The North East of England combines classic countryside scenery and some of the country’s most significant past industrial urban areas. The City of Newcastle is located on the River Tyne and sits opposite Gateshead which is located on the south bank. Newcastle-upon-Tyne has a rich history which goes right back to Roman times when the city was founded by the Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century. Its coastal location has enabled the city over the centuries to develop a maritime presence on the world stage and during the industrial revolution of the 18-1900s saw great levels of ship building and other industrial activity.
Today Newcastle can claim itself as Party Capital for Stag/Hen parties with 7th place in the ‘Worldwide best places for a Night-Out’ (2000) thanks to its many bars, restaurants and nightclubs. The riverside contains much of the city’s most common landmarks and buildings which include The Tyne, Swing, High Level and Gateshead Millennium Bridges. Other structures include The Baltic (contemporary exhibition centre) and The Sage (music hall) which are both located in Gateshead.
City of Durham
The City of Durham has a history believed to stretch right back to 2000 BC and since 1093 has been the location of what is considered by many as one of the finest cathedrals in the world. Durham Cathedral is a striking landmark which is seen best from the railway which serves the city. The Cathedral contains remains of St Cuthbert and The Venerable Bede whose history can be explored extensively at the nearby Bede’s World in Jarrow. Durham is also well known for its University which was originally founded in 1832. Today the University is probably best known for its chancellor who is a best-selling American-born travel book author, Bill Bryson.
Getting to Newcastle
The City of Newcastle can be accessed by road, sea, air and rail by a choice of routes.
By rail Newcastle is served by a wide range of long distance rail services including primary operator of the North East & Scotland rail route; East Coast provide intercity train services towards London, York, Doncaster, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness. Cross Country Trains operate intercity train services towards York, Doncaster, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen plus Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham, Oxford, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth and Penzance. Towards the North West there’s an hourly service provided by First TransPennine Express between Newcastle and Manchester Airport via York, Leeds and Manchester.
For shorter distance journeys Northern Rail operate frequent suburban services throughout the city and beyond to destinations including Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Morpeth, Carlisle, Dumfries, Troon, Ayr and Stranraer. Within the area Nexus operate the city’s suburban metro system (Tyne and Wear Metro) which links to Newcastle Airport, Newcastle Central Station, North Tyneside, Gateshead, North Shields and South Shields.
The city is well served by major roads including the A1 from London to Edinburgh, the A69 from Carlisle and the A19 for Middlesbrough. Newcastle is served by the country’s two major coach operators National Express and Stagecoach (Megabus).
By air the city is linked by the Metro system to the airport from where there are both domestic and international flights.
By sea the city has a number of ferry routes to Scandinavia.
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