Newcastle upon Tyne

About Newcastle upon Tyne

Population

189,150 in city
1,075,979 in metro

Size

113 km² (44 mi²)

Altitude

49 m

Newcastle is the regional capital of the North East of England, lying at the heart of the Tyne & Wear metropolitan region. The city has a rich history, dating back to before the Roman conquest of Britain in AD43. It's location on the River Tyne has played an important role in Newcastle's development, both in terms of shipbuilding and bridges. The first bridge over the Tyne, Pons Aelius, was built by the Romans and began a tradition that has produced some of the United Kingdom's best bridges. Seven bridges now span the Tyne between central Newcastle and the neighbouring city of Gateshead; the Redheugh Bridge, King Edward VII Bridge, Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, the High Level Bridge, the Swing Bridge, the George V Bridge (more commonly known as the Tyne Bridge) and the Millennium Bridge. Newcastle is also known for its architecture, with Grey Street widely considered as the country's finest street for its classical integrity. Most of the city's high-rise buildings, however, are far from architectural masterpieces. Built in the 1960s on council estates or as city centre office blocks, many are now facing demolition or redevelopment.

Metro Cities

Billingham, Chester-le-Street, Felling, Gateshead, Gosforth, Hebburn, Houghton-le-Spring, Jarrow, Longbenton, Newburn, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Shields, South Shields, Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland, Wallsend, Washington, Whitley Bay

No. of Buildings

No.	Current status
75	All Buildings
62	existing
1	under construction
4	unbuilt
8	demolished

Tallest Buildings

#	Building	Height	Year
1	Vale House	262 ft	1968
2	Shieldfield House	252 ft	1968
3	Bewick Court	252 ft	1970
4	Cruddas Park House	246 ft	1969
5	Cale Cross House	200 ft	1978

Building types

No.	Type
62	high-rise building
6	low-rise building
3	church
2	stadium
1	monument
1	airport tower