By Sarah Hunt | Photography by Rachel Riley
It’s not just the North Sea that connects North Shields with our Nordic and Northern European neighbours. For over a thousand years, Scandinavia, Germany and the Netherlands have shaped our local history, language and culture.
Today, Amsterdam is just a short ferry ride away from the Fish Quay. But you don’t need to dig out your passport to go on a European adventure. Simply hop on the Metro at North Shields to find some North Sea culture closer to home. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Historical ties
If you’re looking for some North Sea-inspired history, you can’t go wrong with Tynemouth Priory. In the 9th century, it was the target of a series of Viking raids and many local places, including Howdon, Seaton and Killingworth, still bear Danish-influenced names – evidence of Norse settlement across our local area. In fact, many Geordie words, including ‘bairn’ and ‘hyem’ are almost identical to their modern-day Norwegian, Danish and Swedish equivalents (‘barn’ and ‘hyem’ or ‘hem’).
Alternatively, hop on the Metro and head into town. Vikings first raided the North East in 793 and it’s said that longships sailed up the Tyne a year later. But it’s North Sea trade that made the bigger mark on Newcastle itself. So, make your way to the Quayside and walk the banks of the Tyne, where merchants from across the North Sea came to trade wool, hides, beer, salt and glass. As far back as the 1300s, Newcastle was exporting coal to Holland, fuelling its breweries and smokehouses.
When Danish ports were blockaded in 1940, the Danish Merchant Navy couldn’t return home, so Newcastle was declared the ‘home of the Danish sailors’. 4,000 Danish sailors sailed from the Tyne during WW2, and a club serving traditional food was set up across the road in St Nicholas’ Building. The club no longer exists, but the Danish Seamen’s Memorial in Newcastle Cathedral is a testament to the long-standing ties between our two nations.
Fika
No adventure is complete without a sweet treat, so why not indulge in a spot of fika, the Swedish art of catching up with friends and family over coffee and cake?
Close to Whitley Bay Metro station you’ll find Bricks & Brews (opening soon, at time of writing), where you can savour fantastic cafe staples while you build with LEGO. Founded in 1932 in Denmark, LEGO is now one of the world’s most recognisable brands and piecing together the iconic plastic blocks has been shown to reduce stress, improve focus and boost creativity for kids and adults alike.
From there it’s just a short walk to Baker in the Bay for cakes, breads and small bakes inspired by the Hanseatic League – a mediaeval confederation of traders that stretched from Cologne to Estonia and Russia. After setting up a micro-bakery in his house, Stefan opened the shop on Whitley Road in 2024. Try traditional cinnamon rolls (their bestseller), sugar buns, gingerbread, or sucuk rolls – savoury spirals inspired by Berlin’s Turkish communities. Grab a coffee, and pick up some pastries for breakfast and a loaf of roggenbrot (rye sourdough flavoured with fennel and caraway seeds) or traditional beigels for later. Sehr lecker! Very delicious!
If you’re in Newcastle, give Lagom, a Swedish-inspired coffee shop on Monk Street, a try. Lagom means “just the right amount” and this concept influences the country’s attitude to work-life balance, sustainable spending and treating people fairly. These ideas of slow living, connection and community spirit shape everything the Lagom team does. Order cinnamon or ginger and fennel buns and sip on a flat white made with beans from Durham’s Fika roastery, served Swedish-style on small wooden boards with glasses of water.
Sauna culture
Finland is considered the spiritual home of the sauna. In fatc, they were added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2020. With 3.3 million saunas in a country of 5.5 million people, saunas represent an integral part of Finnish life and are rapidly gaining popularity in the UK.
You’ll now find two wood-fired beachfront saunas accessible via the Metro. Bag a spot at Steam and Salt on the lower promenade at Longsands to rejuvenate body and mind while you take in a panorama of the beach. Or head to Whitley Bay’s Tyde, which opened in July, for communal or private sauna sessions with calming views over the water.
Design philosophy
Time for some North Sea-inspired shopping? Northern Europe has long been famed for a design philosophy that centres on functional, minimal and long-lasting quality items over trends. Check out Danish stores Flying Tiger and Søstrene Grene in Newcastle – both found within a few minutes of Monument – for bargain buys. Would a North Sea-inspired trip be complete without a mention of Swedish icon IKEA? The world’s largest furniture retailer opened its doors in Gateshead in 1992. Famed for its flat-pack furniture, it also stocks Swedish favourites like meatballs, lingonberry jam and Daim cake. Grab some smoked salmon and marinated herrings to create an authentic Scandi spread.
