Marina/Anchorage: Royal Quays
Royal Quays Marina in North Shields won the Yacht Harbour Association “Marina of the Year” in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023, but what’s it really like? Full-time liveaboard and writer Pippa Shaw shares her experiences.
June 19, 2025
Date(s) of visit: 31/07/2024 – 04/08/2024
Boat length: 28ft
Boat type: Sailing yacht
Boat name: Sudana
Crew: Two persons and one cat
Royal Quays Marina is a friendly, secure, pleasant stop at the entrance to the Tyne River. | Image: PS Copywriting
Price
Visitor berthing at Royal Quays costs at £3.55 per metre per night or £21.30 per metre per week. Short-stay vessels can also take advantage of the marina for up to 4 hours for a fixed cost of £15 per boat.
Royal Quays Marina also offers annual berths. You’ll need to get in touch with the marina for a quote, but annual berthing also includes 300 free nights at any other Boatfolk marinas, access to an annual events program, two free tickets to the Southampton Boat Show, 10% off boatyard lifting and washing, and many other perks.
If you’re looking for a bail-out for the winter months, you can also speak to Royal Quays about winter moorings for a bespoke quote.
All moorings include free WiFi and water. Electricity isn’t included but pre-pay cards can be purchased at reception – which is open 24 hours.
It’s worth noting that Royal Quays will measure your boat for long-term moorings. (I know a lot of marinas say they’ll do this and never do, but this one actually will.)
Access
Royal Quays marina is accessible at all states of tide and is located just 2nm upstream from the entrance to the Tyne River. Visitors approaching from sea can follow the marked channel from the Tyne entrance piers, which will direct you through the outer harbour. Watch out for the Shields Ferry crossing, running between North and South Shields frequently throughout the day! When entering the river, vessels must report to ‘Tyne VTS’ on VHF channel 12. This should be repeated when leaving the marina.
If you’ve not spent a lot of time navigating rivers, be sure to read our articles on the Rules of the Water before making your approach.
The marina entrance will be found on your starboard as you come upriver (in the former Albert Edward Dock). There is a lock, so you’ll need to radio ‘Royal Quays Marina’ on VHF channel 80 as you approach. There isn’t a lot of space between the breakwaters before entering the marina, so it’s a good idea to get your fenders and lines ready before approaching.
The lock has one pontoon to port. It’s worth noting that the lock gates are relatively narrow on both sides and then open to a much wider space, so visitors should approach slowly and be prepared to make a sharp turn. If the lock isn’t busy, you may also want to tie up a little back from the second gates to ensure you’ve got enough space to manoeuvre through.
The Royal Quays lock will be on your starboard as you head upriver. Arrange fenders and lines to port and radio ‘Royal Quays Marina’ on VHF channel 80 ro arrange a lock-in. | Image: PS Copywriting
The Boatfolk Group reminds visitors that the River Tyne can be a busy commercial port, so all vessels should be wary of other water users and be sure to follow the rules of the water, stick to starboard, and keep clear of large vessels that are restricted in their ability to manoeuvre.
One of my favourite things about Royal Quays is the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. So, whether you’re shorthanded or well-crewed, you’re likely to find a member of staff waiting for you in the lock to help you tie up. If it’s your first visit, they’ll also be equipped with a welcome pack, including information on the marina and surrounding areas, and a map with hand-drawn directions to your berth. I couldn’t imagine an easier or better welcome!
Contact info
Phone: 0191 2728282
VHF: Ch 80
Email: [email protected]
Address:
Albert Edward Dock,
Coble Dene Road,
North Shields
NE29 6DU
Website: www.boatfolk.co.uk/royal-quays-marina
The office is open 24/7 and is always very friendly and helpful.
Comfort
The team at Royal Quays Marina will endeavour to accommodate vessels of various sizes into appropriately sized berths, so you should be able to enjoy a very comfortable stay here. Our berth was a little short, but they did offer us the opportunity to move into a larger one (which we declined, only because we were a little tired and didn’t want the hassle).
