What is Newcastle known for?
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city in northeast England known for its bridges over the River Tyne, its nightlife, Newcastle United football club and the friendly Geordie accent and culture.
Newcastle grew from a Roman settlement and a Norman castle, which gave the city its name. The castle keep still stands near the railway station.
The city became a major center for coal, shipbuilding and engineering during the Industrial Revolution. The phrase carrying coals to Newcastle means doing something unnecessary.
Bridges and culture
Seven bridges cross the Tyne between Newcastle and Gateshead, including the Tyne Bridge, opened in 1928, and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, a tilting footbridge.
The Quayside has restaurants, bars and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, housed in a former flour mill.
Newcastle United play at St James' Park, one of the largest football stadiums in England, in the heart of the city.
The Great North Run, the world's largest half marathon, runs from Newcastle to South Shields each year. People from Newcastle are known as Geordies.
The city is about three hours from London by train.