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- United Kingdom
- England
- Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, or Newcastle as it is more commonly known,
has worked hard to throw off its image as a dreary, industrial city
and to develop a thriving tourism industry. Clearly successful in
its attempts at regeneration, Newcastle has now become a highly
popular UK weekend destination, particularly with the younger crowd
who flock to its bars, restaurants and nightclubs, intent on having
a good time.
Situated on the River Tyne's north bank, the city boasts a
2,000-year-old history and a treasure-trove of architecture, with
the most classical buildings listed in the UK. Although the city
really only reached prominence in the Industrial Revolution, it has
long been a capital and defensive point of the north of England for
the Romans and Saxons respectively. The city's origins as a Roman
town are still evident in Hadrian's Wall, whose ruins can be seen
stretching eastward to Wallsend.
Today, these Roman ruins and the grand elegance of areas such as
the neoclassical Grainger Town in the city centre contrast with the
ultra modern buildings of the city's new Quayside development.
Newcastle's waterfront glitters with chic boutiques, excellent
restaurants, stylish hotels and modern art. The Gateshead
Millennium Bridge, a work of art in itself, arches across the River
Tyne to link Newcastle to Gateshead Quays.
The city's modern amenities lie comfortably alongside a myriad
of historic sites, parks, traditional markets, galleries and
museums, and although it may not yet be on everybody's list of top
destinations, Newcastle is a thriving, vibrant city with plenty to
offer the visitor.
Information & Facts
Climate
Newcastle's climate is temperate, and although typical of the
United Kingdom, it can be highly changeable. Due to the Gulf
Stream, temperatures are usually warmer than in the rest of the UK
and as Newcastle is in the rain shadow of the North Pennines, it is
also one of the UK's driest cities. Summers are usually sunny and
warm, while winters are cold, with some occasional snow.
Getting Around
Newcastle has an excellent public transport system, with plenty
of buses, trains and taxis available. It may be worth phoning ahead
for a taxi at the weekend, as the city can get quite busy.
Newcastle is also home to the UK's first light rapid rail transit
system, the Tyne and Wear Metro - a fast and efficient means of
transport that operates within the city and connects Newcastle and
Gateshead. There are plenty of car rental agencies in the city,
though exploring Newcastle on foot is perhaps the best way to take
in all the sights and sounds. There are also several cycling paths
and bike rental options.
Language
English is the official language, though visitors will be
astonished by the variety of regional accents.
Money
The currency is the pound (GBP), which is divided into 100
pence. ATMs are available in all towns and Visa, MasterCard and
American Express are widely accepted; visitors with other cards
should check with their credit card companies in advance. Foreign
currency can be exchanged at bureaux de change and large hotels,
however better exchange rates are likely to be found at banks.
Travellers cheques are accepted in all areas frequented by
tourists; they are best taken in Pounds Sterling to avoid
additional charges.
Time
Local time in the United Kingdom is GMT (GMT +1 from last
Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).