North Shields combines a distinctive maritime history with the railway engineering of the Stephenson family. At the Fish Quay, you’ll find a place of remembrance and an opportunity to eat with a view of the River Tyne; the Stephenson Railway Museum focuses on technological development. A circular trail also brings together the town’s past, nature within the town and the history of the Fish Quay. This gives you several themes to consider when planning your trip, without having to squeeze them into a single sightseeing itinerary.
Fish Quay: fishing history and remembrance
The Old Lowlight presents the history of North Shields’ Fish Quay through exhibitions and explanatory displays. Exhibition themes may evolve. The venue also offers events, talks, courses and workshops. As the programme may change, it’s worth checking the specific dates before your visit.
Fiddler’s Green at the Fish Quay is a memorial to fishermen from North Shields who lost their lives at sea. At the Fish Quay, you can eat fresh fish and chips outdoors while looking out over the River Tyne. Individual businesses and menus may change. The memorial focuses on the people behind the fishing history; the opportunity to eat describes another, everyday side of the Fish Quay.
Railway engineering and local history
The Stephenson Railway Museum celebrates the achievements of George and Robert Stephenson. On display is George Stephenson’s locomotive “Billy.” Interactive exhibitions explain how trains work and explore how coal and electricity influenced the development of railway engineering. When choosing what to focus on, the museum offers a counterpoint to the history of the Fish Quay: here, the subject is railway engineering; there, it’s local maritime history.
The Stan Laurel statue at Dockwray Square offers a different perspective: Stan Laurel lived in North Shields as a child, and the statue commemorates his time in North Tyneside. The town therefore brings together different historical connections: industrial development, maritime history and the memory of a person whose childhood was linked to North Shields.
Discover North Shields on foot
The North Shields Town Trail is a two-and-a-half-mile circular route designed for walking that links several local places of interest. Its themes include the town’s past, nature within the town and the history of the Fish Quay. If you’d like to take in both historical themes and nature on a walk, this combination offers a suitable framework.
An alternative route avoids the steps at the Fish Quay. When planning, you can therefore weigh up two different considerations: the stated length of the circular route and whether you’d like to avoid the steps. The alternative route offers a practical difference without requiring you to change the trail’s themes.
Ferry and travel planning
On the Tyne & Wear Heritage Way, the route to the ferry in North Shields follows a short walk from the Metro. If you plan to use the ferry service, check the connections before your trip and allow for the walk between the Metro and the ferry.
Discover more destinations: Holystone, New Herrington, Hebburn, Washington, Seaton Burn, East Boldon, Whickham.
Back to the main travel overview: Tyne And Wear.
