Admire the iconic, sky-scraping art of the Angel of the North in Tyne and Wear
What is the Angel of the North?
The Angel of the North is a 20m-high statue of an angel, created by Anthony Gormley and installed in 1998. It quickly became one of the nation’s best-known pieces of public art.
Where is Angel of the North?
Angel of the North is situated on a hill at Low Eighton in Lamesley Parish. It keeps watch over drivers heading along the A1 and A167 near Gateshead.
How big is the Angel of the North
Its pretty impressive. The wings – with a span of 54 metres – appear far too heavy not to crash to the ground. Let’s hope they never do because the 20m-high statue weighs a thumping 208 tonnes. And therein lies the secret of its lasting popularity: when you look at it, you can’t quite believe what you’re seeing.
Among other things, Gormley intended the angel to remind people of the generations of miners who worked in the ground below it for 200 years. It’s certainly easy to forget that on the grassy hummock on which the statue stands.
How can you see it close up?
Parking is limited so it’s a safer bet to take the 21 bus from Newcastle or Gateshead.
Also nearby:
Beamish Open Air Museum – one of Britain’s best outdoor and working museums – presents scenes from different eras, from an 1820s village and a 1900s town to a 1950s farm.
River Tyne walk, Northumberland