Banks and exchanges Banks are concentrated around Grey and Northumberland streets. There's a bureau de change at the airport, in the main post office and in Thomas Cook travel agency, and an American Express bureau in Lunn Poly, 124 Northumberland St (tel 0191/232 5262).

Car rental All of the following have outlets at the airport as well as in town: Avis, 7 George St 0191/232 5283 and at the airport tel 0191/214 0116; Europcar, 90 Westmorland Rd tel 0191/261 0833 and at the airport tel 0191/286 5070; Hertz, 14 Westgate Rd tel 0191/232 5313 and at the airport tel 0191/286 6748.

Ferries North Shields ferry terminal at Royal Quays, seven miles east of the city, has sailings to Scandinavia and Amsterdam. Contact Fjord Line (for Bergen, Haugesund and Stavanger; tel 0191/296 1313, ) or DFDS (Gothenberg, Kristiansand and Amsterdam; tel 08705/333000, ). Buses leave from Central Station to the terminal before each sailing.

Hospital Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Rd (tel 0191/232 5131), behind the university, just 400 yards from Haymarket bus station.

Internet Internet Exchange, 26-30 Market St tel 0191/230 1280.

Left luggage Lockers available at the train station (daily 8am-6pm).

Police Corner of Market and Pilgrim streets tel 0191/214 6555.

Post office St Mary's Place, near the Civic Centre, at Haymarket tel 0191/230 2224.

Taxis There are ranks all over the centre, including those at Haymarket, Bigg Market, and outside Central Station. Weekend nights are the most difficult times to hail a cab; the queues at the Bigg Market ranks can be horrendous. Call Noda (tel 0191/222 1888 or 232 7777) at Central Station for advance bookings.

Travel agents STA, 9 St Mary's Place tel 0191/233 2111, ; Thomas Cook, 110 Grey St tel 0191/230 0773; Usit Campus, Level 5, Student Union Building, King's Walk tel 0191/232 2881.