What makes people fall in love with North Shields — and stay?
Over the past year, we asked people a simple question:
What do you love about North Shields? What are your happiest memories here? Do you have any hopes for the future of the town?
The responses were thoughtful, personal and deeply rooted in place. Together, they paint a picture of a town shaped by memory, community, history and everyday moments.
Here are just some of the reasons people love it here.
“Northumberland Park is a beautiful place for a walk in all seasons.
It is peaceful and serene, and occasionally a shy Water Rail can be spotted amongst the reeds on the lake, with sometimes a Mallard or a Coot for company.The Elizabethan Herb Garden is also a place of interest, with useful information on many species of herb.
The Pet Cemetery is fascinating, with its endearing tributes to much missed animal companions.
The friendliness of the local shopkeepers, who remain resilient and good natured, even during the current chaos on Bedford Street during the re-paving and landscaping.
The local humour is shown on the delivery van at North Shields Quality Butchers, which states ‘No sausages are kept in this van overnight!’
The Old Low Lights Heritage Centre on Shields Quay is another gem which offers a warm welcome, and documents local history in its fascinating exhibitions.
The viewing platform gives fantastic views of the river, and it is a great venue for concerts and local history talks too. It also has a very popular café!”*
— Jane Diaz
“I love North Shields because I’ve seen the place grow and evolve since I arrived here 25 years ago, and my kids have flourished here.
It’s where they proudly say they’re from. And rightly so.
I also proudly tell people I live here and it’s where I have met so many wonderful folk and made life-long friendships.”*
— Ailsa Rutter OBE
“I’ve lived in Shields all my life, 74 years at last count.
I have memories of the fish factory smell that actually stuck to your clothes and if mam had hung out the washing it needed rewashing!
For the town’s future I would like to see more social housing within the centre itself to help improve footfall in the area and help support those less fortunate than myself. More infrastructure for the youth of the area would also be a great benefit.”*
— Graham Edwards
“I love North Shields because of the deep roots I have here.
My great, great grandmother, Septima, married a young river pilot called William in Christ Church on a chilly Monday in January 1868.
Her father, Joseph, lived on Hudson Street and owned a paddle steamer on the river. He was declared bankrupt in 1870 and forced to move to the low town, where he married the landlady of the Ship Inn on Bell Street.
There’s so much history here and so many ghosts that make me feel connected to the river and the town. Of all the different places I’ve lived, this is the one that feels like home.”*
— Diane Wailes
“North Shields runs through my veins as my Mam who was born in the 1930s was one of eleven children born in Dean Street.
She worked a while at the (long gone) Hilcarters department store that overlooked the Fish Quay on the gloves counter. North Shields was ‘our town’.
Visits to Hadaway’s wet fish shop and to the two brothers who owned the famous fruit and veg stall next to the old Woolworths.
My Dad just turned 90 last year and worked at the now gone Swan Hunter Shipyards and to this day still goes every week to Lindisfarne Seafood on the Fish Quay for his crab and prawns that he dresses himself.
My Uncle Jimmy used to manage the carpet department in another long-gone North Shields institution, Walkers department store.
Before setting up For the Love of the North in 2017 I worked in the libraries in North Tyneside.
I’ve a real special affinity with the town and it’s fab to see all the positive developments.”*
— Paul Hull
“I love North Shields because of its real sense of history and character.
My own family goes way back and there is a close-knit community where most people you meet will know someone you know.
Equally, perhaps due to being a port town, North Shields welcomes new people and ideas with open arms and there is always something interesting going on.”*
— Caroline Oswald
“I loved North Shields when I was a bairn and when I was older, especially during the summer holidays.
Especially when the grass banks were cut and we would get a piece of cardboard and slide down to the bottom. Happy days.”*
— Michael Tate
“My happiest moment in Shields was meeting my partner, Claire.
I travelled from London every Friday after work, travelled for four hours to see her. Eventually moved up here and haven’t looked back.
The people here are so friendly and I love the beaches. Thank you Claire for introducing me to this beautiful part of the world.”*
— Christopher Sims
“I’ve been here for 18 years, I love it and wouldn’t live anywhere else.
There are some great hidden gems — pubs like Two Pennies, Baba Yaga’s, How Do You Do and the Exchange, and then there’s the Fish Quay!
We are near the Tyne, town, countryside and coast — what more would you want.”*
— Mags Bannister
“I loved the Fish Quay Festival back in the late 80s and early 90s.
We used to park at Tynemouth and walk along. I remember one year when I was about five, the sun was blazing and the place was heaving with thousands of people.
There was such an atmosphere of noise and joy.”*
— Louise Tolson
Why We Love It Here
These stories don’t belong to one person or one moment — they belong to the town.
They speak of roots and arrivals, memories and hopes, pride and possibility. Together, they remind us that North Shields isn’t just somewhere to live — it’s somewhere people belong.
If you’d like to share your own story, we’d love to hear from you.
Email us at hello@ilovenorthshields.com
