newcastle offers 6 live escape rooms that give you 60 minutes to solve puzzles. The rooms are themed based on local history, and you can play one or all of them with friends. There are also different levels of challenge, so you can challenge yourself or your friends. You can also choose a team to play with, and the games are very challenging and fun.
Another fun thing to do in Newcastle is go bowling. This is one of the most exciting things to do in Newcastle, and you can do it without a tour guide. The city’s Quayside is filled with quaint shops and eateries. It’s also located near King John’s Palace, Armstrong Park, and Beamish. You can even buy a baller package, which consists of ten-pin bowling, drinks, and a main meal.
Another attraction you should explore is the Gibside Estate, a 720-acre woodland park. The gardens and paths are perfect for families. There are even four walking trails that make them an ideal destination throughout all seasons. In December, the estate transforms into a winter wonderland, featuring dazzling illuminations.
The King’s Chamber
One of the things to do in New Castle is to explore the King’s Chamber. This room is made of limestone and features a saddle-shaped ceiling. While you are exploring the chamber, you’ll notice that you can see the marks of the builders. You’ll also discover graffiti left by modern visitors, including Lord Nelson, Lady Ann Arbuthnot, and Patrick Campbell.
You can also visit the adjacent Council Room, which opens to the Hall of Mirrors. This room was originally divided into two separate rooms, the King’s Cabinet and the Cabinet des Termes. During the reign of Louis XIV, the King’s Cabinet was the king’s private office. In this room, the king held council meetings and received courtiers.
The King’s Chamber contains a sarcophagus, which was used to bury cadavers. Although the exact use of each chamber is not known, visitors have remarked on the remarkable acoustics of the chambers.
The Norman Chapel
The Norman Chapel in New Castle dates back to 1078. It is one of the oldest parts of the castle. The architecture is distinctly Saxon, with deep groin vaults in the ceiling, close pillars, and a herringbone floor. Despite its age, this room has been preserved almost intact.
The current church is the fourth to occupy this site. A tiny 7th-century chapel is still visible beneath the 12th century minster. In the early 7th century, St. Justus, a missionary who accompanied St. Augustine of Canterbury, founded a diocese. The present structure dates back to the work of French monk Gundulf in 1080.
The west transept has three separate stories. The lower story has a large window over the entrance, with tracery. The second story has a single mullion with a small pointed head. The third story is divided by three buttresses. The roof is made of oak. Its interior curve is irregular.
The nave is approximately 109 feet long and 74 feet wide. The middle transept measures 24 feet 10 inches wide. The choir measures 110 feet four inches from the organ gallery to the great east window. The church’s interior is 245 feet long. The choir is 63 feet 6 inches wide.
Nearby is the Old Minster, built by the Anglo-Saxons. In 652 the minster was destroyed by raiding Scots, and it was replaced by the later Norman chapel. The Minster was raised to cathedral status in 1884. It was built on the site of a parish church from the 16th century. The church was enlarged in 1469.