The pontoons are wide and stable, and vessels are well-sheltered from wind in all directions. As the marina benefits from a lock, vessels remain afloat in all states of tide, and you won’t need to worry about swell causing any discomfort while you’re trying to relax!
With plenty of room to manoeuvre and strict speed limits in place, visitors can also rest comfortably, knowing even power boats aren’t going to disturb your peace at Royal Quays.
See also: our guide to Perfect Marina Berthing.
Royal Quays Marina can accommodate vessels of varying sizes and will endeavour to consider the boat length when allocating an appropriate berth. They’ll also consider other things to make your stay more comfortable - such as whether you’re likely to go out during your stay or if you need to be especially close to the exit. | Image: PS Copywriting
Facilities
The facilities at Royal Quays are exceptional and a big part of why we decided to visit. Although there are some old shower/toilet units beneath the office, visitors can disregard these in favour of the newer, more impressive block located next to the Lock Restaurant. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!
Showers
The new showers at Royal Quays are spectacular. Huge shower blocks, complete with a toilet, sink, and changing area, offer plenty of space to relax and unwind beneath a huge shower head with excellent pressure and temperature control. There are at least five unisex shower rooms, plus three showers each in the men's and women’s toilets.
But the showers aren’t really the star of the show at Royal Quays… The best part of this marina is the inclusion of a bathroom, complete with a large, comfortable bathtub (with shower above), perfect for relaxing after a long passage or just as a treat.
Yes, Royal Quays Marina has a bath! Plus some very luxurious waterfall showers that take any visit to the next level. | Image: PS Copywriting
Plymouth’s Mayflower Marina is the only other marina we’ve come across in five years of sailing the UK that offers a BATHroom. In my opinion, Royal Quays Marina’s bathroom is nicer.
Laundry
The laundry room is located beneath the marina office in the main building. The office will give you a code for the laundry room (as well as the current code for the new shower block) on arrival (although they’ll be happy to give you a new one if you misplace it).
The laundrette only offers one washing machine and one tumble dryer, but the drums are large enough to fit two standard washes in and are reasonably priced. You may want to purchase two tumble dries, as one token will only cover 30 minutes, which we found wasn’t quite enough to dry everything (the office also advised us of this, which was nice).
Laundry tokens are available from the marina office. Although they’re not the quickest cycles, £4.50 for a wash and £2.25 (okay, call it £4.50 as well, seeing as you will need two cycles) make laundry here very convenient.
Fuel
Marine diesel and unleaded petrol are available 24 hrs from the fuel berth. This can be found just outside the lock (on the seaward side of the lock gates). If you need fuel, you can contact the marina on VHF Ch 80 or speak to the office to arrange a tie-up.
The marina will allow you to fill a (certified fuel-grade) jerry can from the pontoon. However, you may not refill your tanks within the marina. All refuelling must be done on the seaward side of the lock.
Fuel prices are reasonable at Royal Quays – in October 2024, the price was just £0.89 per unit. Preferential rates are also available for fuel for annual berth holders.
Royal Quays is the only waterside facility providing unleaded petrol between the Humber and the East Coast of Scotland, so it’s a good place to top-up if you’re travelling along this part of the coast.
The fuel berth can be found just outside the lock at Royal Quays. Be sure to fill up on the seaward side of the lock, as you will not be allowed to refuel inside the marina. | Image: PS Copywriting
Gas
Royal Quays has a respectable stockpile of Calor & Camping Gaz available just outside the office. If you’re checking for the availability of your next bottle, be sure you’re looking in the ‘full’ cage, not the ‘empty’ one – a mistake the office tells us people make regularly!
If you need a gas bottle, simply ask at reception. Even if they don’t have your bottle in stock, they should be able to advise you on when the next delivery is due.
