Newcastle upon Tyne (shortened: Newcastle) is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, England, situated on the north bank of the River Tyne.
The city was founded in Roman times under the name Pons Aelius, and received its modern name in 1080. It was formerly the county town of Northumberland.
The city itself is the 20th most populous in England but the much larger Tyneside conurbation, of which Newcastle forms part, is the 5th most populous conurbation in England. Newcastle is a member of the English Core Cities Group.
Newcastle upon Tyne is one of England's best kept secrets, a party city that rates alongside New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro, a centre of culture and architecture.
Newcastle is also the starting point for tours of the Northumberland coast and Hadrian's Wall, the home town of the Geordie culture, with a rich heritage of folk music and dance and its own obscure dialect.
Tear yourself away from the traditional tourist spots of London, Cambridge, Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon and pay a visit to Newcastle.
Newcastle started life as a Roman town at the end of Hadrian's Wall, the border between Roman controlled Britain and the unconquered wilds of Scotland.
The ruins of one of the forts marking the end of the wall can be seen at Segedunum (A short walk from the Wallsend Metro station).
It developed into an important port and during the 19 century was an industrial centre built on the strength of the local coal industry.
As heavy industry went into decline, Newcastle's fortunes took a dip.
The city has now re-invented itself as a Cultural centre and Science City, and is possibly one of the trendiest places to live or visit in the UK.
