A guide to Newcastle

Newcastle upon Tyne is a city in north east England; its name which is usually shortened to Newcastle comes from the castle built in the area in 1080 by Robert II, Duke of Normandy. The city is famous for its vibrant nightlife, the Tyne Bridge and out of town Metro Centre shopping complex.

Newcastle is a popular destination for stag and hen weekends, probably due to the wide range of nightlife available. The Metro Centre is a day out in itself with bars, shops, restaurants, cinema and an indoor theme park; the city centre also has well known bar and restaurant chains such as the Living Room and Pizza Express along with independent clubs and pubs. Liquid, Powerhouse and Digital are all popular clubs, or if you fancy something a little less energetic try the Theatre Royal for a play or The Cluny for some live music. Collingwood Street is often referred to as the Diamond Strip due to its many high end bars and the city`s gay scene is focussed around the Pink Triangle in the Times Square area.

For lovers of the great outdoors Newcastle will not disappoint. There are many Blue Flag beaches along the coast, with warmer weather than those at the same latitude elsewhere in the world due to the Gulf Stream. Fairs, festivals and sporting events take place throughout the year; from the Beer festival in April and Newcastle ScienceFest in March to the Hoppings which is thought to be the largest travelling fair in Europe. The city has numerous sporting venues such as St James` Park which is home to Newcastle United football club and Brough Park which hosts speedway as well as dog racing. The Annual Great North Run which is the world`s largest half marathon begins in Newcastle and sees competitors run over the Tyne Bridge on their 13.1 mile race to South Shields.

Newcastle has a long history and evidence of this can be seen in various places; Hadrian`s Wall had a fort and bridge across the Tyne which became the site for the early settlement. Castle Keep which dates back to the 12th century gave the city its name and is still standing now although it is a little different from the original wood structure which was replaced with a stone building in the late 1100`s. Grainger Town is the historical centre of Newcastle and well worth a stroll around; built by Richard Grainger in the later 1830`s over half these buildings have listed status. Newcastle has three cathedrals; the Coptic, Roman Catholic and the Anglican with its famous lantern tower, as well as the only Baha`i Centre in North East England

Newcastle makes a great weekend away or even a day trip whatever your tastes. Plenty of accommodation is available whether you prefer a 5 star hotel or a more modest hostel or even a campsite. Caravaners are generally well catered for and Newcastle is no exception; costal campsites offer great beach access and cliff top walking, whilst sites on the outskirts of the city allow an easy bus or metro journey into the centre and all it has to offer.