International House Newcastle
The Guardian 'Welcome to Newcastle, the UK's capital of the arts' 04/01/2007 

Welcome to Newcastle, the UK's capital of the arts. A study of 14 UK cities found that, per capita, people in Newcastle are more likely to visit art galleries, museums and concerts; have better libraries and bookshops, and have more arts students and the second highest number of theatres. [Newcastle] was also commended for its spectacular architecture including the Millnennium Bridge, SAGE concert halls and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead.

 The Spectator - 'A post-industrial revolution on the banks of the river that has seen everything''the Tyne has seen everything, from the days when Newcastle was an important mediaeval walled town, through the proud years of mining and shipbuilding, to todays post-industrial revolution. It is entirely fitting that it is now flanked by two of the most attractive and popular quaysides in Europe' 

US Arts and Leisure News Service

"NewcastleGateshead is a joy to explore, an exciting and a fantastic destination for any traveler; it has everything... It is replete with art from 2000 years of history, and architecture, with great shopping, a thriving nightlife and a program of festivals and events. It is not surprising that NewcastleGateshead has the distinction of being Arts & Leisure News Service 2006-07 favorite city in the United Kingdom."

 Livewire

“The Work Foundation identifies NewcastleGateshead as the UK’s next “urban powerhouse”, hot on the trail of London and Edinburgh, having “all the assets and attractions of a big urban area but all the advantages of easy access to astonishing natural assets”. The bottom line? It’s probably the friendliest place you’ll ever visit. And now it’s as vibrant in the daytime as it’s always been at night.”

Virgin Trains City Guide

"Tynesiders are justifiably proud of city's cultural renaissance. ... As well as boasting Britain’s best street, Tynesiders are justifiably proud of their city’s recent cultural renaissance. And quite possibly the fact that it seems to have more bars per square foot than anywhere else on earth.”

 Metro London "The best fun visitors can have in this country..."

"Partying away on Newcastle’s Quayside and in the infamous Bigg Market are the best fun visitors can have in this country, according to the latest edition of the Rough Guide To Britain.”

The Times "England's premier arts and nightlife destination"

“The Rough Guide to Britain claims that a night on the town in Newcastle upon Tyne is the top attraction. The city is ‘England’s premier arts and night life destination’, with a ‘scintillating quayside of bridges, bars, galleries and concert halls.’”

The Guardian 'Toon in'

It's not exactly news to say that these days Newcastle rocks in a way few other cities can. From the massive regeneration and stunning developments along the quayside to the cluster of new lounge bars and restaurants, Newcastle, or NewcastleGateshead, as it's being increasingly referred to, is getting better and better."

 Today's Golfer 'NewcastleGateshead'

"For Newcastle, read NewcastleGateshead - for the two towns sitting either side of the Tyne are bonded as closely together as St James' Park and Alan Shearer and are now marketed together as one job lot with their resources pooled.

"With its new vibrant quayside area, incredible architecture, terrrific arts and shopping centre and almost unfair share of great eating and drinking places, the city really does live up to its tag of 'Jewel of the North' and is guaranteed to offer the visitor what the locals call a 'canny' trip."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  The Sunday Times 'The Seven Wonders of Britain'

"The Angel of the North is beautiful — by that I mean it has form and purpose. I think public art in Britain is usually simplistic or insipid, or both. The Angel is complex and vital. Sighting it from the road or the train is a heart-lifting surprise. It stands over the landscape as protection and revelation, the guardian of travellers and settlers alike.

"...with the monolithic Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art bossing the quayside, Norman Foster’s shiny new Sage concert hall beside it and the eye-catching Millennium Bridge winking away between them, Newcastle-Gateshead is well on the way to having seven wonders all of its own. It’s an obvious choice for an artsy UK city break."

 
 The Guardian 'Sage tops bill in northern renaissance'

"Sage Gateshead, a £70m music centre designed by Foster and Partners, could completely reorient Britain's artistic map ......

"The media are bursting with breathless coverage of the coolness of Newcastle-Gateshead. Even  the term, Newcastle-Gateshead, is a triumph of marketing; it was invented to push the concept of the area as a chic destination, combining Gateshead's modern cool with Newcastle's historical clout..."

 

The Guardian 'Hot cities'

"There are at least two things that any visit to Newcastle must involve: a look at the wide variety of visual arts on offer and a taste of the vibrant nightlife that is waiting to be discovered around every corner."

 

Newcastle and surroundings in Brief
  1. Favourite Street in UK - Grey Street (Radio 4)
  2. Durham Cathedral favourite building in UK (Radio 4)
  3. Favourite City Break Destination in England
  4. Per capita most artistic place in UK
  5. Favourite Place in UK for combination of work, study and nightlife (BBC Business Breakfast)
  6. One of top 10 party cities in world (Weismann Travel)
  7. One of top 10 creative cities in the world (Newsweek)
  8. Night out in Newcastle is the best thing to do in Britain (Rough Guide to Britain)
  9. One of the highest student populations per capita in the world (over 25% of the population)
  10. Last but not least.......home of International House Newcastle!

see also:

SAGE music hall,

BALTIC centre for contemporary arts

Visitnewcastlegateshead.com