Hey! Ok, Ok don’t panic! In February, my heart was beating so fast, as I logged into the Newcastle City council website to book tickets for Grey’s Monument in Newcastle Tour, and finally got my hands on those precious tickets! Bring on August 5th 2.30pm. This was back in 2017, and my guide is still valid, and now updated for 2026.
If you are visiting Newcastle Upon Tyne OR you are living here, did you know you can climb Grey’s Monument in Newcastle Upon Tyne, it’s the prominent historic structure at the Monument area.
And in this guide, I will show you how to get the tickets, what’s it like climbing up Grey’s Monument in Newcastle and the views of course. It’s one of those things that is fun to do in Newcastle in the spring and summer time.
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Planning your trip to Newcastle Upon Tyne?
Here are my top picks Hotels in Newcastle Upon Tyne if you are planning to stay:
⭐️⭐️ Easyhotel (By the Quayside, my friends have stayed here before, and it’s actually not bad, clean, and easy access to Quayside and walk to the city centre) : Click here for rates & availability
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Motel One (Heart of City centre and Dog friendly, it’s lovely, my other friends have stayed here as well, the room is great, and literally in between bigg market and grey street) : Click here for rates & availability
⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ Dakota Newcastle (By the Quayside, this one is new to the scene and from what I have seen so far, its the poshest one but looks very nice if you feel like splashing out) : Click here for rates & availability.
If you have a day or two, You can get a Guided Walking tour of Newcastle City Centre.
or have a fun experience especially in the summer and take the Newcastle Beer and Prosecco Bike Tour
🗺️ Insurance: Protect yourself on your trip with Travel Medical Insurance.
📱 Connect: Always stay connected, and do so seamlessly, with a UK eSim!
🚗 Traveling around the North East and rest of UK? Find Affordable Car Rentals here!
*Disclaimer: Please do not copy or use any of the pictures or materials in this post for any commercial, sales or personal publicity online and physical – please request written permission first. Thank you*
How to Get Grey’s Monument Tickets in 2026
The Grey’s Monument tickets are released at 9am, exactly two weeks before each individual tour date. That means you need to be watching the Newcastle Gateshead website two weeks ahead of the Saturday you want now and not months in advance.
Tours run from April to September on the first and third Saturday of each month. Half-hour slots are available between 10am and 3:30pm. Tickets cost £7 per person and must be booked in advance. Walk-ups occasionally work but cannot be relied upon.
You can also book a group ticket between March and October subject to Guide availability but you have to email newcastlecityg@gmail.com to check for availability ( https://www.northeastmuseums.org.uk/)
How to book: Go to newcastlegateshead.com and search for Grey’s Monument tours. Set a reminder for 9am two weeks before the date you want. Tickets for popular summer Saturdays go quickly, sometimes within hours of release.
Oh just be warn that children under 5 years are not admitted on Grey’s Monument tours and children aged 5-16 must be accompanied by an adult and must be pre-booked. Also tours can be cancelled at short notice in the event of severe weather, poor visibility or unforeseen circumstances.
Who was Charles Grey and why does he matter?
Grey’s Monument was built in 1838 to honour Charles Grey, the 2nd Earl Grey, who served as British Prime Minister from 1830 to 1834. He was born in Northumberland, at Fallodon near Alnwick.
His government passed the Great Reform Act of 1832, which overhauled the electoral system and is considered one of the most significant democratic reforms in British history. His government also abolished slavery across the British Empire.
The monument itself is 133 feet tall and Grade I listed. It was designed by local architect Benjamin Green, the same man responsible for the Theatre Royal on Grey Street. The statue of Earl Grey at the top was created by sculptor Edward Hodges Baily.
And yes, Earl Grey tea is named after him. The blend was reputedly created for him by a Chinese mandarin to suit the water at his family home, Howick Hall in Northumberland.
How to climb up Grey’s Monument in Newcastle Upon Tyne?
You see, I’ve been walking past Grey’s monument for years and never thought it was open to the public. The photographer in me is dying to climb up there and take a birds-eye view of the city! Very excited to be climbing up 164 steps!
August 5th (when we went up) rolled on by and after praying the Sun God for good weather because it is never guaranteed good weather as you know, we put on our walking shoes and head on up!
