Newcastle was so named because of its Norman castle built in 1080. 1,000 years earlier the Romans had built a fort and a bridge over the Tyne. In the Middle Ages the city was an established coal mining and export centre. Later in the 19th century it became an area of engineering and steel production and later again for shipbuilding.
Newcastle is known for its fabulous Tyne Bridge, built in 1928 and 162m long. Also for grand old buildings interspersed with contemporary buildings like the Baltic Art Centre or The Sage Gateshead, an international music centre plus the tilting Gateshead Millennium Bridge.
Newcastle’s cathedral is one of the smallest, its ornate lantern tower, which is half tower, half spire is one of only four in the country.
Newcastle has seven bridges that span the Tyne. Along Quayside is a nice walk during the day and a vibrant lively area at night when all the pubs, bars and clubs are full.
The Guildhall was built in 1658 and is now home to a branch of the Tourist Office.
The Biscuit Factory is now the country’s biggest art shop including paintings, sculptures, glassware and furniture and has a first class restaurant upstairs. It used to be of course a biscuit factory.
Seven Stories is a converted Victorian mill. It is a hands-on museum for children’s literature. Its over seven floors and houses manuscripts and art work from the 1930’s onwards.
A worthwhile tour is the River Tyne Cruise. It’s three hours long and sails from the Quayside Pier. It’s a great way to see Manchester.
The Theatre Royal is the winter home of the Royal Shakespeare Company and is a beautiful Victorian building.
The Quayside has a mixture of 17th century and Georgian properties. There are cafes and wine bars plus craft stalls, street entertainers and a Sunday Market.
There are plenty of places to visit for a night out in Manchester with many pubs, clubs and bars to choose from.
Ouseburn Valley is an up and coming hippy area where the once empty Victorian mills and warehouses have been transformed into pubs, bars and restaurants.
Some five miles south of Newcastle is the Angel of the North, a human frame with wings that towers above the A1(M).
Segedunum was the last post of Hadrians Wall lying four miles east of Newcastle. The 35m tower can be climbed for some fantastic views. The site includes a reconstructed Roman bathhouse and a museum that gives a good insight of Roman life.
Newcastle International Airport is seven miles north of the city on the A696. From here direct flights can be taken to Aberdeen, London, Cardiff, Dublin, Belfast, Oslo, Amsterdam, Paris, Prague, Brussels and a few destinations in Spain.
Norway’s Fjord Line runs ferries between Newcastle, Stavanger and Bergen. DFDS Seaways operate ferries to Norway, Sweden and Holland.
Newcastle is on the London to Edinburgh railway line taking three and a half hours to London.
There is always property available for rent in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne with average prices of £665pcm for a l bed flat, £600pcm for a 2 bed flat, £625pcm for a 3 bed flat, £560pcm for a 2 bed house and £660 for a 3 bed house.
The city is well known for its sporting hero’s such as Michael Owen and Alan Shearer both associated with Newcastle United F.C., Jonny Wilkinson whose rugby club is the Newcastle Falcons and Brendan Foster a former Olympic 10,000m runner who created the BUPA Great North Run. This is a half marathon race from Newcastle to South Shields. It was first run in 1981 with 12,000 entrants and is now one of the biggest races in the world.
There are several large shopping areas around Newcastle. Eldon Square is the largest that houses the first and largest Fenwick Department store and a John Lewis.
Northumberland Street in the city was reported to be the most expensive shopping area for rents outside London.
The MetroCentre is Europes largest indoor shopping centre and is situated in Gateshead just outside the city.
Some of the shops to be found in Newcastle are Get Smart II, Panache, Jacques Vert, Republic Ltd, Union, Jaegar, Edo Menswear, Junior, Kidstyle Two and Jack and Jill.
Some of the department stores include The Loft, TK Maxx, Woolworths, Fenwick and John Lewis.
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