About
The Angel of the North stands on a hillside at Low Eighton in Gateshead, in the north-east of England, beside the main road and rail corridor that carry many travellers into and out of the region. It is a contemporary sculpture by Antony Gormley, and it is hard to miss: the figure rises 20 metres tall, with wings that span 54 metres from tip to tip.
What to expect
The piece is best appreciated in person rather than from a distance on the motorway. Its scale changes with where you stand, and the open wings seem to frame the sky and the landscape behind them. A visit is usually short and outdoors, so it suits a stop on a longer journey as well as a dedicated trip.
- Kind of visit: an outdoor monument, viewed on foot from the surrounding ground
- Setting: an open hillside at Low Eighton, close to the A1 road
- Who it suits: lovers of public art, photographers, and anyone passing through the north-east
Around the sculpture
Gateshead is a short distance from Newcastle upon Tyne, across the River Tyne, so a visit to the Angel can easily be paired with time in either town. The surrounding area is largely suburban and rural in character, which gives the figure a quiet, open setting that differs from the busier city centres nearby.
Because the address is a roadside location rather than a built attraction, it is worth checking your route and parking before you set out, and allowing time to walk around the figure at your own pace.