Newcastle is in North East England, situated on the northern bank of the River Tyne which hosts seven city bridges. It is only a few miles from the North Sea and is the largest city in the North East, often affectionately known as ‘the Toon’ because that's how the locals pronounce town!
Because of its close proximity to the North Sea, the climate is what is known as oceanic, with winters that can become quite cold and wet, and summers that can also be rainy yet fairly mild.
Newcastle Airport is only twenty minutes from the city centre and the city is a ‘gateway’ for the rest of the UK with London, Edinburgh, Leeds and Manchester all being just a few hours away.
With its distinctive ‘Geordie’ accent, there can be no mistaking when you have arrived in Newcastle. It is a hugely interesting place to be with a fascinating past that spans back many years and this is depicted by the many wonderful architecture. From the Middle Ages to the Tudor period, the Stuarts to the Victorians ~ Newcastle is literally steeped in history. Each building has its own story to tell of invasions, sieges, religions and royalty or simply of everyday life and the characters who resided there.
In days gone by, there was strong emphasis on railways, coal mining and ship building but now Newcastle, which is an integral part of the Northern Powerhouse, has been spectacularly transformed into one of Britain's most dynamic and successful cities. It has a strong commercial, retail and cultural hub with a major focus on many sectors. These include technology and digital, energy, manufacturing, logistics, finance, education, medical sciences and healthcare, offshore and marine and corporate services. Thousands of businesses thrive here and the city attracts more each year.
The economy is boosted by tourism and is worth billions of pounds which supports thousands of jobs. Recently, Newcastle was voted the ‘best place to visit in the world’ and also has been voted ‘the friendliest city in Britain’. It continues to be at the forefront of the battle against climate change and towards net zero, being one of the world's leading cities in this field.
Schooling is considered excellent and this in itself attracts families to certain areas of Newcastle. Newcastle University is a world class university which ranks highly at 110th in the QS World University Rankings for 2024 - its highest ever ranking so far!
For sporting fans, Newcastle United's football team, or the ‘Magpies’, has huge support and their stadium is St James Park which has a massive seating capacity for thousands of spectators and is one of the oldest association football grounds in the country. It is now recognised as one of the greatest arenas in world football.
Newcastle offers a vibrant mix of historical landmarks, cultural attractions and entertainment options. Start your visit with a trip to Newcastle Castle, which originally gave the city its name! Stroll along the picturesque Quayside area along the River Tyne. Here you will find the iconic Gateshead Millennium Bridge, numerous restaurants, bars and scenic views. Admire St Nicholas’ Cathedral in the heart of the city with its beautiful architecture and serene interior. Browse the diverse range of food, craft and gifts at The Quayside Market on a Sunday or escape the hustle and bustle in Jesmond Dene Park with a river, waterfall and peaceful walking trails.
For shoppers, Eldon Square is a large shopping centre with over one hundred and fifty stores while the nearby MetroCentre in Gateshead is one of the largest shopping complexes in Europe. Northumberland Street, Grainger Market and Central Arcade are just a few more of the exciting places to visit for retail therapy!
Newcastle is renowned for its exciting and vibrant nightlife with so much variety on offer. Theatre, bars, restaurants, cocktail bars and clubs all flourish here in this city that rarely sleeps.
Slightly further afield is the wonderful and world famous Beamish ~The Living Museum of the North, Northumberland National Park and of course, the numerous stunning coastlines that are nearby.
Newcastle really does offer the unique combination of city, coast and countryside with something for everyone.The ‘canny’ people of Newcastle are very warm, down to earth, hard working, friendly and generous to a fault. It is undoubtedly the very characters who live and work here that make it the wonderful city that it is.
The next event being hosted by the UK Careers Fair will be held on March 22nd between 10am - 2pm. The venue is the above-mentioned St James’ Park, Strawberry Place, NE1 4ST.