Editing Newcastle upon Tyne (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Side - Tyne Bridge.jpg|thumb|right|Side, a street in Newcastle near the Tyne Bridge]]
Since 1974, Newcastle has been a part of the [[metropolitan county]] of [[Tyne and Wear]] in [[North East England]]. The city is located on the north-western bank of the [[River Tyne]], approximately {{convert|46|mile}} south of the border with Scotland.
 
The ground beneath the city is formed from [[Carboniferous]] [[Stratum|strata]] of the Middle Pennine Coal Measures Group — a suite of [[sandstone]]s, [[mudstone]]s and [[coal seam]]s which generally dip moderately eastwards. To the west of the city are the Upper Pennine Coal Measures and further west again the sandstones and mudstones of the Stainmore Formation, the local equivalent of the [[Millstone Grit]].<ref>''Bedrock Geology UK North'', 1:625,000 scale geological map published by British Geological Survey</ref>

In large parts, Newcastle still retains a [[medieval]] street layout. Narrow alleys or '[[chare]]s', most of which can only be traversed by foot, still exist in abundance, particularly around the [[Quayside|riverside]]. Stairs from the riverside to higher parts of the city centre and the extant [[Newcastle Castle Keep|Castle Keep]], originally recorded in the 14th century, remain intact in places. Close, Sandhill and [[Quayside]] contain modern buildings as well as structures dating from the 15th–18th centuries, including [[Bessie Surtees House]], the Cooperage and Lloyds Quayside Bars, Derwentwater House and House of Tides, a restaurant situated at a Grade I-listed 16th century merchant's house at 28–30 Close.

The city has an extensive [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] centre referred to as Tyneside Classical,<ref name="Tyneside Classical">{{cite web
 | title = GRAINGER TOWN, Tyneside Classical
 | quote = hundreds of fine Georgian and stylish Victorian buildings which have led to its architecture being referred to as "Tyneside Classical".
 | url = http://northeast.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/north-east-life-newcastle-grainger-town-grey-street-eldon-square-chinatown-eldon-garde-17318/
 | access-date = 26 July 2010
| archive-date = 23 August 2011
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110823095119/http://northeast.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/north-east-life-newcastle-grainger-town-grey-street-eldon-square-chinatown-eldon-garde-17318/
 }}</ref> largely developed in the 1830s by [[Richard Grainger]] and [[John Dobson (architect)|John Dobson]]. More recently, Newcastle architecture considered to be Tyneside classical has been extensively restored. Broadcaster and writer [[Stuart Maconie]] described Newcastle as England's best-looking city<ref>{{Cite news
 |last         = Maconie
 |first        = Stuart
 |author-link   = Stuart Maconie
 |title        = Stuart Maconie reveals..why it's great up North..
 |quote        = Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle remain, bolder brighter and more beautiful than ever. You can't move in Manchester for boutique hotels, Leeds has got a Harvey Nichols and Newcastle is now the best-looking city in England.
 |work         = Daily Mirror
 |location     = UK
 |date         = 8 February 2008
|url          = https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/02/08/stuart-maconie-reveals-why-it-s-great-up-north-89520-20312679/
 |access-date   = 4 July 2008
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20081006204722/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/02/08/stuart-maconie-reveals-why-it-s-great-up-north-89520-20312679/
 |archive-date = 6 October 2008
|df           = dmy-all
}}</ref><ref>
{{Cite book
 |date=February 2007
 | title = Pies and Prejudice
 | last = Maconie
 | first = Stuart
 | author-link = Stuart Maconie
 | publisher=[[Ebury Press]]
 | isbn = 978-0-09-191022-8
}}</ref> and the German-born British scholar of architecture, [[Nikolaus Pevsner]],<ref name="Pevsner2010-07-26">{{cite web
 | title = GRAINGER TOWN... Grey Street, Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner
 | quote = Grey Street was described as 'one of the finest streets in England' by Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner (1902–1983) the German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture.
 | url = http://northeast.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/north-east-life-newcastle-grainger-town-grey-street-eldon-square-chinatown-eldon-garde-17318/
 | access-date = 26 July 2010
| archive-date = 23 August 2011
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110823095119/http://northeast.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/north-east-life-newcastle-grainger-town-grey-street-eldon-square-chinatown-eldon-garde-17318/
 }}</ref> describes [[Grey Street, Newcastle|Grey Street]] as one of the finest streets in England. In 1948 the poet [[John Betjeman]] said of Grey Street, "As for the curve of Grey Street, I shall never forget seeing it to perfection, traffic-less on a misty Sunday morning."<ref name=greyStBetjeman>{{cite web | url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2020/05/15/parking-cull-and-pocket-parks-for-englands-finest-street-as-newcastle-plans-post-pandemic-future| title =Parking Cull And Pocket Parks For England's Finest Street As Newcastle Plans Post-Pandemic Future
 | last = Reid| first =Carlton | date = 15 May 2020| work =Forbes | access-date =15 May 2020 }}</ref> The street curves down from [[Grey's Monument]] towards the valley of the [[River Tyne, England|River Tyne]] and was voted England's finest street in 2005 in a survey of [[BBC Radio 4]] listeners.<ref>{{cite web
 | title = Around Tyne. Grey Street
 |publisher=BBC
 | date = 13 December 2007
| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/panoramas/360_greystreet.shtml
 | quote = Grey Street in Newcastle was voted the best street in Britain by Radio 4 listeners.
 | access-date = 9 July 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |title=GOOD CASE STUDY – GREY STREET, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
 |publisher=BBC radio 4
 |url=http://www.streetsofshame.org.uk/case-study-good.htm
 |quote=Said by many to be amongst the greatest streets in 'England if not Europe', this gently curving and rising street has been 'sensitively restored and improved in the last decade'.
 |access-date=9 July 2008
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807163347/http://www.streetsofshame.org.uk/case-study-good.htm
 |archive-date=7 August 2008
}}</ref> In the Google Street View awards of 2010, Grey Street came 3rd in the British picturesque category.<ref name="google street view">{{Cite news
 | title = Google Street View awards 2010 | newspaper=The Guardian | date = 8 March 2010 | url = https://www.theguardian.com/travel/gallery/2010/mar/08/google-street-view?picture=360124038| access-date = 8 March 2010 | location=London
 }}</ref> A portion of [[Grainger Town]] was demolished in the 1960s to make way for the [[Eldon Square Shopping Centre]], including all but one side of the original [[Old Eldon Square|Eldon Square]] itself.
{{wide image|NewCastle-KeepTower360.jpg|1100px|360° panoramic shot taken from the top of the Keep}}
Immediately to the north-west of the city centre is [[Leazes Park]], first opened to the public in 1873<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ncl.ac.uk/library/special-collections/exhibitions/current-and-past-exhibitions/so/parks.php|title=Current and past exhibitions – University Library – Newcastle University|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807015118/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/library/special-collections/exhibitions/current-and-past-exhibitions/so/parks.php|archive-date=7 August 2016}}</ref> after a petition by 3,000 working men of the city for "ready access to some open ground for the purpose of health and recreation". Just outside one corner of this is [[St James' Park]], the stadium home of [[Newcastle United FC]] which dominates the view of the city from all directions.

