Newcastle upon Tyne : Britain

Newcastle upon Tyne : Britain
Newcastle upon Tyne, often called just Newcastle, is a city in the county of Tyne and Wear in North East England. It is also a unitary authority with a population of around 259,000 (2001 census). However, the metropolitan boroughs of North Tyneside (population c.190,000), South Tyneside (population c. 150,000) and Gateshead (population c.200,000) are also part of Newcastle’s conurbation. Newcastle is the main city in the North East of England, and around the sixth largest city in England.
Historically people from Newcastle have been known as Novocastrians. The word Geordie is more often used to refer to inhabitants of the “toon�, however Geordie is also used in reference to people from other parts of Tyneside, for example Wallsend.
About the City
Newcastle is part of an area called Tyneside, whose people are commonly known as Geordies, and are known for their distinctive accent and sense of humour.
Newcastle has a reputation of being a fun-loving city with many bars, restaurants and night clubs. In the 1960s the internationally successful rock group The Animals emerged from the Club-A-Go-Go and other Newcastle music spots. More recently, Newcastle has become popular as a destination for Stag and Hen parties.
The City has a strong sporting tradition, with the City being home to Premiership football Newcastle United, and Zurich Premiership rugby union side Newcastle Falcons, for whom England’s “(Rugby Union) World Cup winning hero� Jonny Wilkinson features. The city’s Metro Radio Arena is home to Newcastle Vipers ice hockey team, and Newcastle Eagles basketball team. The City’s Speedway team Newcastle Diamonds are based at Brough Park in Byker, a venue that is also home to Greyhound Racing. Newcastle Racecourse at High Gosforth Park holds regular meets, including the prestigious race for the Northumberland Plate, which takes place in June each year.
The city also hosts the start of the annual Bupa Great North Run, the world’s largest half Marathon in which participants famously race over the Tyne Bridge into Gateshead and then towards the finish line 21 km away on the coast at neighbouring South Shields.
A growth in the Theatre Culture has taken place in recent years, centred on the impressive Theatre Royal on Grey Street, which for over 25 years has hosted a season of performances from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Other Theatres in the City include the Tyne Opera House, the Newcastle Playhouse, the Live Theatre, the Peoples Theatre and the Gulbenkian Studio. There are several other venues in and around Newcastle, such as: Newcastle City Hall, Newcastle Arena and The Sage Gateshead.
The city has two universities, the University of Newcastle and Northumbria University, and two cathedrals, the anglican St. Nicholas and the catholic St. Mary’s.
The Hoppings, reputedly the largest travelling fair in Europe takes place on Newcastle Town Moor every June. The event had its origins in the Temperance movement during the early 1880s and coincides with the annual race week at High Gosforth Park.
The UK’s first Biotechnology Village, the “Centre for Life� is located in the City Centre.
Museums & Places of Interest
Bessie Surtees House (Quayside)
Hancock Museum (Natural History)
Military Vehicle Museum
Discovery Museum (Science and Local History)
Laing Art Gallery
Centre for Life
Museum of Antiquities
Centre for the Childrens Book (Ouseburn)
Hatton Gallery
Newcastle Castle Keep & Blackgate
Blackfriars, Newcastle
Bessie Surtees House (Quayside)
Royal Grammar School, Newcastle
In the surrounding area
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art (Gateshead)
Shipley Gallery (Gateshead)
Segedunum Roman Fort (Wallsend)
Arbeia Roman Fort (South Shields)
George Stephenson Railway Museum (North Shields)
Blue Reef Aquarium Sea Life Centre (Tynemouth)
Bede’s World (Jarrow)
South Shields Museum (South Shields)
Beamish Open Air Museum (Stanley)
St Mary’s Lighthouse (Whitley Bay)