Quirky Shopping Spots Around Newcastle

As well as its fair share of high street stores, Newcastle boasts some quirky and unusual shops, making it a fantastic place for a bit of retail therapy. Of course, you can pop to H&M or Debenhams anywhere in the UK, which is why I’m going to focus on a few of the city’s more quirky offerings.

High Bridge Quarter

What I love about shopping in Newcastle is that many of the city’s top independent stores are located in one area – High Bridge Quarter. This is not only a real mecca for shopaholics, but also one of the most historic parts of the city, boasting cobbled streets and old buildings.

The district is a hive of activity and it’s not only retailers who have set up here – there are a host of independent restaurants, bars and pubs too, so you can easily spend an entire day in the area without needing to go anywhere else.

It’s easy to get to High Bridge Quarter – which includes Upper High Bridge and Old George Yard – as it’s just a two minute walk from Grey’s Monument. If you want to find accommodation in the heart of the action, take a look to see what NewcastleGateshead has available.

Quirky stores in High Bridge

There are many amazing shops in the High Bridge Quarter, offering something for everyone. One place that all fashionistas should head to is Attica Vintage, where you’ll find a wide array of vintage clothing dating from the Victorian period right through to the 70s and 80s.

In addition to garments, Attica also sells furniture and accessories, so you can kit out your home with some stylish vintage pieces from whatever era you love. As if all that wasn’t enough to get you interested, Attica was named by Vogue as one of the best stores outside London in 2012.

Deep Vintage is another store that’s caught my eye as a great place for unique and exciting finds, with plenty of authentic vintage clothing on sale that will revamp your wardrobe. Deep has built up an excellent reputation since opening in 2004, so it’s a must-visit on your shopping trip.

However, High Bridge is a great place for more than clothes shopping – there are a host of other interesting outlets to be uncovered here. One of the most prominent is RPM Music, Newcastle’s oldest music shop.

You won’t find the standard chart toppers here, but you will be greeted by an amazing array of music from a host of genres, including indie, rock, soul, hip hop and funk. As well as CDs, this shop sells vinyl, music DVDs and merchandise like T-shirts. What’s more, it also hosts gigs, so you could just discover the next big thing on a visit to RPM Music. It’s also the place to come if you want to pick up concert tickets for most of Newcastle’s best music venues.

Take a break

If you fancy a break from shopping, there are some excellent independent cafes and restaurants to visit in High Bridge. You can pop into Blakes Coffee Shop for a caffeine boost, grab a beer at The Duke of Wellington, which is famous for its selection of real ales, or discuss the day’s shopping at Newcastle’s oldest pub – The Old George Inn.

Another option if you want a bit of time out from splashing some cash is to stop by BALTIC 39 – a hub for contemporary art where you can browse exhibits by local creatives and even see the artists at work in their studios.