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Newcastle is
a lively, bright city with a history going back 2,000 years and
where the locals - known as Geordies - renowned for their
friendliness.
Situated in the north east of England and resting on
the banks of the River Tyne, it is surrounded by the scenic
beauty of Northumbria and is an ideal place to tour the local
coastline with its unspoiled sandy beaches. Inland you will find
Hadrian's Wall and many old castles dotted across the landscape.
The city itself is vibrant with exciting shops, choice
restaurants, traditional pubs and a lively night life.
THE QUAYSIDE
Located in North East England, Newcastle (on the north
bank of the River Tyne) and Gateshead (on the south bank) have
been transformed into a single visitor destination called
NewcastleGateshead. In the last decade
NewcastleGateshead has transformed itself into one of Europe‘s
most exciting places, a mix of the modern and historic
boasting superb shopping and a buzzing night life.
But it also has beautiful architecture including the
ancient city walls and castle. The quayside is perfect for a
leisurely lunch with waterfront bars and galleries. With a
year-long programme of events and festivals going on, Newcastle
is a perfect base for exploring the rest of North East England.
Or if you’re planning a holiday in Scotland, spend a few days
in NewcastleGateshead.
The Sage Gateshead is the latest addition to the
growing quayside area and this centre for music has rapidly
established itself as a sought after venue for musicians and
singers from across the globe.
TOURS OF NEWCASTLE
If you want a superb view of the city, visit the Castle
Keep which is open every day. Built by Henry II in 1168-1178 on
the site of the 'New Castle', built in 1080 by Robert Curthose
the building from which the city takes its name overlies Roman
fortification of Pons Aelius. There is a small museum within the
keep and the roof offers spectacular views of NewcastleGateshead.
You can take in Newcastle's riverside scenery with a a
river cruise. The Premier River Tyne Sightseeing Cruise Company
offers three hour quay-to-sea cruise or a two hour quayside to
countryside cruises taking you from past to present, from
maritime heritage to world renowned landmarks, such as the Tyne
Bridge, Gateshead Millennium Bridge, The Sage Gateshead and
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. Or take a trip on the
Newcastle sightseeing bus or do a walking tour.
MUSEUMS AND ARTS
Newcastle has a lively arts scene with a wide range of
arts centres and venues offering dance, theatre, exhibitions,
film, music and much more. Top comedy acts can be found at The
Hyene club in Leazes Lane.
Dance City is the National Dance Agency for the North
East of England. A new home for Dance City opened in the autumn
of 2005. The purpose built dance centre boasts five dance
studios, a 250 seat performance space, a devoted dance library
resource centre, 5 offices for independent dance companies, 2
alternative treatment rooms, a Pilates stud
Most of the museums in Newcastle are free of charge. Highlights
include the Hancock Museum which is the North's premier natural
history museum (The Hancock is currently closed for re-furbishment
due to re-open 2009), and the Discovery Museum which is
Newcastle's largest museum. It is a good attraction for learning
about the history of Newcastle from Roman times onwards
and incorporates Science Maze and Waterworks which is great fun
for children. For anyone interested in archaeology the Museum of
Antiquities is the
principal museum in the North East and the Shefton Museum
boasts a Greek collection.
ENTERTAINMENT AND NIGHT LIFE
The nightlife in
Newcastle is buzzing. Head to the quay if your taste is young
and loud, the Bigg Market for excitement and noise and Jesmond
if you fancy things a little less frantic although there are
still plenty of traditional pubs where you can still enjoy a
hand pulled pint.
For cinema-goers, Newcastle has a number of top choice
cinemas to choose from and has three casinos.
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