Newcastle is the talk of the toon!

Just like the iconic statue perched on the outskirts, Newcastle is a city that welcomes visitors with open arms.

Antony Gormley’s 20-metre high steel structure, Angel of the North, dominates the skyline in the North East.

It’s a truly stunning sight and a magnet for tourists but the Toon has plenty more treasures to discover.

From its seven bridges to shopping and Newcastle FC’s St James’ Park, all served up with a hearty helping of famous Geordie friendliness, you’re sure to have a “canny time, like” in the North East.

We stayed at the award-winning Kenilworth House, a self-catering luxury townhouse in Gateshead, just a five-minute walk across one of the bridges to the city centre.

The apartment, spread over three floors, overlooks the River Tyne and comes with all the mod cons of a hotel but the comfort and privacy of your own home.

And it even boasts its own parking spot, a rarity with Newcastle city hotels which either have no parking at all or charge extra for a space. But to be honest, we barely needed the wheels for the rest of our stay.

The best way to get around the Toon is on foot, so we pulled on our comfiest walking shoes and headed across the water to see what else was on offer. And where better to discover Newcastle than at the city’s Discovery Museum?

Exhibitions chart the area’s renowned maritime past and world-changing science and technology right through to fashion through the eras, as well as the history of famous football club Newcastle United.

One of the most interesting historical facts we learned is that Newcastle was once ruled by Scotland for a few years.

In fact, the historical walls which still remain on the outskirts of the city were actually built to keep Scots out! Thankfully, that’s not the case now.

After reading about NUFC, it seemed fitting to stop off at their home ground, the sixth largest stadium in the UK, for a behind the scenes tour.

The access-all-areas jaunt treats visitors to a sneak peak of the home dressing room, formerly used by the likes of Andy Cole and Alan Shearer, as well as the plush corporate hospitality boxes which start at an eye-watering £25,000 a year.

Of course, for my husband, who as a young whippersnapper had a bedroom adorned with Newcastle United wallpaper and bedcovers, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

But even for a non-football fan like me, it was fun just as long as the other half doesn’t ask for a box for Christmas!

If culture and creativity is more your cup of tea, fret not because Newcastle has it in droves. For the art lovers, there’s Baltic, the centre for contemporary art situated just over the Millennium Bridge, one of the Quayside’s cultural jewels.

Housed in an old mill, the gallery hosts an ever-changing calendar of exhibitions, from local artists to the most renowned in the world.

A viewing box and platform offer some of the most fantastic views of the city. And on the top floor there’s Baltic’s rooftop Riviera, Six bar and restaurant.

We took advantage of the opportunity to rest our tired tootsies and sipped on some cocktails overlooking the iconic Millenium, Tyne and Swing bridges.

Next door, there’s something for the music mad at concert venue The Sage, which is as much of a tourist attraction for its exterior architecture as it is for the music within.

The Sage’s two impeccably-designed intimate concert halls offer performances for all tastes, from classical and jazz to dance and experimental.

In the 10 years since it was built, it has provided the perfect place forconcerts from the likes of Blondie and James Brown to the more contemporary Bonobo and De La Soul.

On day two, we shopped ’til we dropped in the Metrocentre the largest indoor shopping centre in Europe, then checked out the historic Castle Keep, around which the city has been built, and Chinatown.

My top tip is go hungry. It smells amazing and the all-you-can-eat buffet offers a chance to sample the tastes of the Orient for a mere £7.

And on day three, we chilled at the Quayside seaside, a real city centre oasis on a hot day, before heading to the coast at Tynemouth and Whitely Bay, which boast breathtaking beaches.

These are popular for sea, sand and surfing. But as we learned from experience, sadly sun isn’t guaranteed. A little soggy, we headed for home after a brilliant wee relaxing break.