Newcastle is arguably the UK’s most photogenic city, with its incredible architecture, nature and the infamous Quayside, each capturing people’s eye.
With so many professional and student photographers taking base in the city, there have been many incredible photographs taken of the area.
With this article I aim to create a ‘photo essay’ to take the reader on a tour of all the most aesthetically pleasing areas of the city.
1. Architecture
Enriched with many historic landmarks and buildings with a past, the city’s architecture is one of the most popular to be photographed.
Riddled with castles from the Middle Ages, a train station built in the 19th century and a monument that was struck by lightning in the second world war (Greys Monument), Newcastle has been labelled a “city with a very diverse architectural history”.
Because of this diversity, there’s no end of photography possibilities for the city’s residents and students.
The most popular of these eye-catching architectures to be photographed have to be the cascading buildings on the downward walk towards the Quayside.
Located in the city center, these buildings act as the perfect contrast to the buzzing city life. Covered with pillars, large windows, and stone sculptures, these buildings seem to take the viewer on a trip to the past.
When following the path down by these buildings, you eventually find your way towards the steep-decline that leads towards the Quayside. As the buildings start to spiral round the curvy cobbled streets, they become layered when looking down at them from the bridge above.
2. The Quayside
This location is probably the most well-known in the Newcastle area, with it being the host of the weekly Sunday market and the destination for any running or cycling marathons that take place in the city.
The walk along the docks has no limit of food locations and places to sit and chat. It is the perfect mix of urban city life and nature.
It is the perfect location to take photographs during the day and night. The many choices of bridges also allow many different viewpoints and angles to be taken of the Quayside.
3. Nature
Despite being a vibrant and busy city best known for its wild nightlife and hilly terrains, Newcastle’s variety of nature spots have taken the eye of many photographers over the years. The city is covered in popular green spaces to visit with a picnic over the summer, as well as some other hidden spots that only local residents know about. These inviting areas act as a place of comfort for the city’s residents, particularly the students who want to be reminded of home.
The most popular of Newcastle’s local nature destinations is the local park ‘Jesmond Dene’.
Located in the student-populated village of Jesmond, the local park is around a 20 minute walk from the city center.
This ‘hidden gem’ is perfect for people who want a break from the city life and want to return to nature for an afternoon.
Combined with the various food choices, ice cream shops, a waterfall, and ‘zoo’ that houses animals such as birds, rabbits and goats, this destination is perfect for those who want to take photos that capture the nature aesthetic.
There are also some other nature-venues that are a lot closer to Newcastle’s residents in the city center.
These smaller and more local green areas are commonly found quite close to student accommodations.
For example, the area in the images below was located at about a 5 minute walk from the accommodation ‘Portland Green’.
This footpath acts as a shortcut to the shops of Byker, and offers its walkers a view of trees and greenery as they walk to do their weekly food shop.
The nature walk also provides its visitors some crazy views of the city and its architecture as they walk through.
Combining nature with these structures not only encourages people to take the longer (and more scenic) route, but to also take photos of their adventure.
4. Events
Newcastle’s nightlife isn’t the only thing the city has been praised for; it’s never-ending list of events are also widely applauded by residents and tourists. Things like concerts, football games and drag shows have taken the city by storm and are a popular avenue for art students to practice their photography. These events allow people to capture certain emotions and memories into an image to convey nostalgia at a later date.
One of Newcastle’s most popular venues for musical artists and comedians is the 02 City Hall. This can be found in the city center, close to both University campuses (Newcastle and Northumbria). This venue has a large interior with no bad seat.
For example, on the 3rd of July I visited this arena to watch musical artist ‘Hozier’ perform. The view was perfect and the interior of the building made the setting even more aesthetically pleasing.
*Photo Credit:
All photos used in this article were taken by me. All copyright and ownership is reserved to me.