I’m taking this opportunity to show you Newcastle Upon Tyne from above!
Before your climb, grab a nice meal for extra energy and try one of these restaurants in Newcastle City centre, there’s plenty of options from different cuisines to kid friendly, halal and vegan options and street food.
If you fancy having a walking tour, this tour comes recommended: Best of Newcastle Highlights Walking Tour
The Grey’s Monument in Newcastle tour:
Head up to Grey’s Monument and find the tour guides, usually one or two people by this tiny little blue entrance (opposite to one of the entrance to Eldon sq) on the bottom of the Grey’s monument. Please watch your head as you enter and proceed to climb slightly narrow winding stairs.
The tour only allows 8 people at once. Keep in mind that it’s not very spacious up there but roomy enough to maneuver ourselves around one another. If you are really tall, you may have to duck more.
At the top there is a viewing platform with fencing at a good height. It is windy. Bring a layer even in summer. You have 30 minutes up there, which is enough time to take everything in and get some decent photos.
Below is a view of The Botanist, if you have a chance to grab a drink inside or food, it’s gorgeous inside with lights around the dome and you can see their outdoor terrace. This is taking people watching to a whole new level from above!
The Views From the Top
This is what you come for. On a clear day the views in every direction are genuinely impressive.
All of this area is the Monument area due to the fact the Grey’s monument in Newcastle is located in the centre. This whole area is lined with bars, restaurants, and clothing retail chains.
You can see St James’ Football Stadium at the far end in its glory, St James Stadium is home to Newcastle United NUFC.
See if you can spot the Millenium Bridge in the picture below!
Don’t you think the people look like Lego figures from up here ?!
Honestly, I can’t get over how pretty Newcastle Upon Tyne city centre is and its lovely Georgian architecture! If you have never visited this beautiful city, then I highly recommend it even if its only a day trip! There’s plenty of things to do in Newcastle Upon Tyne especially at the city centre if you are only here for a football match day.
It’s incredibly windy up here but no fear, the fences are pretty high as you can see!
This is Grey street on the left, voted as the Academy of Urbanism’s 2010 Great Street Award winner. It is home to Theatre Royal and a range of restaurants, bars, and independent shops.
On the right street, is home to Grainger market which was the largest of its kind in Europe when first built in the 1830s. Inside, there are stalls with fresh produce from a wide range of butchers, grocers, as well as independent restaurants, coffee shops, and bakeries.
I love this picture so much, I can’t resist editing it in two ways. Let me know which one is your favourite in the comments!
Practical Information for Your Visit
Who can climb up Grey’s Monument?
Children under 5 are not admitted. Children aged 5 to 16 must be accompanied by an adult and must be pre-booked separately. The staircase involves 164 narrow steps and confined spaces. If you have a fear of heights or confined spaces, breathing difficulties, a heart condition, or are in the later stages of pregnancy, the tour is not recommended.
What does the ticket cost?
Tickets are £7 per person for the guided tour. Group tours can be arranged between March and October for a minimum charge of £100. Contact Newcastle City Guides directly for group bookings.
When does the Grey’s Monument tour run?
April to September, on the first and third Saturday of each month. Half-hour slots between 10am and 3:30pm. Tours can be cancelled at short notice in severe weather or poor visibility.
Can tours be cancelled?
Yes. Tours can be cancelled on the day due to bad weather or poor visibility. If this happens, check the Newcastle Gateshead website for updates. This is one more reason to go on a sunny forecast day rather than leaving it to chance.
Is there anything to do nearby?
The Monument area is one of the best-located spots in Newcastle. Grey Street and Grainger Street are right there for food and coffee before or after. Grainger Market is two minutes away on foot. The Quayside is about a ten-minute walk downhill.
FAQ About Climbing Grey’s Monument Newcastle
Is Grey’s Monument worth climbing?
Yes, without question. The views are the best free-standing elevated view of Newcastle city centre available to the public. The tour costs £7 and takes 30 minutes at the top. For anyone visiting Newcastle, it is one of the better things you can do. The only caveat is the stairs, which are narrow and steep. If that is not a concern for you, go.
How do I get tickets for Grey’s Monument?
Tickets are released at 9am exactly two weeks before each tour date, on the Newcastle Gateshead website at newcastlegateshead.com. Tours run on the first and third Saturday of every month from April to September. Set a reminder and book as soon as they go live, especially for summer dates.
How many steps are there in Grey’s Monument?
There are 164 steps in a narrow, winding staircase inside the column. The staircase is dark in places and not wide enough for two people to pass easily. It takes around ten minutes to reach the top at a steady pace.
Is Grey’s Monument free?
The base and surrounding area of Grey’s Monument are free to visit at any time. Climbing to the top requires a guided tour ticket, which costs £7 per person.
How tall is Grey’s Monument Newcastle?
Grey’s Monument is 133 feet, or 41 metres tall, measured from the base of the column to the top of the statue of Earl Grey.
Who was Grey’s Monument built for?
It was built in 1838 to honour Charles Grey, the 2nd Earl Grey, Prime Minister from 1830 to 1834. He was born in Northumberland and is best known for the Great Reform Act of 1832, which overhauled the British electoral system, and for his government’s abolition of slavery across the British Empire. Earl Grey tea is also named after him.
Can you climb Grey’s Monument in winter?
No. Tours only run from April to September. The monument is not open for climbing outside of these months.
If you are planning to be around in Newcastle Upon Tyne during the summer, be sure to get tickets for the Grey’s Monument Newcastle tour in February for the year as it runs between April to September.
The tour and views were worth the climb, and a bloody good workout, my thighs were in pain the day after – think the gym is needed more often!
Courtney xx
More Newcastle Upon Tyne Travel Guides on WhatsupCourtney:
Want to explore Newcastle further? Here are some guides that might help:
25 Things to Do in Newcastle Upon Tyne : My complete guide to the city including more food recommendations
30 Places to eat in Newcastle Upon Tyne City Centre 2025 : Street food, vegan, kid friendly, buffets, Michelin, carvery places in Newcastle City centre
Newcastle Match Day Guide : Where to eat and drink before NUFC matches (trust me, you need this)
Complete Guide to Grainger Market : Deep dive into Britain’s Favourite Market with all the best food vendors
9 Best Bakeries to try in Newcastle Upon Tyne : Find out the bakeries to get the best croissants, pastries, doughnuts, and sourdough
Things to Do in Tynemouth : Including Riley’s Fish Shack, one of the best seafood spots in the North East
Climbing up Grey’s Monument : Climbing Grey’s Monument: Is it worth it and the Costs?
Riley’s Fish Shack Review: The Famous Riley’s Fish Shack in Tynemouth: Is it worth it?
Written by Sarah Courtney [whatsupcourtney] – Published: 2017/08/09
WhatsupCourtney
Owner/ Traveller / Content Creator
Hey! I’m Courtney from WhatsupCourtney, I set out to create a blog that brings a whole lot of adventure to our readers. Instead of the traditional influencer and Instagram travels that you normally would see, I am trying instead, to show you the real, raw, and exotic side of travel and a whole lots of food that goes with it. Because I believe food is part of the country culture and needs to be tried and shown proudly.
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What a wonderful page, your pictures are amazing and show a unique perspective of Newcastle. I will look into this when this pandemic is finally over.
I can remember going up there in 1947/8 with my late mother and, younger brother. We just paid a man at the bottom, it was one old penny for children and two old pennies for adults and I don’t remember there being a time e limit?
Wow what absolutely stunning pictures! I went up Grey’s Monument a few years ago and loved it, glad you did too!
Oh I have just seen your pics on your blog! It’s such an amazing experience wasn’t it! So tempted to do it again!
Omg!! I love it! What a fantastic experience and yay for good weather that day! Love love all the pics so glad you got to do this ❤️
yayy thanks so much, hun! I know right! Finally after so many years living in Newcastle! I’ll keep a lookout when the tickets go on sale for 2018 and organise a trip up for you! ❤️ ❤️
Wow speechless. Really wonderful post and the view is stunning (lucky girl) I love exploring your blog and i can’t wait for your next update. Keep up your fantastic work.
PS: I’m clinging towards the black & white pic but all of them look great, very nice editing
Thank you so much for your lovely compliment! I’m pleased you like it! Yes, the black & white was one of my favourite too!