Newcastle Travel Guide, United Kingdom

Newcastle, UK - Overview: A City That Withstood the Winds of Change

Situated on the north bank of River Tyne, New Castle is a metropolitan city of Tyne and Wear, England. It has an interesting past both economically and culturally, adding depth to its foundation.

Roman Influence on the city

Initially occupied by Romans, New Castle was called Pon Aelius and consisted mainly of a Roman fort and a bridge. It was founded in the 2nd century AD by Roman Emperor Hadrian. Remnants of the 117 km Hadrian Wall are still visible in parts of the city. The roman population occupying this area in those times was estimated to be around 2,000 in number. The Romans are said to have left this civilization somewhere around 410.

Economy

With an always flourishing economy, Newcastle has seen many industries reach their peak. While it earlier gained importance as a major centre for trading wool, tremendous growth was seen in its exports of coal. In the 18th century, the city came to be known as the fourth largest print centre in the UK and excelled in the manufacture of glass and gaining recognition for the production of clear flint glass.

Greater heights were achieved in the 19th century where the city of Newcastle saw growth in the field of shipbuilding and heavy engineering. This era saw the development and invention of many equipments and products in the Newcastle region, Charles Parsons' steam turbine being one of the most useful on a global level.

Reaching Newcastle

Owing to its rapid development in commerce, the city of Newcastle has a well designed infrastructure making accessibility and transport very convenient. While it can be accessed from anywhere in the world via air at Newcastle International Airport, the city can also be accessed other ways like rail, road and water.

Moving around Newcastle

A well-defined infrastructure provides great convenience for local transport. While it has a Metro system with stops at different points, it also has a broad network of buses to go around the city. Additionally, there are taxis or cabs that can be rented anytime for exploring this active city.

Rightly called England's best-looking city by writer Stuart Maconie, Newcastle was voted ‘Best City in the North’ in April 2007. It is home to Ralph Erskine's Byker Wall, which has found a place on UNESCO's list of outstanding 20th century buildings. From a city that was once a major business hotspot, it is now predominantly occupied by the working class. Newcastle has withstood the tests of time and continues to grow every day. It always has something to give its guests along with a wonderful experience and must not be missed!