8 Best Sights in The Northeast, England

South of Newcastle, near the junction of the A1 and A1(M) at Gateshead, you'll find this enormous rust-colored steel sculpture—one of England's largest and most popular works of public art. Created by Antony Gormley in 1998, it's a sturdy, abstract human figure with airplane-like wings rather than arms. It stands 65 feet tall and has a horizontal wingspan of 175 feet. It's tricky to experience it fully from a car, so park in the free lot just behind the sculpture (on the A167) and take a stroll around its feet.

An amalgam of several collections belonging to Newcastle University and named for a Victorian founder of the Natural History Society of Northumbria, this beautifully renovated museum contains an impressive array of ancient archaeological finds, plus galleries on natural history and astronomy. Highlights include artifacts left behind by the Roman builders of Hadrian's Wall; ancient Egyptian mummies; and a reconstruction of the 1st-century Temple of Mithras at Carrawburgh. This place isn't designed for kids, but the animal exhibits—including a life-size model of a T. rex—should entertain them for a while.

Formerly a grain warehouse and now the country's largest national gallery for contemporary art outside London, the BALTIC (as it's often styled) presents thought-provoking exhibitions by top names and emerging talents. There's no permanent collection, and the temporary installations change regularly, so check the website for details. There are also two great dining options here: the riverside café-bar BALTIC Kitchen and the rooftop restaurant Six.

Reconstructed streets and homes lead you from Roman times to the present day in this engaging museum. Kids will like its interactive approach to teaching Newcastle's history, including themed trails on subjects from pioneering Tyneside women to climate change—these are self-guided, with PDFs available on the website. Meanwhile, history buffs will be most thrilled by galleries showing off the town's maritime and industrial achievements, including the Turbinia. Built in 1894, it was once the fastest ship in the world and the first to be powered by steam turbines.

One of the Northeast's finest art museums merits at least an hour's visit for its selection of 19th- and 20th-century British art. The Pre-Raphaelites are on show, too, as are sculptures by Henry Moore. The Northern Spirit gallery on the ground floor showcases some of the great artists from the region, including John Martin (1759–1854), who produced dramatic biblical landscapes, and siblings William and Mary Beilby, whose beautiful enameled-glass creations became highly prized in their 1770s heyday.

Bringing science to life with hundreds of kid-oriented exhibits divided into themed "zones" that highlight everything from research on genes to travel to Mars, this is one of Newcastle's best family attractions. Highlights include the "Space Zone," which shows how space technology is now a part of people's everyday lives, and the extra-interactive "Experiment Zone," which is full of hands-on scientific gizmos and fun experiments that make science learning feel more like a trip to the playground. There's also a giant 3-D replica of the earth with detailed NASA imagery, a regular 360-degree alien-hunting planetarium show, and a whole host of seasonal events and activities, as well as an ice-skating rink in winter. Visiting as a family? Opt for a family ticket, from £22.50 for one adult and one child to £47.50 for two adults and three children.

Overlooking the Tyne River, the remains of the Norman castle recall the city's earlier status as a defensive stronghold. Built in 1080, this was the "new castle" that gave the city its name. The gatehouse and stone keep are all that remain; although the effect is somewhat diminished by the railroad viaduct that thoughtlessly separates the two. The "black gate" remains the point of entry, with a small exhibition on the surrounding area of Castle Garth, but the most interesting sights—including the impressive Great Hall, the vaulted dungeon, and the rooftop views—are in the keep.

For a good introduction to Britain's Roman history, dip into this museum. It includes the remains of the substantial Roman fort of Segedunum, built around AD 125, as well as the easternmost section of the original Hadrian's Wall (there's a reason this part of town is called Wallsend) and a reconstructed Roman bath complex. Start your tour at the (unfortunately rather ugly) observation tower for a good overview of the site, as well as an exhibition on local shipbuilding, before heading down to ground level. The collection of artifacts covers the whole 300-year period of Roman occupation in the region, and it includes pieces of weaponry, armor, and a Roman stone toilet—the only one surviving in the country.