Shopping in Newcastle-upon-Tyne

City shopping in Newcastle is now centred on Grey'sshops of the designer labels and fashion brand names.
monument. Northumberland Street that leads toFor example, here you'll find: Armani, Prada, Jimmy
Grey's monument has always been considered theChoo to name only three of the thirty retailers
heart of the city's shopping, but now all the mainlocated here from which to purchase clothes, shoes,
stores are to be found inside one of the numerousjewellery and all the accessories you might need. The
malls or shopping centres. Even so many of thecafé in the lower level hosts a lunchtime jazz
stores now inside one of the shopping centres orsession and the centre is sometimes used for fashion
malls can also be accessed from the surroundingshows and charity galas.
streets and roads.Three miles away from the city centre is the
Fenwick's is undoubtedly the most famous store inMetrocentre in Gateshead. Metrocentre is one of the
Newcastle. Established in 1862, it is not only thelargest shopping precincts in the country and has all
largest store in Newcastle, but is also one of thethe major high street stores along with lots of local
largest stores outside of London. The Newcastleand specialist shops. Its 330 shops include;
store occupies several buildings that are joinedDebenham's, M&S and House of Fraser.
together, so technically it can be said to be in theAlongside the shopping centre is an indoor theme
Eldon Square Shopping Centre and the Monumentpark, cinema complex, bowling alley and lots of bars
Mall, Blackett Street and Northumberland Street.and restaurants. Normal opening hours are weekdays
However, to find it is quite simple, just head for10am to 9pm, Saturday 9am to 7pm and Sundays
Grey's Monument. Fenwick's is renowned for the11am to 5pm. The centre has extended opening
quality of goods that it stocks and sells. It has ahours during the Christmas period. Customers are well
cavernous cosmetics section and produces acared for by the centre's shop mobility scheme at
Christmas window display that can rival any otherthe 3rd level of the blue multi-storey car park and it
store anywhere in the world. Over the yearshas access for disabled people. The centre also has
Fenwick's has become a small chain of eight stores.two shopping angels. They can be called upon to help
There are now stores in York, one in Leicester andyou with decisions regarding purchases that you
the rest are in London and the South East. In 2001 itmight be unsure of or they can also be your personal
also took over the Bentalls chain of storesshopper. Metrocentre is off the A1 heading south out
Monument Mall is the city's newest shopping centreof Newcastle.
and is on the opposite side of the Grey monumentIf you're looking for antiques or crafts make your
to the Eldon Square shopping centre. Spread overway to Vine Lane in the city or the Fern avenue area
three floors the top floor is a dedicated food courtof Jesmond.
that sits underneath the Mall's dome. Daily openingThe city does, of course, have a market area, called
times are 8am to 6pm apart from Sunday which isGrainger market. The market is open Monday to
11am to 5pm. Major stores located here include; VirginSaturday and has over 250 stalls selling mainly meat
Megastore, JJB Sports and BodyShop.and vegetables. It is also well known for its speciality
In the city centre itself is the five storey Eldonstalls selling game meats. The market was built in the
Square shopping centre. It is located near to Grey's1830s and was, in its time, Europe's largest
monument. It is easily accessible by car or bus and'undercover' market. It still contains the last surviving
the Monument Metro station is right outside it. NormalMarks and Spencer Original Penny Bazaar. Grainger
opening hours are; weekdays and Saturdays 9am tomarket is on Grainger Street, as you go from the
6pm, Saturdays Sundays 11am to 5pm. On ThursdaysCentral railway station toward Grey's monument.
the centre is open until 8pm; it also has extendedOther markets in Newcastle are the Greenmarket,
opening hours during the Christmas period. Thenear the Eldon Square shopping centre. It sells mainly
centre has a wide range of shops in it including Johnfruit and vegetables but you will also find stalls selling
Lewis, Boots, M&S and the famous Fenwick's.flowers and plants. There is also a small fish market
Disabled and shop mobility facilities are availablenear to the Green market. On Sunday mornings there
providing free and pre-bookable motorised scooters.is a Quayside market, where the stalls sell a wide
If you cross Percy Street from the Eldon Square,range of goods providing plenty of opportunities for
you'll arrive at Eldon Garden. This is a smaller shoppingbargain hunters. Finally, at Armstrong Bridge there is a
centre where you'll find the specialist and exclusiveSunday 'arts' market.