Central Arcade in Newcastle-on-Tyne
When it comes to shopping, I’m a bit of an old-fashioned girl. I like nice surroundings. I can be totally seduced by a beautiful arcade, especially when it’s prettied up for Christmas.
Like this!
And this!
In fact, I might as well admit it, I’m a hopeless shopper! I much prefer to admire the buildings. As I put this post together, I’m watching the TV series on Libertys of London. Many years ago, when I was finding my feet in the city, I did some temp work in the store. It’s really beautiful and I’ve had a soft spot for it ever since.
These days “the city”, for me, is Newcastle-on-Tyne. The highlight at Christmas time is Fenwick’s Department Store and its window display. Click on a photo to see it in more detail.
My kind of shopping! The window kind. Which ties in very well with Dawn’s Lingering Look at Windows challenge. I bet there are some more Christmas windows to see this week. Click on the link to find out.
restlessjo 
Such beautiful arcades, Jo! We finally made it to some of the classic ones in Paris this past summer. Sending you happy holiday greetings!
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Thanks, Tricia. Right back at you! 🙂
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I do love the window displays. I’m not much of a shopper, but I would wander down to look at them. Happy holidays Jo!
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Thanks, TBM 🙂 Good pub night, last night? I was in Newcastle with some lady friends- food, good company and the Christmas vibe. Have a good one, too!
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le immagini testimoniano la grandiosità degli addobbi e la fantastica esposizione della vetrina, davvero molto singolare, ora ti faccio vedere dove sabato e domenica scorsi ho fatto il mio shopping natalizio: Bolzano e Bressanone in Trentino Alto Adige
ciao Jo passa un sereno week
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Bellissima, cara! Mille grazie 🙂
You too!
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Beautiful windows and arcade. A complete fantasy world under one roof. I’m not a shopper, but I can spend all day looking.
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I would love the artistry to be able to create something like this, Lynne. I’m more the “stick two twigs in a jar, and shake my head in despair” type, but I do so admire 🙂
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I’m not much of a shopper. But then again I’d love to spend time looking at these beautiful shop windows and the arcade is spectacular! Shopping environments like you’ve shared would open up whole new shopping possibilities! 🙂
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A coffee or two and my camera- that’s all I need to go shopping, Debbie. And a nice buddy to share it with is always welcome. 🙂
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What a magical post, Jo. They don’t make malls like that over here. And so wonderful to see Christmas window displays surviving and as magical as ever. I love this post.
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Thanks, Lynne. 🙂 Musn’t it be amazing to create windows like this? But then you have to pull them all to bits again!
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Yes, the tearing down would be a sad day.
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Oh, Central Arcade reminds me of the many arcades in Leeds, that held my fascination as a child.
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Newcastle has a couple, Vicky, but one of them has been given a “mall” look, which seems a shame. Love the old traditional ones like Leeds. 🙂
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Love Victorian arcades – Leeds has some good ones as does Cardiff I believe. I much prefer the architecture to the shopping. I hate shopping. Lovely windows for the challenge 🙂
Jude xx
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Never been to Cardiff, Jude, but I love the arcades in Leeds (and especially the pancake stall 🙂 ) Traditional Christmas at home for you? Have a good one.
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Quiet Christmas Jo, just the two of us with a lovely fillet steak I think. Going to see the grandchildren on Boxing Day and stay a few days to catch up with rest of family who will visit her. I’m not really a Christmas person nowadays, and none of us have a big enough house to accommodate everyone for the traditional dinner unfortunately. How about you?
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I would love to be away somewhere, Jude, but I’ll be cooking full traditional for me, Michael, Dad and son, James. I’ve had most of my Christmas magic already. 🙂 Tomorrow we’re back in Newcastle for a festive supper at one of my lady friend’s house. Next excitement is the Algarve on 2nd January. I can live with that! 🙂
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These windows are delightful!! Rapunzel has always delighted me.
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So much golden hair! Mine has been short most of my life (because I’m short on patience 🙂 )
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Beautiful surroundings to shop, Jo 🙂 The window displays are so special, Love it!
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I was happy because it was not too busy, Amy, so I could stop and look without bumping into everybody 🙂
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I love looking at the decorations too – they bring such a festive air to the surroundings.
What a beautiful window display. I can imagine that many children look at them for quite a length of time.
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I had to get in line with a whole load of 3 year olds and pushchairs, Colline 🙂
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😀
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I love old arcades too, for the architecture and the atmosphere. I’d rather have a coffee than go shopping though
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And me, Peter! And me! 🙂 Merry Christmas to you and yours.
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Wow! What a beautiful place to shop. I’d save a lot of money shopping there, I’d be too busy admiring the beauty. Thanks for sharing, Jo!
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I just have a little foodstuff to shop for now, Jill, and maybe a small surprise for my husband. As always he says he doesn’t want anything. How easy to please is that? 🙂
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That’s true…I know several people who say the same thing. 🙂
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Oh, those lovely windows – that’s the stuff that puts more magic into Christmas for me! Thank you for a lovely post and all the best for the Christmas season!
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Thank you, Madoqua 🙂 Just a few more days of fun and it will be 2014! Have a wonderful time.
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Never been to Newcastle … wonder why. I’m just like you … love to shop in beautiful surroundings – and UK has plenty of them. I love the Fenwick’s window display – as Selfridge and Liberty … they really know how to make us feel good and play with our fantasy. Fantastic entry.
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Thanks, Vivi 🙂 I’m in Newcastle again tomorrow, but not to shop. We have a friend who’s birthday it will be and we traditionally have supper and a few drinks to celebrate Christmas with her.
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Jo, I wish you a fantastic day … and delight yourself together with your friend. Send my congratulations to her.
Take a drink for me too. *smile
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I love Liberty’s! I can just about afford to buy a pencil in there 😉
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Go on! I bet you can afford a rubber too 🙂
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Delightful, Jo. If you step into a fairytale book. I love decorated windows , even more than the shopping itself 🙂 Merry Christmas to you and your family.
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Thanks, Francina! It’s a Christmas treat every year. I’ll be there again tomorrow so I’ll have another little peek. Merry Christmas to you, too 🙂
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I’m not the shopping kind of guy. 😀 But yeah, I would be very much interested only if the architechtural design is really good or the display very interesting. The scenes (the mall windows) you showed here are like stripped off from some fantasy novel.
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You had to queue to see the windows, Rommel (me and a line of 3 year olds 🙂 )
A couple of the shots have reflection in because I couldn’t get near enough. Merry Christmas to you!
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Ah memories again. In the ten years I lived in Newcastle, I tried to avoid the city at Christmas. Far too busy. And I’m not just a hopeless shopper, I loathe shopping.
I don’t even remember Central Arcade now – you can tell I have lived abroad for too long!
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I think it must be the advent of online shopping (sounds like a pun) but it really wasn’t too busy last Friday. I was meeting a friend for coffee and did the minimum shopping anyway (1 item)
Central is probably the less obvious of the arcades, but the other one is a bit like a mall now. Too long, or not long enough 🙂 Merry Christmas, Rough!
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