England’s friendliest city
248 miles (399 kilometres) north of London, you’ll find that the biggest city in the north of England is no second best. The people of Newcastle upon Tyne, known as “geordies”, are proud of their hometown’s rich culture, medieval history and bustling nightlife.
Close to the border of Scotland, the people of Newcastle speak in a unique English dialect. Expect to be greeted with a chirpy “areet”, called “pet” anywhere you go and waved off with a warm “gan canny” (meaning “go safely”).
Newcastle is full of chic shops and curated vintage stores. In between shopping, wander along the banks of the River Tyne and admire the 7 famous bridges. The beloved British bakery chain Greggs was founded here, so why not stop to try a traditional “stottie cake” bread roll?
Newcastle’s modern history is based in industry, especially its thriving port and ship-building factories. Its origins, though, date all the way back to Roman times, when Emperor Hadrian founded a settlement here. Some parts of the iconic Hadrian’s Wall remain dotted throughout the city.
The nightlife in Newcastle is often called the best in the UK, so make sure you head out in the evening to relax like a northerner. You’ll have an amazing choice of trendy restaurants and quirky bars, with famously reasonable prices.
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