North East: Where to Shop in Newcastle

If you’re planning a break in one of our holiday cottages to rent in North East England, you’ll definitely want to plan in a trip to the region’s main city, Newcastle.

Despite its relatively small size, the city manages to fit an awful lot into its 70 square miles, and the centre itself can be crossed in just 15 minutes on foot.

And while it is predominately known for its bars and bridges, shopaholics won’t be disappointed either; served by no less than three departments stores, all the high street names and a plethora of small, independent shops, it’s a shoppers’ paradise – however you choose to get around.

Here’s where to splash the cash – or just indulge in some window shopping – in Newcastle.

Eldon Square

If it’s big brands and popular names you’re after, they’re all housed in Newcastle’s Eldon Square. Home to high street favorites such as John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Next and Boots, this indoor mall features 1.35 million sq ft of retail space.

In recent years, its food offering has been revamped, with cuisine ranging from French and Japanese to burgers and juice bars offering something for even the most discerning of palates.

The mall also houses one of the few branches of Waitrose in the north of the country – a real selling point for some!

Fenwick

Another Newcastle icon is Fenwick, which, along with John Lewis and Marks & Spencer, is one of Eldon Square’s three department stores.

While there are now nine branches of the store across the UK, the Newcastle store was the original, when John James Fenwick, known as JJ, bought and renovated a doctor’s house for £181 and 4 shillings at 5 Northumberland Street.

Nowadays, the store sells a range of high-end clothing, accessories and household goods, as well as housing a toy department that will delight any child.

On the ground floor is the food hall, home to a mouth-watering range of regional and international produce.

Jules B

If it’s designer threads you’re after, Jules B, in the leafy suburb of Jesmond, has been serving Newcastle’s natty dressers for over 25 years.

It is situated in Acorn Road, which has become a hotspot for boutique shopping over recent years and is just a ten-minute walk from the city centre and easily accessible by the Metro – Newcastle’s underground train network.

The store was opened by husband-and-wife team Julian and Rhona Blades in 1984, and in 2018 the couple won the prestigious Drapers Independents Lifetime Achievement Award, for services to the industry.

The Metrocentre

No story of shopping in Newcastle would be complete with mentioning the Metrocentre, just up the road in Gateshead.

Having opened in 1986, it was the UK’s largest shopping mall until very recently, when it was taken over by Westfield London.

It’s still an impressive day out – although those of a certain age still lament the loss of Metroland, the indoor theme park – with 300 shops occupying over 2,000,000 sq ft of retail space, along with a cinema, bowling alley and dozens of restaurants, bars and cafes.

The adjoining retail park is also home to the only IKEA within 100 miles, ideal to stock up on meatballs, Billy bookcases and cheap kitchenware.

If you love shopping – or just browsing – the compact nature of Newcastle and its range of shops make it the ideal destination.

Why not check out our range of North East holiday cottages within easy reach of this small-but-perfectly-formed city? Don’t forget your bags!

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