10 Things People Do on Northumberland Street That Annoy Everyone

Northumberland Street is one of the busiest and most recognisable parts of Newcastle. Packed with shoppers, commuters, tourists, students and street performers, the city-centre hotspot sees thousands of people pass through every single day.

Stretching between Haymarket and Monument, the famous shopping street is home to major retailers, cafés, food outlets and some of Newcastle’s busiest transport links. But while most people enjoy the atmosphere and convenience of the area, there are also a few behaviours that regularly leave locals frustrated.

Anyone who spends enough time in Newcastle city centre will instantly recognise many of these situations. Whether it is people walking too slowly, blocking pathways or causing chaos during busy shopping hours, Northumberland Street has developed its own set of unspoken rules that many people somehow ignore.

Here are 10 things people do on Northumberland Street that Newcastle locals find surprisingly annoying.

Stopping Suddenly In The Middle Of The Street.

Few things cause more frustration on Northumberland Street than somebody suddenly stopping without warning in the middle of a busy crowd.

It usually happens when someone checks their phone, spots a shop or suddenly remembers where they are going. The problem is that the street is often packed with people walking closely together, especially during weekends and Christmas shopping periods.

One sudden stop can trigger a chain reaction of near-collisions behind them. Newcastle locals have become experts at quickly sidestepping these situations, but it still causes irritation almost daily.

In a city centre where people are often rushing for buses, Metro connections or work breaks, random stopping points can quickly disrupt the flow of foot traffic.

Walking In Massive Groups Across The Full Pavement.

Large groups walking slowly side-by-side are another major complaint among regular visitors to Newcastle city centre.

Northumberland Street is wide, but somehow groups still manage to spread themselves across almost the entire walkway, making overtaking nearly impossible. This becomes especially frustrating during busy shopping periods when the street is already crowded.

Locals often joke that trying to get past a slow-moving group near Monument can feel harder than driving through city-centre traffic.

The issue becomes even more noticeable during university term time, when large student groups and tourists add to the already heavy footfall in the area.

Blocking Shop Entrances.

One of the unwritten rules of city-centre shopping is simple - do not stand directly outside shop doors. Yet this happens constantly across Northumberland Street.

People stopping to chat, vape, check receipts or wait for friends regularly block entrances to busy stores, forcing other shoppers to awkwardly squeeze past them.

Retail workers in Newcastle have dealt with this problem for years, particularly outside major stores during peak shopping hours.

When foot traffic is heavy, even a small blockage outside a doorway can create unnecessary congestion and frustration for everyone nearby.

Walking While Looking Only At Phones.

Smartphones have transformed city life, but they have also created a new type of Northumberland Street obstacle.

People staring down at screens while walking often drift unpredictably through crowds without noticing where they are going. Locals regularly find themselves dodging slow-moving pedestrians who appear completely unaware of their surroundings.

This issue becomes particularly noticeable near Monument and Haymarket, where large crowds merge together throughout the day.

Many Newcastle residents say they can instantly spot tourists or distracted shoppers simply by watching how they navigate the pavement while glued to their phones.

Feeding The Seagulls.

Newcastle’s seagulls already have a strong reputation for causing chaos in the city centre, and feeding them only makes the problem worse.

Despite warning signs and regular complaints, some people still throw food onto Northumberland Street, attracting huge groups of aggressive birds within seconds.

Locals know exactly what happens next - loud screeching, diving seagulls and panicked shoppers trying to protect their Greggs from aerial theft.

The problem has become so common that many people now instinctively guard their food while walking through certain parts of the city centre.

Standing At The Top Of Escalators.

Although technically more common inside Eldon Square and Metro stations connected to Northumberland Street, standing still immediately after stepping off an escalator remains one of Newcastle’s most irritating habits.

People often pause to decide where they are going next without realising dozens of others are still moving behind them.

This creates awkward bottlenecks and occasional collisions, especially during busy weekends or football match days when the city centre is packed.

Regular commuters have little patience for this behaviour and usually attempt to move around the blockage as quickly as possible.

Playing Loud Music Or Videos In Public.

Most people expect some noise on a busy shopping street, but playing videos or music loudly from phones and portable speakers tends to divide opinion among Newcastle locals.

While street performers are part of Northumberland Street’s atmosphere, random phone audio blasting through crowded areas is often viewed very differently.

Many people simply want to shop, work or travel through the city centre without hearing somebody else’s TikTok feed at full volume.

This has become a growing frustration in many UK city centres, and Newcastle is certainly no exception.

Queueing Without Any Awareness Of Space.

Queues outside food outlets, coffee shops and popular stores regularly spill out onto Northumberland Street, particularly during lunch hours and weekends.

The problem is not usually the queue itself - it is the lack of awareness from some people standing in it. Groups often leave huge gaps, block pathways or spread themselves across busy pedestrian routes.

This creates confusion for other shoppers trying to move through already crowded areas.

Experienced Newcastle city-centre visitors tend to develop an almost tactical awareness of how to navigate these constantly shifting obstacles.

Smoking Or Vaping In Busy Crowds.

Smoking and vaping remain common complaints in heavily crowded parts of Newcastle city centre.

Many people become frustrated when someone lights a cigarette or exhales large clouds of vape smoke while surrounded by tightly packed pedestrians. In busy areas like Northumberland Street, avoiding the smoke can be difficult.

Families with children and shoppers carrying food often find this particularly irritating.

Although opinions on vaping differ widely, many Newcastle locals agree that crowded pedestrian areas are probably not the best place for it.

Stopping At The Bottom Of Monument Steps.

The steps around Monument are one of Newcastle city centre’s most popular meeting points, but they can also become one of its biggest congestion points.

People frequently stop suddenly at the bottom or top of the steps to take photos, wait for friends or decide where to go next. During busy periods, this creates confusion as large crowds attempt to move in different directions simultaneously.

Locals who pass through Monument daily often navigate the area almost instinctively, knowing exactly which routes to avoid at peak times.

For newcomers, however, the organised chaos can be surprisingly overwhelming.

Why Northumberland Street Still Defines Newcastle City Centre.

Despite all the small frustrations, Northumberland Street remains one of Newcastle’s most iconic locations. The street’s energy, atmosphere and constant activity are part of what makes the city centre feel alive.

From buskers and shoppers to football fans and students, the area brings together people from all walks of life. While certain habits may annoy locals from time to time, most would agree that the street would not feel the same without its constant buzz and unpredictability.

For better or worse, Northumberland Street perfectly reflects the personality of Newcastle itself - lively, busy, sometimes chaotic, but never boring.

What annoys you most about Northumberland Street in Newcastle? Share your biggest city-centre frustrations, funniest experiences or unwritten Newcastle rules in the comments below and join the conversation with fellow locals.