You’ll also find a wealth of design-led shopping on the coast along Whitley Bay’s Park View. Browse Bellwoods, a beautiful lifestyle shop inspired by Scandinavia, for Danish prints by PSTR studio and Paper Collective, homewares from Broste Copenhagen and Madam Stoltz, mugs from Bloomingville, and skincare products from Meraki. Venture a little further up the road for Mitchell’s menswear store. Opening in its new location on the August bank holiday, you’ll find Scandi names amongst their collection of small independent brands. Keep walking to Escape Boutique for Scandi-inspired womenswear and jewellery, including the playful and contemporary Nümph, modern yet timeless Part Two, sustainable B Young, denim-focused Pulz, and handmade Pilgrim Jewellery – all hailing from Denmark.
Friluftsliv
Head to the beach and take inspiration from friluftsliv, the Norwegian philosophy of open-air living, which holds that spending time in nature (whatever the weather!) is essential for our well-being. Hiking, swimming and cycling are all popular activities in summer, but you’ll find Norwegians enjoying the outdoors in all seasons. This philosophy emphasises the outdoors as a place to connect with, rather than conquer.
So take a brisk stroll along the seafront, brush off your bicycle, or simply relax on the sand and breathe in the North Sea breeze. All that fresh air helps build an appetite, so don’t forget to pack a picnic and make a day of it. Baker in the Bay’s Stefan recommends making traditional open-faced sandwiches, so pair smoked salmon with cream cheese and capers, or cheese with gherkins.
Dugnadsånd
Ready to take inspiration from the Norwegian concept of community spirit? You’ll find a wealth of community activities at North Tyneside Big Local. Their new hub at Royal Quays is a centre for all things focused on reusing and repairing, but you can also find any number of groups, clubs and societies meeting regularly. Pop into their community cafes, visit your local library, join a class at the Linskill Centre, or check out the Lil Community Hub on Nile Street that aims to boost mental health and wellbeing through creativity, music and relaxation.
If you’re up for volunteering, why not join a local litter pick? Or scroll through the I Love North Shields website or social feed to find out what else is happening in the local area? Volunteering is a fantastic way to support the local community, and it’s also been proven to improve individual mental health and happiness. So, it seems the Norwegians are on to something.
Keeping it local
Take the long, unhurried route along the coast towards the Fish Quay and have a look at Clifford’s Fort, which formed part of Britain’s coastal defences during the 17th-Century Anglo-Dutch wars, which were fought over North Sea trade dominance. In fact, North Shields’ fishing industry has such deep ties with our North Sea neighbours that it used to be the site of a Scandinavian Lutheran Church (known locally as the Norwegian Church). Although it shut its doors in the 1960s, the connections live on.
Finish your day with a spot of Hygge, a Danish word that describes a mood of cosiness, comfort and contentment. Join friends and family for a relaxed meal that’s inspired by Scandinavian food philosophy – simple, fresh, local and unfussy. The Fish Quay’s hyperlocal, boat-to-plate approach is exactly what you’re looking for.
Skål! (Cheers!)
USEFUL LINKS & PLACES TO EXPLORE
Discover more about the places, independent businesses and cultural experiences featured in Hygge at Home.
History & Heritage
- Tynemouth Priory and Castle – Explore our Viking and medieval heritage.
- Newcastle Cathedral – Discover the city’s connections with Danish sailors during WWII.
Coffee, Cakes & Fika
- Lagom Coffee Bar – Swedish-inspired coffee culture in Newcastle.
- Baker in the Bay – Independent artisan bakery in Whitley Bay.
Coastal Sauna Experiences
– Steam & Salt – Nordic-inspired wood-fired saunas on Tynemouth Longsands.
Community & Wellbeing
– North Tyneside Big Local – Community activities, volunteering, reuse and repair projects.
– Linskill Centre – Classes, events and community activities in North Shields.
Scandinavian Design & Shopping
- Bellwoods Lifestyle Store – Design-led homewares and gifts in Whitley Bay.
- IKEA Gateshead – Swedish homewares and food.
- Flying Tiger Copenhagen – Danish-inspired shopping.
More Coastal Wellbeing
– TYDE Sea View Sauna – Wood-fired sauna experiences in Whitley Bay.