Electricity
All berths are serviced by electricity. Pre-paid cards can be purchased from the office and are easy to handle. Please note, if you move berth during your stay, you will not be able to recover any electricity loaded onto your pontoon, so be sure that you’re happy with your mooring before you load on too much power.
Water
As expected, all berths are also serviced by drinking water taps, and water is included in your mooring fee. You will need your own hose and hose connector.
Bins
Bins, including mixed and glass recycling, can be found near the marina entrance and are emptied regularly.
Boatyard
Royal Quays also have a dedicated boatyard and haul-out service, offering a fantastic and convenient location for all your maintenance needs.
The boatyard is able to provide boat lifts and secure hardstanding/storage for vessels up to 40 tonnes, and the hoist dock can accommodate boats up to 5.3 metres wide. In addition, users can benefit from the 1.5 tonne capacity jib crane, perfect for un-stepping masts, lifting engines, and more.
Resident berth holders and visitors alike are welcome in the boat yard. Visitors will need to speak with the office to get a quote, while Annual Berth Holders can benefit from 12 weeks hardstanding per year included in their annual fees.
With an ‘open yard’ policy, Royal Quays is happy for you to complete work on your own boat or employ a contractor of your choice. Contractors must have a ‘permit to work’ at Royal Quays.
The boatyard is serviced by 240v, 16-amp electricity and water. However, you must supply your own extension lead and hose.
Royal Quays Marina also offers a boatyard and haul-out service for resident berth holders and visitors alike. | Image: PS Copywriting
Shops
Grocery shopping is one of the few areas where Royal Quays is a little disappointing, as there are no large shops near the marina. That said, there are at least two Premier corner shops within a 10-minute walk and plenty of larger stores across the river in South Shields or a metro ride away in Newcastle. There’s also a Poundland just a 15-minute walk from the marina.
However, although walkable grocery stores aren’t in abundance at Royal Quays (or, truth be told, in North Shields in general), it is incredibly easy to arrange a delivery. Tesco frequently has next-day slots available for reasonable delivery fees to this marina, and you can even order a Tesco Whoosh to the address.
All the standard delivery apps also operate here, so you can easily get a grocery order delivered via Uber Eats or Deliveroo if you’re in a rush.
There might not be any large grocery shops near Royal Quays Marina, but it’s quick and easy to get a delivery, and local restaurants like the Lock offer some absolutely delicious dishes! | Image: PS Copywriting
Things to do
Despite its proximity to the exciting goings on in Newcastle and South Shields, Royal Quays’ location in North Shields might not be the most exciting destination you’ve ever experienced. That said, it is easy to get around.
The ferry to South Shields operates every half hour and is a relatively short walk from the marina. You can view the ferry timetable at https://www.nexus.org.uk/ferry/timetable.
The Shields ferry runs every half hour, 7 days a week (start and end times vary) and makes a trip from North to South Shields pleasant and convenient.
If you’d prefer to head into the city, there are a plethora of buses and metro services to take commuters between North Shields and Newcastle. The metro is a fair walk away (approximately 20 minutes by foot), but there is a bus that can travel this distance if you prefer not to walk. Most bus services and metros stop at around 11pm, so watch your timings if you’re heading out in the evening and don’t fancy paying for a taxi!
More locally, visitors should definitely check out The Lock situated next to the shower block. With delicious food, drinks, and coffee, it’s a must-visit (even if it does close at 5pm most days!).
For more extensive pubbing options, Fish Quay has a generous selection of bars and restaurants, most offering cocktails and tasty food for reasonable prices, with many discounts available!
If you don’t fancy taking a trip to the city or across the river, walking past Fish Quay towards Tynemouth offers a lovely day out with gorgeous views and plenty of refreshments on-route. There’s even a cute beach on the way! | Image: PS Copywriting
Fancy stretching your legs? Walk past Fish Quay and Collingwood’s Monument for a stunning and refreshing stroll to Tynemouth Village. With its historic Priory and Castle and quaint atmosphere, this beautiful walk offers plenty to see and enjoy, as well as lots of great refreshment stops along the way.
