Out & About in Newcastle Upon Tyne

Newcastle upon Tyne in North East England is a city and also a metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear. Newcastle lies on the River Tyne and has a castle dating back to 1080. The wool trade was responsible for the development of the city and in later years it became a coal mining area. Together with shipyards further down the river, the area was among the largest shipbuilding centres in the world. However, the coal-mining and shipbuilding industries have declined and today Newcastle is mainly a business and cultural centre.

Newcastle is probably best known for its football club, Newcastle United as well as its leading brand of beer, Newcastle Brown Ale, and its famous Tyne Bridge. The Great North Run, the world's most famous half marathon, has been held here since the early 1980s.The local people are known as Geordies and they have a rich heritage of dialect and folk dance and music.

Shopping

Shopping is taken so seriously in Newcastle that they even have their own shopping festival, known as The Big Shop! Newcastle proudly rivals everywhere else in the country with its variety and sheer number of retail outlets. Newcastle/Gateshead houses the largest shopping centre in Europe. The Eldon Square in the centre of the city is also a great place to shop.

Other major shopping areas include Northumberland Street and Grainger Town where you will find over 100 high street stores as well as smaller independent specialist shops with everything from cheese to hand-made shoes.

Food and Drink

Fine gastronomic experiences in the shape of hearty pub grub, a la carte dining and everything in between is on offer in Newcastle. Endless choices await you whatever you are looking for. Indian, Chinese, Mexican, French and Italian restaurants vie for trade and you will not have to look far to find whatever it is you fancy. Newcastle/Gateshead Quayside is the place to enjoy great food at one of the many restaurants or you can sit looking out at the sea in Tynemouth. After a bracing walk in Seaburn or a cliff top walk in South Shields you are bound to be hungry and there is plenty on offer in these places too especially good old fish and chips. EAT! Newcastle/Gateshead was launched in 2007 and has since become an annual event. This is a festival to celebrate the commitment to top quality food and drink of the North East of England.

Arts and Entertainment

ISIS Arts is a facility helping to improve and develop the talent of artists in the area. The centre houses a large gallery open to the public which exhibits the works of the affiliated 70 or so artists chosen to work at the centre whose aim is to make art an accessible feature of the city. The cutting-edge collections are innovative in style.

In 1837 the Theatre Royal opened its doors and is now a Grade I listed building as it is one of the most cultural historic landmarks in Britain. Throughout its long history, the theatre has played host to big names in drama, comedy, music and dance. The theatre presents nearly 400 performances every year and is the home of the RSC, Opera North, the National Theatre and Rambert Dance Company. Performances also include West End musicals as well as international contemporary dance and pantomime.

Hotels and Travel

Newcastle International Airport offers scheduled flights throughout Britain and Europe and is located about 5 miles to the North West of the city. The Tyne and Wear Metro is a good option for getting into the city centre. Stagecoach operate bus services between the city and the airport. Taxis from the airport are readily available to the city centre. From the airport to the city is roughly seven miles and there are car rental firms in the airport terminal building. Newcastle has three long-distance operators of trains which are the National Express East Coast connecting London to Newcastle, Edinburgh and destinations such as York, Peterborough and Doncaster. Cross Country Trains run every half an hour from Birmingham to Newcastle and the Transpennine Express runs from Newcastle to Leeds.

There is a huge range of accommodation within the city or close to the centre. From family-run guest houses to large hotels and everything in between there is something to suit all budgets and tastes. If you prefer solitude the countryside around Newcastle is stunning and has plenty of accommodation on offer by way of small hotels, bed and breakfast establishments and self-catering.