NewcastleGateshead and Durham

4-day Incentive Itinerary Suggestion


DAY 1

Upon your arrival at Newcastle International Airport you will be met by your local travel representative who will chauffeur you to NewcastleGateshead and your hotel; the recently opened Hotel du Vin Newcastle. After taking a leisurely lunch in this relaxing haven you will have the chance to pay a visit to the outstanding wine cellar where you will go on a pilgrimage around the world’s finest vineyards with the Chef Sommelier, without even having to leave the room.

Only a short stroll away lie the Georgian streetsand stunning modern icons that make up NewcastleGateshead’s main shopping district. Here you can hunt for those special bargains or place a well-heeled foot forward towards one of the many top fashion emporiums.

With an evening meal in the first-class Secco Ristorante Salentino followed by a top show at the Theatre Royal, Northern Stage, Live Theatre or Metro Radio Arena, your first day will come to a close when you return to the luxurious Hotel du Vin.

*Newcastle has an excellent range of hotels for incentive groups including the 4* Close House, The Vermont, Jesmond Dean House Hotel and Matfen Hall

Breakfast will be served with commanding views of the quayside and River Tyne after which you will collect your bags and meet your chauffeur for a trip to the nearby historic city of Durham.
With a skyline dominated to one side by a fine Norman cathedral and to the other by a castle built by William the Conqueror, Durham can’t fail to impress.

Meeting up with a Blue Badge Tour Guide you will take a guided walking tour of Durham City, including a visit to the UNESCO world heritage sites of Durham Cathedral and Castle and ending up with lunch simply prepared using the finest local and seasonal produce at Oldfield’s fine dining restaurant.

Following an afternoon enjoying the medieval charm and character the city has to offer, you will be whisked away to Seaham Hall Hotel and The Serenity Spa, the region’s premier five-star property and voted ‘Best Spa for Style’ by The Sunday Times and ‘Best UK Spa Destination’ by Condé Nast Traveller.
 
Here you will be able to truly relax. You can take the magical underground walkway from the hotel to the Feng Shui inspired The Serenity Spa, enjoy the 20m ozone cleansed pool with massage stations, take a dip in the hydrotherapy bath or plunge pools or outdoor hot tub or even visit the ice fountain.

Dinner will be served in The White Room restaurant, the finest Michelin star restaurant in County Durham, and your overnight stay will be in one of the suites, each with its own individual style and character.

After a full English breakfast your chauffeur will arrive to take you to Beamish Museum. Set in over 300 acres of beautiful countryside, Beamish vividly recreates the life and time of the early 19th and 20th century. You can travel by tram, omnibus or horse-drawn carriage to the recreated 1913 town, visit a replica of William Hedley’s 1813 Puffing Billy railway, stroll through town and meet costumed characters going about their daily lives and even find out what it was like to work down the pit.

Following lunch at the nearby Beamish Hall Hotel and Country Club its time to get out and active at Beamish Wild. You will experience the ultimate adrenaline rush high in the treetops, climbing through tunnel nets, jumping the ‘leap of faith’ and freefalling on the incredible 65ft power-fan.

Highly trained and enthusiastic staff will be on hand at all times to make sure you get the most out of your ropes experience, but if you don’t have a head for heights you can always visit the Birds of Prey Conservation Centre (next door), housing magnificent Bald and Golden Eagles, African White-Backed Vultures and Snowy Owls.

Your evening will be spent at one of Durham’s finest restaurants, Bistro 21. With its light, rustic-chic style, Bistro 21 offers a comfortable and relaxed surrounding in which to enjoy a seasonally-driven and locally-sourced menu.

Your overnight stay will be at Seaham Hall Hotel.

Waking up at Seaham Hall you will take breakfast in the three ‘AA’ Rosette award-winning restaurant overlooking the sun terrace and gardens, following which you can enjoy The Serenity Spa and all it has to offer until your chauffeur arrives to take you to the airport.

* Other superb incentive hotels in Durham include the 4* Ramside Hall Hotel & Golf Club, Rockliffe Hall Hotel and the Marriott Durham Royal County Hotel


** For more information about this itinerary or other NewcastleGateshead and Durham suggestions please contact us at meetengland@visitengland.org **