Head in the opposite direction, and it won’t take long to find a gym, bowling alley, and InflataNation’s inflatable theme park (which I’ve not checked out, but sounds like a lot of fun) located by the Newcastle Quays Retail Park.
There’s also an Odeon cinema just an 11-minute drive or 25-minute bus ride from the marina – although you might be better off heading into Newcastle city for the cinema if you’re going by public transport, as the metro usually runs later than the local buses.
Review:
I absolutely loved my time in Royal Quays. Although I was initially a little disappointed by the lack of local entertainment and grocery options, it didn’t take long to discover how quick and easy it is to get a delivery, and Fish Quay (albeit not on the doorstep) offers a great opportunity to soak up some atmosphere without being restricted by public transport timetables.
I was also a little concerned by the 20-minute walk to the Metro. However, having actually completed the walk, I can confirm it’s not unbearable and takes you through a pleasant green park to break up the roadside journey, as well as via one of the nearby Premier stores (handy if you need a quick top-up on your way home). There’s also a bus that departs near the marina if you want to skip the walk – it’ll take you to a different station, but the trains are incredibly regular, so this won’t be a problem!
So, although things look a little far away, I can confirm that this isn’t really a problem for Royal Quays. And the marina in general more than makes up for its slightly remote location with some of the friendliest staff I’ve ever met, a 24/7 office, fantastic laundry facilities, and 5-star showers… And, of course, we can’t forget that Royal Quays Marina has a bathtub. So, how could I ever rate this marina as anything other than one of my absolute favourite stops so far?!
As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing more exciting than a marina that lets me take a proper bath! | Image: PS Copywriting
Would you stay again?
Definitely. In fact, after our short visit to Royal Quays in the summer of 2024, we actually decided to spend winter 2024/25 in Royal Quays, and have since returned to the marina.
We don’t usually turn back on our charity sailing UK circumnavigation, but we both decided that Royal Quays Marina was the perfect place to spend the winter season this year, and we couldn’t imagine being happier anywhere else.
So, yes. I would and am staying again.
Opie’s Opinion
As regular readers will know by now, we never round off a marina review without hearing from Sudana’s resident boat cat, Opie:
I really liked my time in Royal Quays Marina. We were moored next to a lifeboat, which was lots of fun to climb on, and the pontoons were nice and stable. I might have liked it if there were a few less dogs and a bit more grass, but I was happy on the comfortable pontoons and did lots of sunbathing.
Opie enjoyed his stay at Royal Quays Marina, although we have since received notice that pet owners must have their animals “under control” at all times. | Image: PS Copywriting
Related Reading
If you enjoyed this article, you might also want to check out some of our top tips for making the most out of any sailing trip:
- Choosing the Right Marine Diesel
- Alternatives to Petrol Powered Outboard Engines
- Gas Safety Onboard: Guide for Yachts and Powerboats
- Choosing the Right Boatyard to Work on Your Boat
- Sustainable Boating: Make Your Boating More Eco-Friendly
- How to Navigate Around a Boat Like a Pro: Everyday Boating Terminology
- Rules of the Water and the Give-Way Hierarchy
Planning your own UK circumnavigation? Full-time liveaboard and writer Pippa Shaw has committed to a UK circumnavigation on her 28ft sailing yacht in aid of marine conservation charity Sea-Changers. On the way, she’s reviewing some of her favourite (and less favourite) stops. Check out some of her other reviews here:
Next Steps
If you’re ready to get on the water and start your boating adventures from the Tyne River, check out all boats for sale in Tyne and Wear - including boats for sale in Newcastle and North Shields - right here at boats.com.
Editor's Note: This article was written and edited in October 2024, all opinions are the writer's own as of that time.
