Newcastle
Tyne and Wear, England

 

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The Gateshead Millennium Bridge in tilt mode over the Tyne river to allow boats to pass underneath. The Sage Music Centre is visible in the background.

Newcastle (otherwise known as Newcastle-upon-Tyne) is one of England's best examples of successful lottery-funded regeneration.

The city has always had a vast amount of green space such as the Town Moor where cattle can often be seen grazing, but only recently broke away from the past with some avant-garde accommodation called 'The Byker Wall' that is now UNESCO listed as an outstanding example of 20th century architecture, the spectacular Gateshead Millennium Bridge, the UK's first Biotechnology Village 'The Centre for Life' and the spectacular Angel of the North sculpture just outside the city (see picture below).

Like many English docksides that fell into disrepair towards the end of last century (London and Liverpool being two other examples) Newcastle docklands has been redeveloped as a dynamic and ultra-modern public area loaded with entertainment facilities as well as a few of the inevitable smart office blocks.

 

Newcastle town centre - yes! old stuff too!
© Redeyed, Dreamstime.com

On the downside a noise survey reported by University College London in 2007 indicated that Newcastle is the noisiest place in England with an average decibel rating of 80.4, approximately 'equivalent to a loud alarm clock ringing in one's ear'. Birmingham was second, London third (78.5), while the quietest place was Torquay, Devon in the southwest, at 60.2 decibels.

 

 

The Black Gate, built in 1247, and St Nicholas' Cathedral on the left, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
© Redeyed

 

 

The Angel of the North (artist: Anthony Gormley) on the outskirts of Newcastle/Gateshead. Next, Lake District Pictures.
© Deborah Benbrook

 

 

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