As of 2004, Northumberland Street was the most expensive location in the UK outside London to own a shop, in terms of rental per square foot.

[citation needed] The street runs from the Haymarket Interchange Metro station and The Newcastle Civic Centre in the north, towards Pilgrim Street and the Monument Metro station at the south.

Until 1999, the most northerly section of Northumberland Street from Northumberland Road onwards was still open to traffic and a busy bus route, which led to the shops in this part of the street being much less popular than those farther south.

Delivery traffic is still permitted to drive up Northumberland Street in the early morning to complete deliveries, but, after that, all non-pedestrian traffic is banned, including bicycles and skateboards.

Here is a list of some of the retailers, cafes and banks that can be found on Northumberland Street as of September 2012: