Newcastle upon Tyne
70348
225798633
2008-07-15T13:27:40Z
86.132.7.62
{{infobox UK place|
|country = England
|official_name= Newcastle upon Tyne
|static_image= [[Image:Tyne Bridge - Newcastle Upon Tyne - England - 2004-08-14.jpg|240px]]|static_image_caption= <small>The [[Tyne Bridge]]<small>
|latitude= 54.9740
|longitude= -1.6132
|population= 259,536
|population_density=
|metropolitan_borough= [[Newcastle City Council]]
|metropolitan_county= [[Tyne and Wear]]
|region= North East England
|constituency_westminster= [[Newcastle upon Tyne Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Newcastle upon Tyne Central]]
|constituency_westminster1= [[Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend (UK Parliament constituency)|Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend]]
|constituency_westminster2= [[Newcastle upon Tyne North (UK Parliament constituency)|Newcastle upon Tyne North]]
|constituency_westminster3= [[Tyne Bridge (UK Parliament constituency)|Tyne Bridge]]
|post_town= NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
|postcode_district= NE1-NE7, NE12-NE13, NE15
|postcode_area= NE
|dial_code= 0191
|os_grid_reference= NZ249645
|london_distance=
}}
'''Newcastle upon Tyne''' ({{Audio|en-uk-NewcastleUponTyne(ShortA).ogg|pronunciation}}) (usually shortened to '''Newcastle''') is a [[city]] in [[Tyne and Wear]], [[England]], [[Historic Counties of England|historically]] part of the [[English county]] of [[Northumberland]].<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Northumberland: The County
|work=northumberland.gov.uk
|url=http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/vg/gazeteer.html
|accessdate=2006-12-29
}}
</ref> The [[city]] lies on the banks of the [[River Tyne]]. The city owes its name to the [[Norman]] castle built in 1080, by [[Robert Curthose|Robert II]] of [[Normandy]], the eldest son of [[William the Conqueror]].
Newcastle was historically a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] settlement. The city grew as an important centre for the [[wool trade]] and it later became a major coal mining area. The port developed in the 16th century and, along with the shipyards lower down the river was amongst the world's largest [[shipbuilding]] and ship-repairing centres. The city is also an educational centre, with two universities.
The city was founded in the 2nd century, during the times of [[Roman Empire|Roman]] occupation, under the name [[Pons Aelius]]. The medieval Latin name is Novum Castrum super Tynum (Newcastle upon Tyne). The city is the [[List of English cities by population|20th most populous in England]]; the larger [[Tyneside|Tyneside conurbation]], of which Newcastle forms part, is the [[List of conurbations in the United Kingdom|sixth most populous conurbation in the United Kingdom]].<ref>Pointer, Graham, ''[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/fom2005/03_FOPM_UrbanAreas.pdf The UK's Major Urban Areas]'' at statistics.gov.uk, Retrieved on 2007-[[April|04-08]]</ref> Newcastle is a member of the [[English Core Cities Group]]<ref>[http://www.corecities.com/ Core Cities.com], Retrieved on 2007-[[April|04-08]]</ref> and (with [[Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead|Gateshead]]) the [[Eurocities]] network of [[Europe]]an cities.<ref>[http://www.eurocities.org/ Eurocities], Retrieved on 2007-[[August|08-19]]</ref>
People from Newcastle and surrounding areas are commonly called [[Geordie]]s. The [[Latin]] term ''Novocastrian'' can equally be applied to residents of [[Newcastle|any place called Newcastle]].
==History==
{{main|History of Newcastle upon Tyne}}
===Early development===
The first settlement in what is now Newcastle was [[Pons Aelius]], designating the bridge across the Tyne and given the family name of the [[Roman Emperor]] [[Hadrian]] who founded it in the 2nd century AD. The population of ''Pons Aelius'' at this period was estimated at 2,000. [[Hadrian's Wall]] is still visible in parts of Newcastle, particularly along the West Road. (The course of the "Roman Wall" can also be traced eastwards to the [[Segedunum]] [[castra|Roman fort]] in [[Wallsend]] - the ''wall's end''). The extent of Hadrian's Wall was {{convert|73|mi|km}}, spanning the width of Britain; the wall incorporated [[Agricola]]'s Ditch<ref>[http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18177 C.Michael Hogan (2007) ''Hadrian's Wall'', ed. A. Burnham, The Megalithic Portal]</ref> and was constructed primarily to prevent unwanted immigration from the north, not as a fighting line for a major invasion.<ref>Stephen Johnson (2004) ''Hadrian's Wall'', Sterling Publishing Company, Inc, 128 pages, ISBN 0713488409</ref>
After the [[Roman departure from Britain|Roman withdrawal from Britain]], Newcastle became part of the powerful [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] kingdom of [[Northumbria]], and became known throughout this period as ''Monkchester''. After a series of conflicts with the [[Danes]] and the devastation north of the [[River Tyne, England|River Tyne]] inflicted by [[Odo of Bayeux]] after the 1080 rebellion against the [[Normans]], Monkchester was all but destroyed. Because of its strategic position, [[Robert Curthose]], son of [[William I of England|William the Conqueror]], erected a wooden castle there in the year 1080 and the town was henceforth known as ''Novum Castellum'' or ''New Castle''.
Throughout the [[Middle Ages]], Newcastle was England's northern fortress. A {{convert|25|ft|m|adj=on}} high stone [[Newcastle town wall|wall]] was built around the town in the 13th century, to defend it from invaders during the [[Border country|Border]] war against [[Scotland]]. The Scots king [[William the Lion]] was imprisoned in Newcastle in 1174, and [[Edward I of England|Edward I]] brought the [[Stone of Scone]] and [[William Wallace]] south through the town. Newcastle was successfully defended against the Scots three times during the 14th century, and around this time became a [[county corporate]].
From 1530 a royal act restricted all shipments of coal from Tyneside to Newcastle quayside, giving a monopoly in the coal trade to a cartel of Newcastle burgesses known as the [[The Hostmen of Newcastle-upon-Tyne|Hostmen]]. This monopoly, which lasted for a considerable time, helped Newcastle prosper, but it had its impact on the growth of near-neighbours [[Sunderland]], causing a Tyneside and a Wearside rivalry that still exists. In the Sandgate area, to the east of the city and beside the river, resided the close-knit community of [[keelmen]] and their families. They were so called because they worked on the keels, boats that were used to transfer coal from the river banks to the waiting colliers, for export to London and elsewhere. During the [[English Civil War]], Newcastle supported the king and in 1644 was stormed ('with roaring drummes') by [[Oliver Cromwell|Cromwell's]] Scots allies, based in pro-Parliament Sunderland. The grateful King bestowed the [[motto]] ''"Fortiter Defendit Triumphans"'' ("Triumphing by a brave defence") upon the town. Ironically, Charles was imprisoned in Newcastle by the Scots in 1646-7.
In the 18th century, Newcastle was the country's largest print centre after London, Oxford and Cambridge, and the [[Literary and Philosophical Society]] of 1793, with its erudite debates and large stock of books in several languages, predated the [[London Library]] by half a century. Newcastle also became the greatest glass producer in the world.
Newcastle's development as a major city, however, owed most to its central role in the export of [[coal]]. The phrase ''[[wiktionary:coals to Newcastle|taking coals to Newcastle]]'' was first recorded in 1538. In the [[1800s|19th century]], [[shipbuilding]] and heavy [[engineering]] were central to the city's prosperity; and the city was a powerhouse of the [[Industrial Revolution]]. Innovation in Newcastle and surrounding areas included the development of [[Davy lamp|safety lamps]], [[Stephenson's Rocket]], [[William George Armstrong|Lord Armstrong]]'s artillery, [[Be-Ro]] flour, [[Joseph Swan]]'s [[electric light]] bulbs, and [[Charles Algernon Parsons|Charles Parsons]]' invention of the [[steam turbine]], which led to the revolution of marine propulsion and the production of [[Electrical generator|cheap electricity]].
[[Heavy industry|Heavy industries]] in Newcastle declined in the second half of the [[1900s|20th century]]; office and retail employment are now the city's staples.
===Urban development===
In large parts, Newcastle still retains a medieval street layout. Narrow alleys or [http://www.answers.com/topic/chare/ 'chares'], most of which can only be traversed by foot, still exist in abundance, particularly on the riverside. Stairs from the riverside to higher parts of the city centre and the extant [[Newcastle Castle Keep|Castle Keep]], originally recorded in the 14th century, remain in their places. Close, Sandhill and [[Quayside]] contain modern buildings as well as structures dating from the 15th-18th centuries, including [[Bessie Surtees House]], the Cooperage and Lloyds Quayside Bars, Derwentwater House and the currently unused Grade I-listed 16th century merchant's house at 28-30 Close.
The city has an extensive [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] centre, largely developed in the 1830s by [[Richard Grainger]] and [[John Dobson (architect)|John Dobson]], and recently extensively restored. Broadcaster and writer [[Stuart Maconie]] describes Newcastle as England's best-looking city<ref>
{{cite news
| last = Maconie
| first = Stuart
| authorlink = Stuart Maconie
| title = Stuart Maconie reveals..why it's great up North..
| quote = Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle remain, bolder brighter and more beautiful than ever. You can't move in Manchester for boutique hotels, Leeds has got a Harvey Nichols and Newcastle is now the best-looking city in England.
| publisher = [[Trinity Mirror]]
| work = [[Daily Mirror]]
| date = 2008-02-08
| url = http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/02/08/stuart-maconie-reveals-why-it-s-great-up-north-89520-20312679/
| accessdate = 2008-07-04
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite book
| date = February 2007
| title = Pies and Prejudice
| last = Maconie
| first = Stuart
| authorlink = Stuart Maconie
| publisher = [[Ebury Press]]
| isbn = 9780091910228
}}</ref> and [[Grey Street, Newcastle|Grey Street]], which curves down from [[Grey's Monument]] towards the valley of the [[River Tyne, England|River Tyne]], was voted as England's finest street in 2005 in a survey of [[BBC Radio 4]] listeners.<ref>{{cite web
| last =
| first =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = Around Tyne. Grey Street
| work =
| publisher = BBC
| date = 2007-12-13
| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/panoramas/360_greystreet.shtml
| quote = Grey Street in Newcastle was voted the best street in Britain by Radio 4 listeners.
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 2008-07-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| last =
| first =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = GOOD CASE STUDY - GREY STREET, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
| work =
| publisher = BBC radio 4
| date =
| url = http://www.streetsofshame.org.uk/case-study-good.htm
| quote = Said by many to be amongst the greatest streets in 'England if not Europe', this gently curving and rising street has been 'sensitively restored and improved in the last decade'.
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 2008-07-09}}</ref> A portion of [[Grainger Town]] was demolished in the 1960s to make way for the [[Eldon Square]] [[Shopping Centre]], including all but one side of the original Eldon Square itself.
Immediately to the northwest of the city centre is [[Leazes Park]], established in 1873 after a petition by 3,000 working men of the city for "ready access to some open ground for the purpose of health and recreation". Just outside one corner of this is [[St James' Park]], the stadium home of [[Newcastle United F.C.]] which dominates the view of the city from all directions.
Another [[Green belt|green space]] in Newcastle is the vast [[Town Moor, Newcastle upon Tyne|Town Moor]], lying immediately north of the city centre. It is larger than [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] and [[Hampstead Heath]] put together and the [[Freedom of the City|freemen of the city]] have the right to graze cattle on it. Unlike other cities where similar rights exist, they often take advantage of this, leading to the somewhat bizarre sight of cattle grazing within yards of the city's town hall, [[Newcastle Civic Centre]]. The right incidentally extends to the pitch of St James' Park, Newcastle United Football Club's ground, though this is not exercised,although the Freemen do collect rent for the loss of privilege. Honorary freemen include [[Bob Geldof]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Alan Shearer]] and the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]]. [[The Hoppings]] [[funfair]], said to be the largest travelling [[fair]] in Europe, is held here annually in June. In the south eastern corner is [[Exhibition Park, Newcastle|Exhibition Park]], which is home to the Newcastle Military Vehicle Museum.
The wooded gorge of the Ouseburn in the east of the city is known as [[Jesmond Dene]] and forms another popular recreation area, linked by Armstrong Park and Heaton Park to the Ouseburn Valley, where the river finally reaches the [[River Tyne, England|River Tyne]].
Newcastle was voted as the Best City in the North in April 2007 by ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' newspaper - beating [[Liverpool]], [[Manchester]], [[Sheffield]] and [[Leeds]] in an online poll conducted of its readers.<ref>{{cite news |first=Lynne |last=Greenwood |title=And the winner is ... Newcastle |date=[[2007-04-12]] |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/main.jhtml?xml=/property/2007/04/12/npwinner112.xml |accessdate=2007-12-10}}</ref>
===Recent developments===
The development of the city in the 1960s and 1970s saw the demolition of part of Grainger Town as a prelude to the modernist rebuilding initiatives of [[T. Dan Smith]], the leader of [[Newcastle City Council]]. A corruption scandal was uncovered involving Smith and [[John Poulson]], a [[Real estate developer|property developer]], and both were jailed. Echoes of the scandal were revisited in the late 1990s in the [[BBC TV]] mini-series, ''[[Our Friends in the North]]''.
The Tyne Gorge between Newcastle on the north bank and [[Gateshead]] (an administratively separate borough) on the south bank, is famous for a series of dramatic bridges, including the [[Tyne Bridge]] of 1928 which was built by [[Dorman Long]] of [[Middlesbrough]], and [[Robert Stephenson]]'s [[High Level Bridge]] of 1849, the first road/rail bridge in the world. Large-scale [[Urban renewal|regeneration]] has replaced former shipping premises with imposing new office developments; an innovative tilting bridge, the [[Gateshead Millennium Bridge]] was commissioned by [[Gateshead]] and has integrated the older Newcastle [[Quayside]] more closely with major cultural developments in Gateshead, including the [[BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art]] and the [[Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank|Norman Foster]]-designed [[The Sage Gateshead]] music centre. Newcastle & Gateshead Quayside is now a thriving, cosmopolitan area with an abundance of bars, restaurants and public spaces. As a tourist promotion, Newcastle and Gateshead have linked together under the banner "[[NewcastleGateshead]]", to spearhead the regeneration of the north east.
Notable Newcastle [[housing developments]] include [[Ralph Erskine]]'s the [[Byker Wall]] designed in the 1960s and now [[Listed building|Grade II* listed]]. It is on [[UNESCO]]'s list of outstanding 20th century buildings.
Newcastle's thriving [[Chinatown]] lies in the north-west of [[Grainger Town]], centred on Stowell Street. A new Chinese arch, or ''[[paifang]]'', providing a landmark entrance, was handed over to the city with a ceremony in 2005.
The UK's first biotechnology village, the "[[Centre for Life]]" is located in the city centre close to the [[Newcastle Central railway station]]. The village is the first step in the City Council's plans to transform Newcastle into a ''[[science city]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Newcastle Science City |url=http://www.newcastlesciencecity.com/ |work=Newcastle Science City.com |accessdate=2007-04-08}}</ref>
{{wide image|Newcastle u tyne brueckenpanorama.jpg|1200px|[[Newcastle Quayside]] (left bank) has seen a large amount of redevelopment and investment in recent years.}}
The River Tyne will have a brand new bridge ([[Bambuco Bridge]]) in 2008 but only for 10 days, it was not made for walking, road or cycling, it is just a sculpture.
==Governance==
[[Image:Civic Centre Newcastle upon Tyne.jpg|thumb|[[Newcastle Civic Centre]]]]
{{main|Newcastle City Council}}
Newcastle is governed using the leader and [[cabinet]] system, and the [[executive (government)|executive]] is [[Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat]], as they have 48 [[councillors]] against the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party's]] 30. No other parties hold [[legislature|seats]] on the city's council.<ref>{{cite web
| title=Results Service : May 4th 2006
| work=www.newcastle.gov.uk
| url=http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/election2006.nsf/adminweb?openview
| accessdate=2007-11-25}}</ref>
For the purposes of City Council elections, Newcastle is divided into 26 [[ward (politics)|electoral wards]].<ref>{{cite web
| title=Where You Live (Ward Info)
| work=www.newcastle.gov.uk
| url=http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/wsapp.nsf/soapweb/PCSearch?opendocument
| accessdate=2007-11-25}}</ref>
{| width="500" |
| valign="top" width="250" |
* [[Benwell and Scotswood]]
* [[Blakelaw]]
* [[Byker]]
* [[Castle, Newcastle upon Tyne|Castle]]
* [[Dene, Newcastle upon Tyne|Dene]]
* [[Denton, Newcastle upon Tyne|Denton]]
* [[Elswick, Tyne and Wear|Elswick]]
* [[Fawdon]]
* [[Fenham]]
* [[Gosforth]] ([[East Gosforth|East]] and [[West Gosforth|West]])
* [[Heaton, Newcastle|Heaton]] (North and South)
* [[Jesmond]] (North and South)
| valign="top" width="250" |
* [[Kenton, Newcastle upon Tyne|Kenton]]
* [[Lemington]]
* [[Newburn]]
* [[Ouseburn]]
* [[Parklands, Newcastle upon Tyne|Parklands]]
* [[Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne|Walker]]
* [[Walkergate]]
* [[Westerhope]]
* [[Westgate, Newcastle upon Tyne|Westgate]]
* [[Wingrove]]
* [[Woolsington]]
|}
==Geography==
Newcastle is situated in the [[North East England|North East]] of [[England]], in the ceremonial county of [[Tyne and Wear]] and the historical and traditional county of [[Northumberland]]. The city itself is located on the northern bank of the [[River Tyne]] at a [[latitude]] of 54.974° N and a [[longitude]] of 1.614° W.
The [[geology]] of the area is most famous for its large deposits of [[coal]]. Whilst the local [[bedrock]] consists mainly of [[carboniferous]] rocks, [[millstone grit]] and [[oolite]] are also present.
The climate in Newcastle is [[temperate]], although significantly warmer than some other locations at a similar latitude due to the warming influence of the [[Gulf Stream]] (via the [[North Atlantic Drift]]). Being in the [[rain shadow]] of the [[North Pennines]], it is among the driest cities in the UK.
==Demography==
===Population===
According to the [[Politics of the United Kingdom|UK Government]]'s [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 census]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Newcastle upon Tyne |work=National Statistics |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/00cj.asp |accessdate=2007-12-10}}</ref> the city of Newcastle has a population of 189,863, whereas the [[unitary authority]] of Newcastle has a population of around 259,500. However, the [[metropolitan borough]]s of [[North Tyneside]] (population c.190,000), [[South Tyneside]] (population c. 150,000) and [[Gateshead]] (population c.200,000) are also part of the Tyneside [[conurbation]], giving the Newcastle-Gateshead [[metropolitan area]] a population of 799,000. According to the same statistics, the average age of people living in Newcastle is 37.8 (the national average being 38.6). 93.1% of the population are of white British ethnic background (the national average being 91.3%). Many people in the city have Scottish and Irish ancestors. There is a strong presence of [[Border Reiver]] surnames, such as Armstrong, Robson, Charlton, Kerr, Elliot, Hall etc. Other [[ethnic group]]s in Newcastle, in order of [[population size]], are [[Pakistani people|Pakistani]] at 1.9% and [[India]]ns at 1.2%. There are also small but significant Chinese, Jewish and Eastern European (Polish, Czech Roma) populations.
The city is largely [[Christian]] at 70.6%; [[Muslim]]s are 3.6%,<ref>{{cite web |title=Ethnicity in the North East (report) |work=Government Office North East |url=http://www.gos.gov.uk/nestore/docs/peoplecomms/ethnicity.pdf |accessdate=2007-11-11}}</ref> and a large number (over 16%) have [[Irreligion|no religion]].
According to latest figures,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadDomainList.do?a=3&c=newcastle&d=13&i=1001x1002&m=0&r=1&s=1207084957578&enc=1&areaId=276796&OAAreaId=367423 |work=[[Office of National Statistics]] |title=Neighbourhood Statistics: Newcastle upon Tyne |accessdate=2008-04-21}}</ref> the city's ethnic make-up is as follows:
*White – 90.5%
*S.Asian – 5.2%
*Black – 1.1%
*Chinese – 1.1%
*Mixed-race – 1.2%
*Other – 0.8%
===Health===
Newcastle Hospitals [[NHS Foundation Trust]] has one of the lowest mortality rates in the country and is ranked seventh in the country for confidence in doctors.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} Newcastle has three large teaching hospitals: the [[Royal Victoria Infirmary]], the [[Newcastle General Hospital]] and the [[Freeman Hospital]], which is also a pioneering centre for [[Organ transplant|transplant surgery]].
In a report, published in early February 2007 by the Ear Institute at the [[University College London]], and Widex, a [[Denmark|Danish]] hearing aid manufacturer, Newcastle was named as the noisiest city in the whole of the UK, with an average level of 80.4 [[decibel]]s. The report claimed that these noise levels would have a negative long-term impact on the health of the city's residents.<ref>{{cite web |title=Noisy Newcastle tops league table |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6320799.stm |accessdate=2007-02-03}}</ref> The report was criticised, however, for attaching too much weight to readings at arbitrarily selected locations, which in Newcastle's case included a motorway underpass without pedestrian access.<ref>{{cite web |title=Noise study gets an ear-bashing |work=Evening Chronicle |url=http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/tm_headline=noise-study-gets-an-ear-bashing&method=full&objectid=18564076&siteid=50081-name_page.html |accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref>
==Transport and infrastructure==
{{see also|Transport in Tyne and Wear}}
===National and international===
====Air====
[[Image:Grey's Momument and Momument station - Newcastle upon Tyne - England - 130804.jpg|thumb|right|[[Grey's Monument]], above the [[Monument Metro station|Monument]] [[Tyne and Wear Metro|Metro]] station]]
[[Newcastle Airport|Newcastle International Airport]] is located approximately {{convert|6|mi|km}} from the City Centre on the northern outskirts of the city near [[Ponteland]]. The airport handles over five million passengers per year, and is the tenth largest, and the fastest growing regional airport in the UK,<ref>{{cite web |title=Easter record at Newcastle Airport |work=uk-airport-news.info |url=http://www.uk-airport-news.info/newcastle-airport-news-190406.htm |accessdate=2007-03-26}}</ref> expecting to reach 10 million passengers by 2016, and 15 million by 2030.<ref>{{cite web |title=Airport - Metro link marks 15th birthday as passenger numbers take off! |work=newcastleairport.com |url=http://www.newcastleairport.com/General/News/Airport_metro_link.htm |accessdate=2007-03-26}}</ref> As of 2007, over 90 destinations are available world-wide.<ref>{{cite web |title=Destinations & Offers |work=www.newcastleairport.com
|url=http://www.newcastleairport.com/Destinations/Destinations.htm?Version=access
|accessdate=2007-12-08}}</ref>
====Rail====
[[Newcastle Central railway station]] is a principal stop on the [[East Coast Main Line]] and [[Cross Country Route]]. Opened in 1850 by [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]], it was the first covered railway station in the world and was much copied across the UK. It has a [[neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] facade, originally designed by the architect John Dobson, and was constructed in collaboration with [[Robert Stephenson]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Trainshed, Central Station, Newcastle |work=www.victorianweb.org |url=http://www.victorianweb.org/art/architecture/misc/21.html
| date=[[2006-07-20]] |accessdate=2007-12-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Life of Robert Stephenson – a Timeline |work=www.robertstephensontrust.com
| url=http://www.robertstephensontrust.com/time.htm
| accessdate=2007-12-08}}</ref> The first services were operated by the [[North Eastern Railway (UK)|North Eastern Railway]] company. The city's other mainline station, [[Manors railway station|Manors]], is to the east of the city centre.
Train operator [[National Express East Coast]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Passengers see East Coast switch |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7134314.stm |date=[[2007-12-08]] |accessdate=2007-12-08}}</ref> provides a half-hourly frequency of trains to [[London King's Cross railway station|London]], with a journey time of a about three hours.<ref>[http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/Documents/Timetables/Full%20Timetables/Full_timetable_2008.pdf untitled<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> [[CrossCountry]] and [[First TransPennine Express]] operate regular services to many major destinations, whereas [[Northern Rail]] provides local and regional services.
====Road====
Major roads in the area include the [[A1 road|A1]] (Gateshead Newcastle Western Bypass), stretching north to [[Edinburgh]] and south to [[London]]; the [[A19 road|A19]] heading south past [[Sunderland]] and [[Middlesbrough]] to [[York]] and [[Doncaster]]; the [[A69 road|A69]] heading west to [[Carlisle]]; the [[A167 road|A167]], the old "Great North Road", heading south to [[Gateshead]], [[Chester-le-Street]], [[Durham]] and [[Darlington]]; and the [[A1058 road|A1058]] "Coast Road", which runs from [[Jesmond]] to the east coast between [[Tynemouth]] and [[Cullercoats]]. Many of these designations are recent—upon completion of the Western Bypass, and its designation as the new line of the A1, the roads between this and the former line through the [[Tyne Tunnel]] were [[Great Britain road numbering scheme|renumbered]], with many city centre roads changing from a 6-prefix<ref>{{cite web | title=Newcastle Map Scans | work=www.rural-roads.co.uk | url=http://www.rural-roads.co.uk/oldmaps/newcastle/newcastle.shtml | accessdate=2007-12-09}}</ref> to their present 1-prefix numbers.
====Water====
Newcastle has access to an international [[Ferry]] Terminal, at [[North Shields]], which offers services to destinations including [[Amsterdam]], [[Stavanger]], [[Haugesund]] and [[Bergen, Norway|Bergen]].<ref>{{cite web | title=By Ferry | work=www.newcastle.gov.uk | url=http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/internationalferryterminal | accessdate=2007-12-15}}</ref> A ferry to [[Gothenburg]], [[Sweden]], operated by [[Denmark|Danish]] [[DFDS|DFDS Seaways]], ceased crossing at the end of October 2006. The company cited high fuel prices and new competition from [[Low-cost carrier|low-cost air services]] as the cause. DFDS Seaways' sister company, DFDS Tor Line, will continue to run scheduled [[freight]] ships between Gothenburg and several English ports, with limited capacity for passengers. From summer 2007, Thomson cruise lines includes Newcastle as a port of call on its Norwegian and Fjords cruise.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=4805&date=20060906 |title=DFDS scraps Newcastle-Gothenburg line |work=The Local |date=[[2006-09-07]] |accessdate=2007-09-21}}</ref>
=== Local ===
====Bus====
[[Image:Haymarket Bus Station.jpg|thumb|right|[[Haymarket Bus Station]] with [[QuayLink]] Q2 bus exiting]]
Operating from the hubs of [[Eldon Square Bus Station]] and [[Haymarket Bus Station]], Newcastle upon Tyne and the surrounding area has an extensive bus network that is coordinated by Nexus, the [[Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive]].<ref name="NexusBus">{{cite web | title=Nexus – Bus | work=www.nexus.org.uk | url=http://www.nexus.org.uk/wps/wcm/connect/Nexus/Bus | accessdate=2008-01-13}}</ref> Buses are operated mainly by [[Arriva Northumbria]], [[Go North East]] and [[Stagecoach North East]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Full timetable list | work=www.nexus.org.uk | url=http://www.nexus.org.uk/wps/wcm/connect/16-19/Bus/Timetables/ | accessdate=2008-01-13}}</ref> [[QuayLink]] is a hybrid electric bus service operated to the Quayside.
====Metro====
The city is served by the [[Tyne and Wear Metro]], a system of suburban and underground railways covering most of Tyne and Wear. It was opened in five phases between 1980 and 1984, and was Britain's first urban light rail transit system;<ref>{{cite web | title=History of public transport | work=www.nexus.org.uk | url=http://www.nexus.org.uk/wps/wcm/connect/Nexus/Nexus/Press+office/Transport+history/ | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> two extensions were opened in 1991 and 2002.<ref>{{cite web | title=Tyne and Wear Metro | work=www.nexus.org.uk | url=http://www.nexus.org.uk/wps/wcm/connect/Nexus/Nexus/Press+office/Media+briefing+notes/Nexus+-+Tyne+and+Wear+Metro | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> It was developed from a combination of existing and newly built tracks and stations, with deep-level tunnels constructed through Newcastle city centre.<ref>{{cite web | title=Newcastle-upon-Tyne | work=www.urbanrail.net | url=http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/new/newcstle.htm | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Tyne and Wear Metro | work=www.thetrams.co.uk | url=http://www.thetrams.co.uk/tyneandwear/ | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> A [[Queen Elizabeth II Metro Bridge|bridge]] was built across the Tyne, between Newcastle and Gateshead, and opened by [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] in 1981.<ref>{{cite web | title=SINE Project, Structure Details for Queen Elizabeth II Bridge | work=sine.ncl.ac.uk | url=http://sine.ncl.ac.uk/view_structure_information.asp?struct_id=964 | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> The network is operated by Nexus and carries over 37 million passengers a year,<ref>{{cite web | title=Getting Around | work=www.newcastlegateshead.com | url=http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/147/Getting_Around.html | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> extending as far as Newcastle Airport, Tynemouth and [[South Hylton]] in [[Sunderland]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Metro Map (Large) | work=www.nexus.org.uk | url=http://www.nexus.org.uk/wps/wcm/connect/Nexus/Metro?srv=cmpnt&source=library&cmpntname=IMG%20-%20MetroMap%20(Large) | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref>
====Cycle====
Newcastle city centre is a relatively cycle-unfriendly one, providing no bicycle lanes. However the [[Sea to Sea Cycle Route|C2C]] cycle route runs along the north bank of the [[River Tyne]] enabling cyclists to travel off-road to [[North Shields]] and [[Tynemouth]] in the east and westwards towards [[Hexham]]. Furthermore, in the suburbs there are extensive cycle routes utilising the converted trackbeds of former industrial [[wagonways]] and industrial [[railways]].
There are also on-road cycle lanes on main roads leading from the centre to the suburbs of [[Gosforth]], [[Heaton]] and [[Wallsend]]. The tourist information centre in the city centre provides a free cycle map of [[Tyne and Wear]].
==Education==
The city has two universities. Established as a School of Medicine and Surgery in 1834, and becoming independent from [[Durham University]] in 1963, [[Newcastle University]] is now one of the UK’s leading international universities.<ref>{{cite web |title=History |work=Newcastle University |url=http://www.ncl.ac.uk/about/history/unihistory.phtml |accessdate=2007-09-22}}</ref> It won the coveted [[Sunday Times University of the Year|''Sunday Times'' University of the Year]] award in 2000.<ref>{{cite news |first=Alastair |last=McCall |title=King of the Castle |format=Reprint on Newcastle University's website |work=Sunday Times |url=http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/award.html |date=[[2000-09-17]] |accessdate=2007-09-22}}</ref> Newcastle Polytechnic was granted university status in 1992, becoming the [[University of Northumbria at Newcastle]]. Northumbria University, as it is currently known, was voted 'Best New University' by ''[[The Times]]'' Good University Guide 2005. The latter university also won a much coveted company award of the "Most IT enabled organisation" (in the UK), by the IT industry magazine ''[[Computing (magazine)|Computing]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=2006 Winners |work=Computing Awards |url=http://www.computingawards.net/2006winners.asp?m_pid=21200&m_nid=18927 |accessdate=2007-09-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Northumbria University wins top IT Award |work=Northumbria University |url=http://northumbria.ac.uk/browse/ne/uninews/compaward |date=[[2006-10-26]] |accessdate=2007-09-22}}</ref>
There are eleven [[LEA]]-funded 11 to 18 schools and seven [[independent school]]s with [[sixth form]]s in Newcastle. There are a number of successful [[state school]]s, including [[Gosforth High School]], [[Heaton Manor School]], [[St Cuthbert's High School]], [[Kenton Comprehensive School]] and [[Sacred Heart Catholic High School (Newcastle upon Tyne)|Sacred Heart]]. The largest [[Coeducation|co-ed]] independent school is the [[Royal Grammar School, Newcastle|Royal Grammar School]]. The largest girls' independent school is Central Newcastle High School. Both schools are located on the same street in Jesmond. [[Newcastle College]] is the largest general [[further education]] college in the North East and is a [[Beacon Status|beacon status]] college; there are two smaller colleges in the Newcastle area.
==Religious sites==
[[Image:CIMG1862.JPG|thumb|[[Newcastle Cathedral|St. Nicholas' Cathedral]], as seen from the [[Newcastle Castle Keep|Castle]]]]
{{seealso|Diocese of Newcastle|Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle|North East Jewry}}
Newcastle has two [[cathedral]]s, the [[Anglican]] [[Newcastle Cathedral|St. Nicholas]], with its elegant lantern tower of 1474, and the [[Roman Catholic]] [[St. Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne|St. Mary's]], designed by [[Augustus Welby Pugin]]. Both cathedrals began their lives as parish churches. St Mary's became a cathedral in 1850 and St Nicholas' in 1882. Newcastle was a prominent centre of the [[Plymouth Brethren]] movement up to the 1950s and some small congregations still function. Among these are at the Hall, [[Denmark Street]] and Gospel Hall, St Lawrence.
One of the largest [[evangelical]] [[Anglican]] churches in the UK is [[Jesmond Parish Church]], situated a little to the north of the city centre.
==Sport==
The City has a strong sporting tradition. [[Premier League]] [[Association football|football]] team [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] has been based at [[St James' Park]] since the club was established in 1892.<ref>{{cite web |title=St James' Park |work=bbc.co.uk |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/panoramas/360_stjames.shtml |accessdate=2007-09-17}}</ref> The city also has two [[non-League football]] teams, [[Newcastle Blue Star F.C.|Newcastle Blue Star]] and [[Newcastle Benfield F.C.|Newcastle Benfield]]. Also based in Newcastle are [[Guinness Premiership]] [[rugby union]] side [[Newcastle Falcons]].
The Metro Radio Arena is home to [[Newcastle Vipers]] [[ice hockey]] team and [[Newcastle Eagles]] [[basketball]] team.
The city's [[Motorcycle speedway|speedway]] team [[Newcastle Diamonds]] are based at Brough Park in [[Byker]], a venue that is also home to [[greyhound racing]]. The first track to open in Newcastle was at Goford Stadium but this only operated until 1930. [[Newcastle Racecourse]] at High [[Gosforth Park]] holds regular meets, including the prestigious race for the [[Northumberland Plate]], first run in 1838, which takes place in June each year.
Newcastle also hosts the start of the annual [[Great North Run]], the world's largest [[half marathon|half-marathon]] in which participants race over the [[Tyne Bridge]] into [[Gateshead]] and then towards the finish line {{convert|13.1|mi|km|}} away on the coast at [[South Shields]].<ref>
{{cite news
| title = Great North Run
| work = [[BBC News]]
| publisher = [[bbc.co.uk]]
| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/articles/2004/07/26/great_north_run_feature.shtml
| accessdate = 2007-09-17
}}
</ref> Another famous athletic event is the {{convert|5.7|mi|km|adj=on}} [[Blaydon Race]] (a road race from Newcastle to [[Blaydon]]), which has taken place on [[9 June]] annually since 1981, to commemorate the celebrated [[Blaydon Races]] horse racing.<ref>
{{cite news
| title = Runners set for traditional race
| work = [[BBC News]]
| publisher = [[bbc.co.uk]]
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/6736805.stm
| date = 2007-06-09
| accessdate = 2007-09-17
}}</ref>
==Culture==
===Dialect===
{{main|Geordie}}
The dialect of Newcastle is known as Geordie, and contains a large amount of [[vocabulary]] and distinctive word [[pronunciation]]s not used in other parts of England. The Geordie dialect has much of its origins in the language spoken by [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] [[Mercenary|mercenaries]], who were employed by the Ancient British people to fight [[Picts|Pictish]] invaders, following the withdrawal of the Romans from Britain in the 4th century. This language was the forerunner of [[Modern English]]; but while the dialects of other English regions have been heavily altered by the influences of other foreign languages—particularly [[Latin]] and [[Norman language|Norman–French]]—the Geordie dialect retains many elements of the old language. An example of this is the pronunciation of certain words: "dead", "cow", "house" and "strong" are pronounced "dede", "coo", "hoos" and "strang"—which is how they were pronounced in the Anglo-Saxon language. Other Geordie words with Anglo-Saxon origins include: "larn" (from the Anglo-Saxon "laeran", meaning "teach"), "burn" ("stream") and "gan" ("go").<ref name="GeordieOrigins">{{cite web | title=North East dialect origins and the meaning of 'Geordie' | work=www.northeastengland.talktalk.net | url=http://www.northeastengland.talktalk.net/GeordieOrigins.htm | accessdate=2008-02-05}}</ref> Some words used in the Geordie dialect are used elsewhere in the northern United Kingdom. The words "bonny" (meaning "pretty"), "howay" ("come on"), "stot" ("bounce") and "hadaway" ("go away" or "you're kidding"), all appear to be used in Scottish dialect; "aye" ("yes"), "chuffed" ("happy") and "nowt" (IPA://naʊt/, rhymes with ''out'',"nothing") are used elsewhere in northern England. Many words, however, appear to be used exclusively in Newcastle and the surrounding area, such as "Canny" (a versatile word meaning "good", "nice" or "very"), "bait" ("food"), "hacky" ("dirty"), "netty" ("toilet") and "hoy" ("throw").<ref>{{cite web | title=Newcastle English ("Geordie") – Vocabulary | work=www.une.edu.au | url=http://www.une.edu.au/langnet/definitions/geordie.html#vocab-hce | accessdate=2008-02-05}}</ref>
===Nightlife===
Newcastle has a reputation for being a fun-loving city with many bars, restaurants and [[nightclub]]s. More recently, Newcastle has become popular as a destination for [[Stag party|Stag]] and [[Hen party|Hen]] parties. Newcastle was in the top ten of the country's top night spots,<ref>{{cite news|title=York 'party capital' of country |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/5028752.stm |date=30 May 2006 |accessdate=2007-01-18}}</ref> and ''The [[Rough Guides|Rough Guide]] to Britain'' placed Newcastle upon Tyne's nightlife as [[Great Britain]]'s no. 1 [[tourist attraction]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Visiting Britain? Avoid 'bland' Buckingham Palace|work=Daily Mail|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=391643&in_page_id=1770|accessdate=2006-10-07}}</ref>
There are notable concentrations of pubs, bars and nightclubs around the Bigg Market, and the [[Quayside]] area of the city centre. There are many bars on the Bigg Market, and other popular areas for nightlife are Collingwood Street, Neville Street, the [[Newcastle Central Station|Central Station]] area and Osborne Road in the [[Jesmond]] area of the city. In recent years "[[The Gate, Newcastle|The Gate]]" has opened in the city centre, a new indoor complex consisting of bars, upmarket clubs, restaurants and a 12-screen [[Empire Cinemas|Empire]] multiplex [[movie theater|cinema]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Gate |url=http://www.thegatenewcastle.co.uk/|accessdate=2006-12-19}}</ref>
Focused on the Times Square area near the [[Centre for Life]], the "Pink Triangle" is the centre of Newcastle's [[Gay community|gay scene]] and hosts many bars and pubs and two clubs.<ref>{{cite web |title=About |work=www.newcastlegay.co.uk |url=http://www.newcastlegay.co.uk/about.php |accessdate=2007-01-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gay Village/Pink Triangle |work=pubsnewcastle.co.uk |url=http://www.pubsnewcastle.co.uk/GayVillage.html|accessdate=2006-12-19}}</ref> The community has seen much expansion in the past five years, with further growth planned in the future.
The city has a wide variety of restaurants such as Italian, Indian, Persian, Japanese, Greek, Mexican, Spanish, American, Polish, Malaysian, French, Mongolian, Moroccan, Thai and has a Chinese village with many Chinese restaurants on Stowell Street. There has also been a growth in premium restaurants in recent years with top chefs.<ref>[http://www.sugarvine.com/Newcastle/index.asp Restaurants in Newcastle & North East restaurants, eating out, places to eat in Newcastle & North East restaurant guide UK<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.thegourmetsociety.co.uk/rest.php?search=yes&page=1&shoi=0&show_county=15 Restaurants in Birmingham, Newcastle, Nottingham, Derby - The Gourmet Society UK<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
The biggest noticeable difference in the last ten years has been increased opening hours, more upmarket bars, a greater range of clubs and some of the older traditional pubs closing, although many have been revamped and remain very popular.
===Theatre===
[[Image:Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne.jpg|thumb|right|Frontage of the Theatre Royal]]
The city contains many theatres. The largest, the [[Theatre Royal, Newcastle|Theatre Royal]] on Grey Street, first opened in 1837. It has hosted a season of performances from the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] for over 25 years, as well as touring productions of [[West End theatre|West End]] musicals.<ref>{{cite web |title=History |work=Theatre Royal |url=http://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/about_us/history.html |accessdate=2007-09-21}}</ref> [[The Journal Tyne Theatre]] hosts smaller touring productions, whilst other venues feature local talent. [[Northern Stage, Newcastle upon Tyne|Northern Stage]], formally known as the Newcastle Playhouse and Gulbenkian Studio, hosts various local, national and international productions in addition to those produced by the Northern Stage company.<ref>{{cite news |title=Curtain rises at new city theatre |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/5284740.stm |date=25 August 2006 |accessdate=2007-08-12}}</ref> Other theatres in the city include the [[Live Theatre]], the [[People's Theatre]], [[the Round]] and the [[Jubilee Theatre]]. [[NewcastleGateshead]] was voted in 2006 as the arts capital of the UK in a survey conducted by the [[Artsworld]] TV channel.<ref>{{cite news |title=North East voted 'arts capital' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/6216475.stm |work=BBC News |date=29 December 2006 |accessdate=2007-08-18}}</ref>
===Festivals and fairs===
[[Image:Chinatown Arch Newcastle UK.jpg|thumb|right|The arch to Chinatown, opposite St. James' Park]]
In February, Newcastle's [[Chinatown]] is at the centre of a carnival of colour and noise as the city celebrates the [[Chinese New Year]]. This year's 2008 Chinese New Year event will also herald the launch of a new festival called EAST'08. The festival programme will have a Chinese theme celebrating the best of contemporary Chinese culture.<ref>{{cite web | title=It's Happy Chinese New Year and the rat scurries in! | work=www.newcastle.gov.uk | url=http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/life.nsf/articles/7207D5315AC3D2BC802573C6003485CC?OpenDocument | accessdate=2008-01-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=EAST '08 home page | work=www.east08.com | url=http://www.east08.com | accessdate=2008-01-19}}</ref> In late February, [[NewcastleGateshead]] jointly hosts, with Sunderland and Middlesbrough, the bi-annual AV Festival. The AV Festival is the UK’s largest international festival of electronic arts, and features visual art, music and moving image.<ref>{{cite web | title=About AV | work=www.avfest.co.uk | url=http://www.avfestival.co.uk/about/ | date=[[2007-08-06]] | accessdate=2008-01-19}}</ref> In early March there is the [[NewcastleGateshead]] Comedy Festival, this event makes a return to the region since the last event in 2006, it is hoped it will now continue as an annual event.<ref>{{cite web | title=About The Festival | work=www.newcastlegatesheadcomedyfestival.com | url=http://www.newcastlegatesheadcomedyfestival.com/about.html | accessdate=2008-01-20}}</ref>
The Newcastle Beer Festival, organised by [[Campaign for Real Ale|CAMRA]], takes place in April.<ref>{{cite web | title=Beer Festival | work=www.cannybevvy.co.uk | url=http://www.cannybevvy.co.uk/Beer_Festival/beer_festival.html | accessdate=2008-01-20}}</ref> In May, Newcastle and [[Gateshead]] host the Evolution Festival, a music festival held on the Newcastle and Gateshead Quaysides over the Spring [[bank holiday]], with performances by acts from the world of [[Rock music|Rock]], [[Independent music|Indie]] and [[Dance music]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Evolution Festival 2008 | work=www.evolutionfestival.co.uk | url=http://www.evolutionfestival.co.uk/ | accessdate=2008-01-20}}</ref> EAT! NewcastleGateshead, a festival of food and drink, takes place in May 2008, following a successful pilot event in April 2007.<ref>{{cite web | title=Food Festival | work=www.newcastlegateshead.com | url=http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/2138/Food_Festival.html | accessdate=2008-01-20}}</ref>
[[The Hoppings]], reputedly the largest travelling fair in [[Europe]], takes place on [[Town Moor, Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle Town Moor]] every June. The event has its origins in the [[Temperance movement#United Kingdom|Temperance Movement]] during the early 1880s and coincides with the annual [[Horse racing|race week]] at High Gosforth Park.<ref>{{cite web | title=Town Moor Hoppings | work=www.newcastle.gov.uk | url=http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/wwwfileroot/localstudies/factsheets/Factsheet3Hoppings.pdf | month=September | year=2004 | format=PDF | accessdate=2008-01-20}}</ref> Newcastle Community Green Festival, which claims to be the UK’s biggest free community environmental festival, also takes place every June, in [[Leazes Park]].<ref>{{cite web | title=History Of The Festival | work=www.newcastlegreenfestival.org.uk | url=http://www.newcastlegreenfestival.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=40 | accessdate=2008-01-20}}</ref> The Northern Rock Cyclone, a cycling festival, takes place within, or starting from, Newcastle in June.<ref>{{cite web | title=What is it? | work=www.northernrockcyclone.co.uk | url=http://www.northernrockcyclone.co.uk/about.asp | accessdate=2008-01-20}}</ref> The Ouseburn Festival, a family oriented weekend festival near the city centre, incorporating a "Family Fun Day" and "Carnival Day", is held in late July.<ref>{{cite web | title=Ouseburn Festival home page | work=www.ouseburnfestival.org | url=http://www.ouseburnfestival.org/index.htm | accessdate=2008-01-25}}</ref>
Newcastle [[Mela]], held on the late August bank holiday weekend, is an annual two-day [[Multiculturalism|multicultural]] event, blending drama, music and food from [[Punjabi culture#Modern Punjabi Culture|Punjabi]], [[Culture of Pakistan|Pakistani]], [[Bengal#Culture|Bengali]] and [[Hindu]] cultures.<ref>{{cite web | title=What is the Mela ? | work=www.newcastle.gov.uk | url=http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/mela_what | accessdate=2008-01-25}}</ref> NewcastleGateshead also holds an annual International Arts Fair. The 2008 event will be held in the Norman Foster designed Sage Gateshead Music and Arts Centre in September.<ref>{{cite web | title=NewcastleGateshead Arts Fair home page | work=www.ngartfair.com | url=http://www.ngartfair.com/ | accessdate=2008-01-25}}</ref> In October, there is the Design Event festival—an annual festival providing the public with an opportunity to see work by regional, national and international designers.<ref>{{cite web | title=Introducing Design Event | work=www.design-event.co.uk | url=http://www.design-event.co.uk/index.htm | accessdate=2008-02-22}}</ref> The Newcastle Science Festival will be held at the start of October this year, and will include a variety of events, including exhibitions, performances, talks and readings.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Newcastle Science Festival | work=www.newcastle.gov.uk | url=http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/ecs.nsf/AllEventsWeb/91BB18A7F35ACCAC802573EE0054AC5C?opendocument | accessdate=2008-02-22}}</ref>
===Shopping===
[[Image:Northumberlad Street, Newcastle upon Tyne.jpg|Looking south along [[Northumberland Street]] on [[26 July]] [[2006]]|thumb]]
There are several major shopping areas in Newcastle city centre. The largest of these is the [[Eldon Square Shopping Centre]], which incorporates the first and largest [[Fenwick (department store)|Fenwick]] department store, and a [[John Lewis Newcastle|John Lewis]] store which is often cited as the first department store in the world.{{Fact|date=June 2008}} Eldon Square is currently undergoing a full redevelopment. A new bus station, replacing the old underground bus station, was officially opened in March 2007.<ref>
{{cite news
| title = MP opens £11m bus station upgrade
| work = [[BBC News]]
| publisher = [[bbc.co.uk]]
| date = 2007-03-15
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/6455505.stm
| accessdate = 2007-11-24
}}
</ref> The wing of the centre, including the undercover Green Market, near Grainger Street and [[The Gate, Newcastle|The Gate]] was demolished in 2007 so that the area can be redeveloped.<ref>
{{cite news
| title = Last day for city centre market
| work = [[BBC News]]
| publisher [[bbc.co.uk]]
| date = 2007-01-26
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/6295487.stm
| accessdate = 2007-11-24
}}</ref>
The main shopping street in the city is [[Northumberland Street]]. In a 2004 report, it was ranked as the most expensive shopping street in the UK for rent, outside of London.<ref>
{{cite news
| title = Fifth Avenue tops shops rich list
| work = [[BBC News]]
| publisher = [[bbc.co.uk]]
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3954649.stm
| date = 2004-10-26
| accessdate = 2006-12-19
}}</ref> Other shopping centres in Newcastle include the relatively modern Eldon Garden and [[Monument Mall]] complexes, the Newgate Centre, [[Central Arcade]] and the traditional [[Grainger Market]]. Outside the city, the largest suburban shopping areas are Gosforth and Byker. The largest indoor shopping centre in [[Europe]], the [[MetroCentre]], is located in [[Gateshead]]. The largest [[Tesco]] store in the United Kingdom is located in [[Kingston Park]] on the edge of Newcastle.<ref>
{{cite news
| title = The continued rise of Tesco non-food
| work = [[BBC News]]
| publisher = [[bbc.co.uk]]
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6257331.stm
| date = 2007-01-16
| accessdate = 2008-01-19
}}</ref>
===Music===
====Bands and musicians====
{{see also|List of bands and musicians from Newcastle Upon Tyne}}
The 1960s saw the internationally successful rock group, [[The Animals]], emerge from Newcastle night spots such as Club A-Go-Go on Percy Street, the 1980s saw [[Geordie (band)|Geordie]] singer [[Brian Johnson]] join Australian supergroup [[AC/DC]]. Other well-known acts with connections to the city include [[Sting (musician)|Sting]], [[Bryan Ferry]], [[Dubstar]], [[Dire Straits]], [[The Wildhearts]], [[3 Colours Red]], [[Duran Duran]], and more recently [[Maxïmo Park]], [[The Sound Explosion]], [[Yourcodenameis:milo]], [[The Motorettes]] and [[Kubichek!]]. [[Neil Tennant]], singer from the [[Pet Shop Boys]], was schooled in Newcastle. There is also a thriving [[underground music]] scene that encompasses a variety of styles, including [[Drum and Bass]], [[doom metal]] and [[Post-rock]].
[[Lindisfarne (band)|Lindisfarne]] are a folk-rock group with a strong [[Tyneside]] connection. Their most famous song, "[[Fog on the Tyne]]" (1971), was covered by [[Geordie]] ex-footballer [[Paul Gascoigne]] in 1990. [[Venom (band)|Venom]], reckoned by many to be the originators of [[black metal]] and extremely influential to the [[extreme metal]] scene as a whole, formed in Newcastle in 1979. [[Folk metal]] band [[Skyclad (band)|Skyclad]], often regarded as the first [[folk metal]] band, also formed in Newcastle after the breakup of [[Martin Walkyier]] thrash metal band, [[Sabbat (band)|Sabbat]].
The predomimant record company in Newcastle is [[Kitchenware Records]] (circa 1982), previously home to acclaimed bands such as [[Prefab Sprout]], [[Martin Stephenson and the Daintees]] and [[Fatima Mansions]], the management of [[The Lighthouse Family]] and home to recent successes [[Editors]] as well as other bands of varied genres.
====Dance music====
{{Unreferencedsection|date=September 2007}}
The 1990s boom in [[progressive house]] music saw the city's [[Global Underground]] record label corner the market in the mix CD market with the likes of [[Sasha (DJ)|Sasha]], [[Paul Oakenfold]], [[James Lavelle]], and [[Danny Howells]] recording mix compilations. The label is still going strong today with offices in London and New York, and new releases from [[Deep Dish]] and [[Adam Freeland]].
====Venues====
[[Image:Metroradio Arena, Newcastle.jpg|thumb|Metro Radio Arena]]
The largest [[music venue]] in the city is the 11,000-seat [[Metro Radio Arena Newcastle|Metro Radio Arena]], which is situated in the south of the city centre near the [[Centre for Life]]. The 2,000-seat [[Newcastle City Hall]] holds a number of music events every month, particularly featuring [[solo (music)|solo artists]]. Both of the city's universities also have large performance venues (each holding around 2,000 people). Newcastle City Council are going too demolish this and build another just after 10 years of opening.
On [[14 October]] [[2005]], the 2,000 capacity [[Carling Academy Newcastle]] opened, providing a new music venue in the city centre. The opening night was headlined by [[The Futureheads]] and the profile of the venue has attracted a greater variety of bands to play in the city. The Carling Academy Newcastle is the newest in a string of [[Academy Music Group|Academies]] to be opened across the [[United Kingdom|UK]].
Other popular music venues in the city include The Head of Steam, which is near [[Newcastle Central railway station]], and Trillians Rock Bar at Princess Square. The Cluny and the Cumberland Arms are both situated in the [[Ouseburn Valley]] between the city centre and [[Byker]].
===Media===
{{see also|List of Newcastle upon Tyne publications|List of television shows set in Newcastle upon Tyne}}
Local [[newspaper]]s that are printed in Newcastle include [[Trinity Mirror]]'s ''[[Evening Chronicle]]'' and ''[[The Journal (newspaper)|The Journal]]'', the ''[[Sunday Sun]]'' as well as the ''[[Metro (Associated Metro Limited)|Metro]]'' [[freesheet]]. ''[[The Crack (magazine)|The Crack]]'' is a monthly style and [[listings magazine]] similar to London's ''[[Time Out]]''. The adult comic ''[[Viz (comic)|Viz]]'' originated in Jesmond, and ''[[The Mag]]'' is a fanzine for Newcastle United supporters.
[[Image:Tyne Tees, City Road.jpg|thumb|Two converted warehouses provided the base for Tyne Tees on City Road until 2005]]
[[Tyne Tees Television]], the regional contractor for [[ITV]], was based at City Road for over 40 years after its launch in January 1959.<ref name="crs">{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Bowden |title=City Road |work=City Road |url=http://www.transdiffusion.org/tmc/cityroad/studios/cityroad.php |date=[[2007-05-01]] |accessdate=2007-09-17}}</ref> In 2005 it moved to a new facility on The Watermark business park next to the [[MetroCentre]] in Gateshead.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Fond Farewell |work=City Road |url=http://www.transdiffusion.org/tmc/cityroad/history/farewell.php |accessdate=2007-09-19}}</ref> The entrance to studio 5 at the City Road complex gave its name to the 1980s music television programme, ''[[The Tube (TV series)|The Tube]]''.<ref name="crs"/> [[BBC North East and Cumbria]] is located to the north of the city on Barrack Road, [[Spital Tongues]], in a building known, as the result of its colouring, as the Pink Palace.<ref name=pink>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/articles/2006/04/26/bbc_newcastle_tours_feature.shtml |title=Take a look around |work=BBC Tyne |accessdate=2006-09-21}}</ref> It is from here that the [[BBC|Corporation]] broadcasts the ''[[BBC Look North (North East and Cumbria)|Look North]]'' television regional news programme and [[BBC Local Radio|local radio]] station [[BBC Radio Newcastle]].
[[Independent local radio]] stations include [[Metro Radio]] and sister station [[Magic 1152]], which are both based in a building on the Swan House roundabout on the north side of the Tyne Bridge. [[Galaxy 105-106]] broadcasts across Newcastle from its studios in nearby [[Wallsend]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Galaxy North East: Contact Us |url=http://www.galaxynortheast.co.uk/contactus.asp |accessdate=2006-12-19}}</ref> [[100-102 Century Radio]] and [[97.5 Smooth Radio]] both broadcast from [[Team Valley]] in Gateshead.<ref>{{cite web |title=A smooth star is born in the Northeast |date[[2007-08-24]] |work=GMG Radio |url=http://www.gmgradiosales.co.uk/?section=news&page=latest&id=64 |accessdate=2008-02-04}}</ref>
[[NE1fm]] launched in July 2007, the first full time [[community radio]] station in the area.<ref>{{cite news |title=Radio station launch |work=Evening Chronicle |url=http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/chroniclelive/eveningchronicle/chroniclearchive/2007/06/07/radio-station-launch-50081-19260930/ |date=[[2007-07-07]] |accessdate=2007-09-21}}</ref> Newcastle Student Radio is run by students from both of the city's universities, broadcasting from [[Newcastle University]]'s [[Newcastle University Union Society|student's union building]] during term time.<ref>{{cite web |title=Student media |work=Newcastle University |url=http://www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/life/union/media.htm |accessdate=2007-09-22}}</ref> Radio Tyneside has been the voluntary [[hospital radio]] service for most hospitals across Newcastle and Gateshead since 1951, broadcasting on 1575[[AM broadcasting|AM]].<ref>{{cite web |title=About our station |work=Radio Tyneside |url=http://www.radiotyneside.co.uk/pages/aus.htm |accessdate=2007-09-22}}</ref>
Newcastle is one of the first in the UK to have its city centre covered by [[Wi-Fi|wireless internet]] access.<ref>{{cite news |title=Newcastle joins UK 'wireless city' revolution |work=24dash.com |url=http://www.24dash.com/news/Central_Government/2006-11-13-Newcastle-joins-UK-wireless-city-revolution |accessdate=2007-10-29}}</ref>
==Notable people==
{{Main|List of residents of Newcastle upon Tyne}}
[[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]] [[Basil Hume]], [[Archbishop of Westminster]] (1976-1999) was born in the city in 1923. Other notable people born in or associated with Newcastle include: engineer and industrialist [[William George Armstrong, 1st Baron Armstrong|Lord Armstrong]], engineer [[Robert Stephenson]], [[Lord Taylor]], [[Miriam Stoppard]], entertainers [[Ant and Dec]], Girls Aloud singer [[Cheryl Cole]], and international footballers [[Peter Beardsley]] and [[Alan Shearer]].
==Museums and places of interest==
<div style="float:right;">
{{EngPlacesKey}}
</div>
{|
|
===In Newcastle===
* [[Bessie Surtees House]] [[Image:EH icon.png|English Hertiage property]]
* [[Blackfriars, Newcastle|Blackfriars]]
* [[Centre for Life]]
* [[The Discovery Museum|Discovery Museum]] [[Image:Museum icon.png|Museum (free)]]
* [[Eldon Square]]
* [[Hancock Museum]] [[Image:Museum icon (red).png|Museum (not free)]]
* [[Hatton Gallery]] [[Image:Museum icon.png|Museum (free)]]
* [[Jesmond Dene]] [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]]
* [[Laing Art Gallery]] [[Image:Museum icon.png|Museum (free)]]
* The [[Lit & Phil]]
* [[Museum of Antiquities]] [[Image:Museum icon.png|Museum (free)]]
* [[Newcastle Castle Keep]] and [[Blackgate]] [[Image:CL icon.PNG|Castle]]
* [[Newcastle town wall]]
* [[Quayside]] [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]]
* [[Seven Stories|Seven Stories, The Centre for Children's Books]]
* [[St James' Park]] football stadium
* [[St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne|St Mary's Cathedral]] Roman Catholic [[Image:AP Icon.PNG|Cathedral]]
* [[Newcastle Cathedral|St Nicholas's Cathedral]] Church of England [[Image:AP Icon.PNG|Cathedral]]
* [[Town Moor, Newcastle upon Tyne|Town Moor]] [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]]
|
===In the surrounding area===
* [[Arbeia|Arbeia Roman Fort]] [[Image:Museum icon (red).png|Museum (not free)]]
* [[BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art]] [[Image:Museum icon.png|Museum (free)]]
* [[Beamish Museum|Beamish Open Air Museum]] [[Image:HR icon.png|Heritage railway]] [[Image:Museum icon (red).png|Museum (not free)]]
* [[Bede's World]] [[Image:Museum icon.png|Museum (free)]]
* [[Blue Reef Aquarium]]
* [[Cragside]] [[Image:NTE icon.png|National Trust property]] [[Image:HH icon.png|Historic house]]
* [[MetroCentre]]
* [[Sage Gateshead|The Sage, Gateshead]]
* [[Segedunum]] Roman Fort [[Image:Museum icon (red).png|Museum (not free)]]
* [[Shipley Gallery]] [[Image:Museum icon.png|Museum (free)]]
* [[South Shields Museum]] [[Image:Museum icon.png|Museum (free)]]
* [[St Mary's Lighthouse]] [[Image:Museum icon (red).png|Museum (not free)]]
* [[Stephenson Railway Museum]] [[Image:HR icon.png|Heritage railway]] [[Image:Museum icon (red).png|Museum (not free)]]
* [[Tanfield Railway|Tanfield Railway Museum]] [[Image:HR icon.png|Heritage railway]] [[Image:Museum icon (red).png|Museum (not free)]]
* [[Washington Old Hall]] [[Image:NTE icon.png|National Trust property]] [[Image:HH icon.png|Historic house]]
* [[Woodhorn Colliery Museum]] [[Image:Museum icon.png|Museum (free)]]
|}
==Twin cities==
{|
| valign="top" |
*{{flagicon|USA}} - [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] – [[United States]]
*{{flagicon|Norway}} - [[Bergen, Norway|Bergen]] – [[Norway]]
*{{flagicon|Germany}} - [[Gelsenkirchen]] – [[Germany]]
*{{flagicon|Netherlands}} - [[Groningen (city)|Groningen]] – [[Netherlands]]
*{{flagicon|Israel}} - [[Haifa]] – [[Israel]]
| valign="top" |
*{{flagicon|France}} - [[Nancy]] – [[France]]
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} - [[Malmö]] – [[Sweden]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.malmo.se/faktaommalmopolitik/internationelltsamarbete/vanortssamarbetet.4.33aee30d103b8f15916800032874.html |accessdate=2007-08-20 |work=malmo.se |title=Malmö stads vänortssamarbete}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|Australia}} - [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]] – [[Australia]], on the [[Hunter River]] and also a coal hub.
*{{flagicon|South Africa}} - [[Newcastle, South Africa|Newcastle]] – [[South Africa]] {{Verify source|date=July 2007}}
*{{flagicon|People's Republic of China}} - [[Taiyuan]] – [[China]]
|}
Newcastle also has a "friendship agreement" with
* {{flagicon|USA}} - [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]], [[Arkansas]] – [[United States]]<ref>{{cite press release |title=NINE YOUTH FROM LITTLE ROCK DEPART FOR VISIT TO NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, UNITED KINGDOM |date=[[2007-07-09]] |publisher=City of Little Rock |url=http://www.littlerock.org/CityManager/Divisions/PublicRelations/MediaReleases.aspx?ID=178 |accessdate=2008-02-04}}</ref>
==Foreign consulates==
The following countries have [[consulate|consular]] offices in Newcastle:
*{{flagicon|Germany}} Honorary Consul for the [[Federal Republic of Germany]]: Grainger Suite, Dobson House, Gosforth, NE3 3PF
*{{flagicon|Italy}} Honorary Consulate of [[Italy]]: 63 High Bridge, NE1 1DU
*{{flagicon|Norway}} The Royal [[Norway|Norwegian]] Consulate: 14 Grey Street, NE1 6AE
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} Honorary Consulate of [[Sweden]]: 2 Osborne Road, Jesmond, NE2 2AA
==Gallery==
<center><gallery>
Image:Newcastle Upon Tyne bridges.jpg|Looking through Gateshead's/Newcastle's bridges, from the [[Quayside]]
Image:High Level and Low Level bridges - Newcastle - 1861.jpg|The 1781 stone Tyne Bridge, with the [[High Level Bridge]] in the background, from an 1861 illustration
Image:NewCasteTyneBessieSurteesHouse.jpg|[[Bessie Surtees House]] ([[Newcastle Quayside|Quayside]])
Image:Newcastle Central Station.jpg|The interior of [[Newcastle Central railway station]]
Image:MBN.jpg|View across the river to Gateshead including the Millennium Bridge and Sage Music Centre (Quayside)
Image:newcastlesteps.jpg|Steps from the castle keep to the Quayside
Image:tyneview.jpg|View across the [[River Tyne]] to [[Gateshead]]
Image:Centre for Life, Newcastle.JPG|The [[Centre for Life]] museum
Image:Tyne Bridges 01.jpg|The [[Tyne Bridge]], a famous landmark linking Gateshead and Newcastle
Image:Arms-newcastle-tyne.jpg|Arms of Newcastle upon Tyne
Image:JesmondDene.png|[[Jesmond Dene]] c.1900
Image:Chinatown Arch Newcastle UK.jpg|Ceremonial Arch in Chinatown with St. James's Park in the background
</gallery></center>
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==See also==
{{commonscat|Newcastle upon Tyne}}
* [[River Tyne, England]]
* [[University of Newcastle upon Tyne]]
* [[Newcastle Brown Ale]]
* [[Northumbria University]]
* [[Hadrian's Wall]]
* [[Gateshead Millennium Bridge]]
* [[Byker Wall]] award-winning redevelopment east of the city.
* [[Great fire of Newcastle and Gateshead]]
* [[Newcastle United FC]]
* [[Newcastle upon Tyne City Centre]]
==External links==
*[http://www.visitnewcastlegateshead.com/ Visit NewcastleGateshead] A major information source of cultural and social events in NewcastleGateshead
* [http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/ City of Newcastle upon Tyne website] (Newcastle City Council)
* [http://wikitravel.org/en/Newcastle_upon_Tyne Wikitravel article on Newcastle]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/ BBC Tyne] BBC Local website
{{Hanseatic League}}
{{T&W places}}
{{NE England}}
{{LargestUKCities}}
{{UK cities}}
[[Category:Newcastle upon Tyne| ]]
[[Category:Settlements established in the 2nd century]]
[[Category:Cities in England]]
[[Category:Coastal cities]]
[[Category:Trading posts of the Hanseatic League]]
[[Category:Towns in Tyne and Wear]]
[[Category:Metropolitan boroughs]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of Tyne and Wear]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the North Sea]]
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