Holiday Inn Express Newcastle - Metro Centre

Closest Convention Center: Sage Newcastle

Distance from Hotel: 3.5 MI/ 5.63 KM East

Yes, the city of Newcastle has a castle. Half an hour’s bus ride from the hotel, the recently renovated Black Gate and Castle Keep of the 12th-century Newcastle Castle were the sites of some pretty grim history, serving originally as a fortress, then as a prison, before becoming surrounded by 19th-century slums. Climb the Keep’s 99 steps for sweeping views of the city’s quayside.

A 20-minute drive from the hotel, Jesmond Dene is a wooded valley enclosing the River Ouseburn and a haven for wildlife such as kingfishers and red squirrels. This verdant parkland area offers scenic walks beneath mature trees and past a series of cascades. If you’re travelling with kids, pay a visit to Pets Corner where they can see rabbits, ducks and parrots.

Eerie, romantic Lindisfarne Castle sits on Holy Island, off the Northumberland coast, just over an hour's drive from the hotel. Preserved rooms with period furniture, narrow staircases and passageways lead up to sweeping views from the Upper Battery. Perhaps the most intriguing thing about this 16th-century castle is that it becomes inaccessible at high tide. Plan your visit accordingly.