Portobello is an area of Birtley, which is situated within the borough of Gateshead in Tyne & Wear and physically linked to Chester-le-Street, which lies across the county border in County Durham. Part of the old Chester-le-Street Rural District until 1974, since then the area has been considered part of greater Birtley which lies within the historic boundaries of County Durham and uniquely, retains that county’s postcodes and its postal town remains Chester-le-Street. Overlooking the area and situated on high ground to the north of Birtley, on the site of the baths of the old ‘Betty Ann Pit’, is the infamous sculpture by Anthony Gormley, “the Angel of the North”. As much a feat of engineering as a work of art, the steel sculpture stands 20 metres (66 feet) tall with a wingspan of 54 metres (178 feet), greater than that of a Boeing 757 and weighs 200 tonnes, making it Britains largest sculpture which has to withstand winds of up to 100mph in its exposed location. Erected on site in 1998, the Angel cost nearly £800,000, controversial due to the relatively deprived nature of the surrounding area. It has become, however, an icon landmark and a symbolic ‘gateway’ to the North of England.
Budget
Travelodge Washington A1(M) Southbound *book online*
Places to Stay near Portobello Birtley
Travelodge Washington A1(M) Southbound (0.48 miles)
Located on the A1(M), close to Washington, this Travelodge provides contemporary quality accommodation and an ideal base for exploring the surrounding area. Spacious en-suite rooms, TV in every room, tea and coffee making facilities, free ... More | visit website
Bowes Incline Hotel (0.61 miles)
Reopened on 5th February 2007, the transformation of The Bowes Incline Hotel is now complete. The Hotel maintains the 18 en-suite rooms and warm, friendly welcome which have made it extremely popular with visitors to ... More | visit website
Holiday Inn Washington (0.67 miles)
Between historic Durham, Sunderland and Newcastle, the Holiday Inn Washington hotel is ideally located in Tyne and Wear, just off the A1M junction 64. This long-established hotel is well known for its friendly staff and ... More | visit website
Premier Inn Newcastle (Washington) (0.67 miles)
Campanile Hotel - Washington (0.79 miles)
Ideally located just of junction 64 of the A1(M), the Campanile Washington offer excellent value for money. All our comfortably furnished rooms have en suite facilities, including TV (with sky channel), direct ... More
Old Manse Guest House (0.85 miles)
We are situation between the city of Durham and Newcastle both highly desirable city breaksand for their Historical points and of course their fabulous night life. Locally we have the ... More
Quality Hotel Sunderland (1.58 miles)
A modern purpose built hotel ideally located for easy access to Newcastle, South Shields, Washington, Durham and Sunderland. Ideally located in the tourist paradise of Catherine Cookson country. With 24 ... More
Mercure Newcastle George Washington Hotel Golf & Spa (2.17 miles)
With good access by road to Newcastle, Sunderland and Durham, this hotel boasts excellent facilities, including a restaurant, brasserie, lounge bar, beauty salon and an 18-hole championship golf course. The hotel makes ... More
Ravensworth Arms (2.26 miles)
The Ravensworth Arms stands on the site of Clubdon Hall, and takes it's name from the nearby Ravensworth Castle. The pub can boast a wealth of literary connections: Lewis Carroll ... More
The Plough Inn (2.28 miles)
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