Travelling Up North

Hello everyone so this is a really late blog post as I have been meaning to post it since the Summer but have never got round to it but I suppose it's better late then never! So at the end of July this year I decided to take another visit up to Newcastle for the week before heading onto Edinburgh for a couple of days. I like 
travelling later then earlier so my Mum and myself decided to get the last train to Newcastle. We left our local train station just after eight o' clock and as I'm such a lovely daughter lol, l I treated us both to First class Travel which was really nice as we ended up with a carriage to ourself. Once we had arrived at Liverpool Street Station we had to make our way to the Underground which was pretty difficult with the amount of luggage I had packed. Next time I do this I will defiantly pack lighter especially when the lifts at Kings Cross Station had broken down and I had to drag them up a 100 stairs luckily some lovely commuters helped me along the way!

I have never travelled First class before so this was pretty exciting and I didn't know what to expect. I certainly didn't expect food and drink included but it was a lovely surprise we got sandwiches and cake plus unlimited drink and I was even given a free bottle of rose wine Result! After about 6 hours we finally arrived at newcastle Central station at just gone two in the morning.  Luckily, the taxi driver was not as rude this time and we were taken to the Travelodge Newcastle Central for the night. I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it was unlike many Travelodges this one had a bar and everything and the rooms were lovely, for the price I would defiantly stay again.  Considering we didn't get to bed till real late we were up bright and breezy the next day and took a stroll to the Quayside and had a lovely Starbucks opposite the Millenuim bridge before getting a cab to Whitley Bay, where we were going to be staying for the weekend.

 I have always loved Whitley Bay as it is my Nana's hometown so when we travel up to Newcastle it is always a must do place to visit. Somehow since the last time i visited a couple of years ago the place had drastically gone downhill and appeared more like a ghost town and the hotel well I can not explain to you how bad my first impression of the place was and I was right to be cautious. The room had a funny smell and it was literally filthy it was a living nightmare! Whitley bay itself was beautiful I had a lovely scone afternoon tea and amazing fish and chips . The high street was lovely to look around and the majority of people were very pleasant. At the Spanish city there was events going on all weekend and it was lovely drinking Strawberry and Lime Cider in the sunshine. Sunday we visited the art gallery along the front which was lovely and then the graveyard to put some flowers on my Nans grave before making our way back to pack so we could get away early the next day. I could not wait to get away the next day and make our way to Newcastle again. I couldn't believe it was the middle of summer in a heatwave and the hotel owner put the heating on full blast I had such a funny turn I would totally not recommend staying here ever!

Monday afternoon and we finally made our way to Newcastle to The Jurys Inn in Gateshead. Our room was so beautiful and the view was out of this world I loved laying there watching the river tyne. After unpacking and having a sit down we made our way to Eldon Square to have a look around the shops. Many years ago the shopping centre that is there now used to be massive houses and it's where my nan was born and lived. We found a lovely little cafe just outside the market it was so pleasant just sitting there in the sunshine before heading back to the hotel for dinner.  The next day we took a river cruise for 3 hours to South Sheilds, I have always wanted to visit South Sheields but we didn't see much of it, is it worth a visit does anyone know? I found the cruise a bit long and was bored by the end as there really wasn't much to see but it was pleasant at the same time. After the cruise was over I went for a drink and Lunch at The Piano and Pitcher which was really nice. My mum stayed and finished her coffee while I hunted around gateshead trying to find somewhere that sold magazines! Usually back home I hate going out alone but somehow it felt different here and it was a very calm and strange sense of safety if that makes sense. Later that evening I bought my mum and myself a Three course dinner at the Jurys Inn which was absolutely lovely.

The next morning we packed up and travelled to the Marriott just by the Metrocentre. WOW the hotel was amazing and the room included two Queen size bed it was amazing and so luxourious. The Metrocentre wasn't as near as we thought and it was still a bit of a trek, i have always wanted to visit the Metrocentre. By the time we got there I was really anxious so we only ended up going to a couple of shops before heading to Starbucks. That evening we went to Toby Carverys and to be honest if i went again I would eat elsewhere as the food was horrendous and as sold out of nearly everything. 

As the end of the trip was finally approaching it was time to say goodbye to Newcastle and make our way to Edinburgh. The train trip was so busy but it was pleasant at the same time thanks to the lovely views we went past it was so beautiful. I was a little overwhelmed when we arrived and it was so busy luckily we could book straight in to our hotel. After a little sit down we made our way to Harvey Nicholls where I had paid to have Afternoon tea as a treat for my Mum. The view was breathtaking and the food was pleasant but I would say that it was all a bit to much by the time you had eaten the first tier it was that rich you are literally stuffed to be able to eat anymore also the cream in the cakes wasn't to nice either which was disappointing as I love cream.  It was lovely taking a evening stroll along Princess Street everything was so pretty and the lights on the castle were amazing.  Unfortuntely the next day I woke up in agony with my back and couldn't do anything so we literally sat in the sun on a bench the whole day until 6 in the evening.  The journey home was really pleasant and the food was absolutely delicious, luckily my Dad picked us up at King Cross so I didn't have to drag around the luggage.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about my summertime adventure and please leave a comment and let me know what you think and don't forget to subscribe if you would like to see more of what I get up.

Lots of Love