Newcastle’s 24 Doors of Christmas Preview
Written by Sophie Hamilton on 14th December 2022
If you’re looking for an activity in Newcastle this month that is a little bit different to the usual Christmas stuff, say no more!
Newcastle NE1 and Newcastle City Guides have teamed up to provide a variety of free tours this month. They are informative, interesting, and fun to attend if you’ve always wondered what is behind the doors of exclusive historical buildings that are usually closed to the public.
Spark attended a tour of Newcastle Guildhall to get a taste of what is on offer.
The tour began by meeting up at the main entrance to the Guildhall at the North end of the building. We received a warm welcome with a smile, and it was not long before the tour began. The tour group was shown the historical courtroom within the building and plenty of information about the architecture, including who designed it and reasons why it was designed in a particular way. Tour guests were able to view the area where the prisoner would have sat and had the opportunity to sit in the same space that the judge would have sat in all those years ago.
The tour group were also shown the meeting room of the Merchant Adventurers as well as the old meeting room where the City Councillors used to meet up and discuss local business. The architecture of the building was explained in detail as it was built in different stages over hundreds of years. We were also shown old maps of the area and the tour guide told local stories that have become famous over the years. The group was a mix of both local people and people from outside of the area, so it was informative and enjoyable for all.
If a local history tour sounds like something you would enjoy, all the details to the 24 Doors of Christmas can be found here.
Each event contains a booking link. If you are unable to make it to any of these events, Newcastle City Guides are also hosting Mystery Winter Warmer walks for just £5 that take place on December 28 and 29. The walks are finished off with a cuppa and mince pie in Newcastle Cathedral which sounds like the perfect reason to go along! Click here to book.
Newcastle Guildhall
Image: Sophie Hamilton
