Newcastle upon Tyne

A city full of culture

Host to both Northumbria University and the Russell Group member Newcastle University, Newcastle is a hub for high-quality education and boasts a vibrant and esteemed student population. Newcastle also has a rich cultural history, with the great Theatre Royal, the Tyne Theatre Opera House and the Northern Stage just some of the many theatres the city plays host to. Renowned for its fantastic nightlife, with unrivalled live music, bars and nightclubs, Newcastle’s buzzing cosmopolitan atmosphere complements the rich collections of its museums and art galleries, including the world-class cultural attraction of the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, the award-winning Laing Art Gallery and the Discovery Museum. St James’ Park football ground is another popular destination, visited by thousands of people every year from around the globe.

Lots to do in the local area

Newcastle city centre is a shopper’s heaven with several major shopping areas including the exclusive Northumberland Street and the Eldon Square Shopping Centre. The impressive Intu Metrocentre in Gateshead, close to the River Tyne, boasts two million square feet of retail space, making it the largest shopping and leisure centre in the UK, with over 340 shops, an Odeon cinema, an IMAX Digital, a ten pin bowling alley, soft play and dodgems to name just a few of its attractions.

The Metro Radio Arena, seating more than 11,000 people, is the largest concert and exhibition centre in the North East and is the main music venue for Newcastle, showcasing many popular artists. The O2 Academy Newcastle also offers a popular concert venue, with a varied selection of bands playing.

Newcastle’s compact city centre means that you can easily slip away from the buzz of urban life. Hadrian’s Wall and surrounding stunning countryside can be found just ten minutes away by car, the iconic Angel of the North just across the river in Gateshead and the coast aren't far either – Tynemouth, just 10 miles away, is a surfer’s heaven and perfect for young families.

Convenient transport links

Residents of Newcastle benefit from excellent transport links. A wide range of options are available including buses, the Metro, road links, a growing cycle network and even a city airport, meaning that there is great transport provision in the city and you are well-connected when it comes to travelling to, from and around Newcastle.

The A1 passes through Newcastle and provides great links to the major employment hubs of the North East, as well as to London, the South and Scotland via the A19, A69, A969 and A68 main roads.

For homeowners in the city, Newcastle is well-served by the rail network. Newcastle Central train station is on the East Coast mainline and Cross Country route, and is one of the busiest stations in Britain, providing exceptional access across the country from Newcastle.

Another key mode of transport for Newcastle residents is the Tyne and Wear Metro, which carries over 37 million passengers every year. This urban light rail transit system provides a network that stretches from Newcastle Airport, through the city centre and into the city of Sunderland, with another line looping from St James Park around the coastal towns, including Tynemouth, Whitley Bay and North Shields, before returning through Gateshead and South Shields

Newcastle is extremely well-served by bus routes, with a large and efficient network coordinated by Nexus which provides plentiful transport options across the city, as well as to the surrounding towns and suburbs. The two main bus stations in Newcastle, Haymarket and Eldon Square bus stations, are located centrally and provide a wide choice of routes from, to and around the city.

Newcastle Airport, just six miles from the city centre, is served by severa lairlines, providing links to many locations worldwide. Handling over five million passengers a year, it is the tenth-largest airport in the UK and is connected via the Metro system to the city.