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Newcastle City Guide
Newcastle is a city located in the Tyne and Wear county of England, on the bank of the River Tyne. Also known as Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle was formerly the county town of Northumberland. The city has had a long and colorful history, dating back to the time of the Romans, when it was founded as Pons Aelius. The name Newcastle upon Tyne is actually derived from the medieval Latin name Novum Castrum super Tynum. Newcastle is the 20th most heavily populated city in the country, and the conurbation in which it belongs–Tyneside–is the 6th most heavily populated conurbation in the United Kingdom.

Throughout the 70s and the 80s, Newcastle has struggled with domestic issues ranging from widespread unemployment, rampant drug use and spiraling crime rates, much of which can be traced to the closure of the coalmines in the 60s. More recently however, the city has risen up from this troubled past and reinvented itself as a thriving regional capital characterized by a vibrant social scene and stunning displays of architecture. Continued developments in the city will further ensure Newcastle’s stature as one of the best places to visit in the U.K.

Residential Places in Newcastle

As in many places in the North East of England, Newcastle has traditionally been one of the most affordable areas to buy residential property. Unfortunately, the low housing prices have been at least partially influenced by the high incidence of crime that the city has experienced over the past several years. Newcastle is in the midst of an upturn brought about by a citywide image makeover however, and many of the industrial structures are gradually being replaced with new housing developments. While this will certainly raise the prices of houses somewhat, the quality of the city’s residential neighborhoods will be noticeably improved as well.

While prices of residential properties in the different parts of the city have tended to vary widely in previous years, the redevelopment efforts will probably cause prices all across the city to gravitate towards more or less the same level. Today, you can expect to pay around £130,000 for a house in Newcastle.

Hospitals and Universities of Newcastle

All the health and medical care needs in Newcastle are adequately addressed by the city’s many hospitals and specialty health care establishments. Options for medical care in the city range from large public hospitals to smaller clinics and emergency care facilities. The main health and emergency care facility in the city is Newcastle General Hospital. You can call them at 0191 2336161. Some of the other hospitals in the city are Royal Victoria Infirmary, Freeman Hospital, Hunters Moor Regional Neurological Rehabilitation Centre, St. Nicholas Hospital, Newcastle Nuffield Hospital, and Walkergate Hospital.

Newcastle is home to one of the most respected international universities in the country, Newcastle University. Starting out in 1834 as the School of Medicine and Surgery, Newcastle University was a part of Durham University up until 1963 when it was reestablished as an independent university in its own right. The university was awarded the prestigious Sunday Times University of the Year award in 2000.

The other university in the city, University of Northumbria at Newcastle, is equally accomplished, having been voted 'Best New University' by The Times Good University Guide in 2005. The university was known as Newcastle Polytechnic before being granted university status in 1992. It also won the company award for "Most IT enabled organization" in the country given by Computing magazine.

Commercial Places in Newcastle

The numerous developments all over Newcastle have brought about a growth in the city’s commercial establishments as well. While the city was somewhat lacking in the culinary department in previous years, things are much different nowadays, with scores of restaurants offering a wide variety of cuisine from all over the world. A good example of this is Black Door, which offers classic French cuisine with a decidedly English touch. Receiving numerous awards for its outstanding food, Black Door combines elegant and stylish interiors with friendly and efficient service.

Jesmond Dene House Restaurant focuses on classic Continental dishes, with the best of the region’s seasonal and local produce amply showcased.

For classic bistro style dishes, look no further than Café 21 near the Tyne Bridge, which offers an extensive menu of fresh and flavorful dishes in bright and cheery surroundings. Café 21 is widely considered one of the best restaurants in the North East.

Service Establishments of Newcastle

The primary distributor of electricity supply services in Newcastle is CE Electric UK. The company currently provides electricity to more than 3.7 million households all over the North East section of England including Newcastle, as well as Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. The company is not actually in charge of supplying electricity directly; instead it works with numerous suppliers to supply electricity to its customers by way of its National Transmission System. However, the company can help you find a list of electricity suppliers in the Newcastle area. You can find out how by visiting the company’s Web site at www.ceelectricuk.com.

To have your electricity service connected, you can contact CE Electric UK at NEDL/YEDL Connections Centre, Cargo Fleet Lane, Middlesbrough, TS3 8DG. You can also call them at 08450 702 703 from Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:45pm. Any complaints or comments about their services should be directed to the Customer Service Manager at Northern Electric Distribution Limited, Manor House, Station Road, New Penshaw, Houghton-le-Spring, DH4 7LA. You can also call them at 0845 070 7172.

Embassies in Newcastle

At present, 5 countries have consular offices in Newcastle: Denmark, Germany, Italy, Norway, and Sweden. The office of the Royal Danish Consulate can be found at the International Ferry Terminal in North Shields, the Honorary Consul for the Federal Republic of Germany can be found at Grainger Suite at Dobson House in Gosforth, the Honorary Consulate of Italy can be found at 63 High Bridge, The Royal Norwegian Consulate can be reached at 14 Grey Street, and the Honorary Consulate of Sweden can be found at 2 Osborne Road in Jesmond.
 
 
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