Hit the Shops: The Ultimate Guide to Newcastle's Shopping Hotspots
Shop ‘til you drop in Newcastle with our guide to the city’s best shopping districts
We’re not exaggerating when we say Newcastle is the North East’s premier shopping destination. No matter what’s on your shopping list – fashion or food, beauty products or books, art or sportswear – there’s a shop in the city to suit.
To help you get the most out of your next shopping trip in the city, we’ve put together a handy guide to Newcastle’s biggest shopping districts – from Eldon Square to Grainger Market and everywhere in between – so get ready to shop ‘til you drop in the Toon!
Eldon Square: Shop ‘til You Drop at Newcastle’s Biggest Mall
Home to over 100 stores, Eldon Square is a dream destination for shopaholics in Newcastle. There are plenty of places for fashionistas to shop ‘til they drop with big brands like All Saints, H&M, Mango, Next and River Island plus footwear outlets including Charles Clinkard, Office and Foot Locker to complete the outfit.
If it’s tech you’re after, there’s no shortage of Eldon Square stores to suit with the likes of Argos, Apple, Game and Vodafone selling computers, phones, video games and more. Or, if you’re looking for a gift for a loved one (or even for yourself!), you’ll want to check out The Geordie Witch for spooky souvenirs and crystals, Typo for gorgeous stationary, MINISO for all things cute and kitsch and Søstrene Grene for Scandi-chic homeware.
There’s luxury makeup and beauty products to grab at stores like Rituals, Sephora, Lush and Molton Brown too and gorgeous jewellery and accessories to splurge on at the likes of Austen & Blake, Beaverbrooks and Ernest Jones.
Or, for a little bit of everything all in one store, look no further than department store John Lewis – a one-stop shop for everything from fashion and furniture to beauty and tech.
Fenwick: Five Floors of Fashion, Beauty & Food
Serving Newcastle since 1882, Fenwick Newcastle is the flagship store of the well-known department store brand and a mecca for shoppers looking for a bit of luxury.
Spread over five floors, the store stocks all kinds of designer womenswear and menswear – from Maxmara and Michael Kors to Ralph Lauren and Lacoste – alongside premium kids’ brands like Juicy Couture Kids and Mayoral perfect for pint-sized fashionistas.
Its Beauty Hall – the largest in the UK outside of London – is a haven for beauty lovers with make-up, fragrances and skincare from big brands like Charlotte Tilbury, L’Occitane, Clarins and Chanel and pampering treatments available at the likes of the Aveda Blow Dry Bar and Benefit Brow Bar.
A trip to Fenwick wouldn’t be complete without a stop-off at its Food Hall where foodies can shop for carefully curated wines, spirits and craft beers in its Wine Room, sweet treats from the chocolate and confectionery department and fresh deli delights at its delicatessen counter and artisan bakery. Just don’t blame us if you have trouble squeezing into those designer threads after!
Grainger Market: Indie Gems, Local Flavour & Hidden Treasures
Opened in 1835, Grainger Market was once the largest indoor market in Europe and its grand, Grade I-listed building remains a treasure trove of shopping delights today. A melting pot of independent local traders make up its myriad alleyways and shoppers could easily while away an hour or two exploring all it has to offer.
Lovers of thrifting can stock up on all kinds of vintage and retro threads at Analog, The Yesterday Society and Tender Hooligan and there’s fun accessories and gifts to shop for at Komono Accessories, Tian’s Gifts, Fantastic Toys and Geordie Gifts (the latter is perfect for local souvenir shopping too!).
Treat your four-legged friends to toys and treats from Robinson’s Pet Store – the longest-running pet store in the country – and pick up all kinds of practical gadgets and gizmos at The Battery Shop, Shaver Centre and Mobile Pro.
And if all that shopping leaves you feeling peckish – or you fancy yourself something of a chef – why not pick up some treats from one of Grainger Markets many food stalls? There’s fresh fruit and veg at Bryan Muers & Son, locally sourced seafood and meat at Lindsay Bros and Finlay’s Quality Butchers, Spanish delicacies at La Casa Delicatessen and more fromage than you can shake a baguette at with Matthew’s Cheese. Pick up some beers from Firebrick Brewery – crafted just up the river in Blaydon-on-Tyne – for a total local foodie treat.
Monument Mall & Blackett Street: Designer Labels, Luxe Jewels & Literary Finds
Monument Mall and Blackett Street might not be Newcastle’s biggest shopping district, but it’s the place to be for shoppers who want to splurge.
Lined with luxury jewellery stores including ROX, Breitling, Northern Goldsmiths and Reid & Sons, it’s the ideal destination if you’ve got some big bucks to invest in a classic timepiece or diamond accessory … or even if you’re looking for that perfect ring to pop the big question with!
If it’s high-end fashion you’re after, there’s plenty to please with branches of REISS, BOSS and The White Company plus The North Face for outdoorsy shoppers planning their next big adventure.
Banyan, Newcastle city centre, (C) Newcastle Gateshead Initiative / Image Credit Kevin Gibson-KG Photography, Public domain image
Culture vultures are well catered for too. For art lovers, there’s Clarendon Fine Art – home to an ever-changing collection of contemporary works available to both peruse and purchase – and bookworms won’t want to miss out on Waterstones. Located in the gorgeous Emerson Chambers, the Newcastle branch of the bookshop is spread over three floors and has something to suit all tastes – be it crime, fantasy or non-fiction – plus an onsite café.
And, if the wallet is looking a little bare after all that luxury shopping, there’s always trusty discount store TK Maxx – selling tonnes of top-class brands in fashion, beauty and homeware at a fraction of the price you’d usually pay!
Northumberland Street: Big Brands & High Street Staples
Running right through the heart of the city centre, Northumberland Street is Newcastle’s main shopping street and bustling seven days a week – and with its diverse mix of shops and stores, it’s easy to see why.
No matter what your shopping budget is, there’s somewhere to suit on Northumberland Street. Refit your wardrobe with affordable fashion, footwear and sportswear from high street staples like Primark, Sports Direct, JD Sports and Deichmann or if your budget stretches a little further there’s big-name designer clothes at Flannels and top-quality outdoor clothing and gear at Cotswold Outdoor.
There’s a lot more to Northumberland Street than just clothing, of course, with branches of Superdrug and Boots for health and beauty must-haves, WH Smiths and The Card Factory for books, cards and stationery, jewellery at H. Samuel and tech and gaming items at CeX.
And how could we forget good old Marks & Spencer where shoppers can explore two whole floors of fashion, food, beauty and homeware all with that trusty M&S stamp of approval?
Grey Street & Grainger Town: Indie Shops, Galleries & Georgian Charm
Home to some of the best Georgian architecture in the UK, Grainger Town – named for Newcastle-born builder Richard Grainger who developed much of the area – boasts some of the most eclectic shopping in the city centre.
On its eastern edge runs Newcastle’s grand Grey Street – once voted the best street in Britain – which, while better known for its restaurants and the Theatre Royal, boasts some fantastic stores to shop at. It’s home to not one, but two art galleries – the local branch of contemporary art specialists Castle Fine Art and the gallery of Scottish painter Alexander Millar, known for his works of local scenes and characters – and the flagship store of Newcastle-born designer clothing boutique END.
Shopping beside Grey's Monument, (C) Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, Public Domain image
There’s more fashion shopping fun to be had on neighbouring Grainger Street with Urban Outfitters, plus plenty of shops to treat your tootsies with footwear stores including Dune in Newcastle’s grand Central Arcade, Size? and Dr Martens and sock specialists Soctopus who sell all manner of funny designs.
If indie and vintage clothing shops are more your thing Grainger Town has plenty to offer too, from High Bridge hotspots Union Clothing and Retro Newcastle to Waceland in Central Arcade and Leaf Clothing on Pilgrim Street.
There’s a handful of great shops to indulge your inner geek at with stores like Travelling Man, Geek Retreat and Forbidden Planet for comic books, collectibles, games and more and if you’re finally setting out to fulfil those New Year’s resolutions, kickstart your fitness regime with a visit to Start Fitness, a locally owned sports shop selling everything from clothing and footwear to bikes and weightlifting gear.
There you have it – the definitive guide to shopping in Newcastle, whether you’re hunting down the latest fashion trends, on the lookout for some luxury jewellery or getting that glow up sorted with health and beauty essentials. Happy shopping!
Main Image: A person holding shopping bags, Photo by Max Fischer, Free to use under the Pexels License
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