[[File:St James Park Newcastle as seen from south of the River Tyne.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|View of [[St James' Park]] on the skyline and surrounding buildings, as seen from Gateshead]]

Another major [[Green belt|green space]] in the city is the [[Town Moor, Newcastle upon Tyne|Town Moor]], lying immediately north of the city centre. It is larger than London's [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] and [[Hampstead Heath]] put together<ref name=townmoo1>{{cite web|title=Insight: Taking a closer look at the Town Moor |quote=land which covers an area larger than London's Hyde Park and Hampstead Heath |publisher=[[Northumbria University]] |url=http://northumbria.ac.uk/insight/896829 |access-date=17 September 2008}}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name=townmoo2>{{cite web
 |title       = Newcastle Breaks
 |quote       = Town Moor, which is larger and wider than Hampstead Heath and Hyde Park
 |publisher   = latebreaks.com
 |url         = http://www.latebreaks.com/destinations/countries/Newcastle_Breaks.html
 |access-date  = 17 September 2008
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20090115035647/http://www.latebreaks.com/destinations/countries/Newcastle_Breaks.html
 |archive-date = 15 January 2009
}}</ref> and the [[Freedom of the City|freemen of the city]] have the right to graze cattle on it.<ref name = townmoo1/><ref name = townmoo2/> The right extends to the pitch of [[St. James' Park]], [[Newcastle United|Newcastle United Football Club]]'s ground; this is not exercised, although the Freemen do collect rent for the loss of privilege. Honorary freemen include [[Bob Geldof]],<ref name=BobGeldof2010-09-17>{{cite web|title=Honorary Freedom – Citations – Bob Geldof |publisher=newcastle.gov.uk |url=http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/lmfreemencit |access-date=17 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215061946/http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/lmfreemencit |archive-date= 15 December 2009 }}</ref> [[King Harald V]] of Norway,<ref name=KingHNorway>{{cite web|title=Honorary Freedom – Citations – King Harald V of Norway |quote=to mark the 40th anniversary of the official opening of the Civic Centre by his father HM King Olaf V and to recognise and celebrate the close links between Newcastle and Norway over many years |publisher=newcastle.gov.uk |url=http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/lmfreemencit |access-date=17 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215061946/http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/lmfreemencit |archive-date= 15 December 2009 }}</ref> [[Bobby Robson]],<ref name=SirBobby2010-09-17>{{cite web|title=Honorary Freedom – Citations – Sir Bobby Robson |quote=in recognition of his long and outstanding career across Europe, his role as an ambassador for the North East and Newcastle, and his contribution to the culture and life of the City |publisher=newcastle.gov.uk |url=http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/lmfreemencit |access-date=17 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215061946/http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/lmfreemencit |archive-date= 15 December 2009 }}</ref> [[Alan Shearer]],<ref name="AlanShearer2010-09-17">{{cite web|title=Honorary Freedom – Citations – Alan Shearer |publisher=newcastle.gov.uk |url=http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/lmfreemencit |access-date=17 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215061946/http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/lmfreemencit |archive-date= 15 December 2009 }}</ref> the late [[Nelson Mandela]]<ref name=Mandela2010-09-17>{{cite web|title=Honorary Freedom – Citations – Nelson Mandela |publisher=newcastle.gov.uk |url=http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/lmfreemencit |access-date=17 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215061946/http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/lmfreemencit |archive-date= 15 December 2009 }}</ref> and the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]].<ref name="RoyalShakespeare">{{cite web|title=Honorary Freedom – Citations – Royal Shakespeare Company |publisher=newcastle.gov.uk |url=http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/lmfreemencit |access-date=17 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215061946/http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/lmfreemencit |archive-date= 15 December 2009 }}</ref> [[The Hoppings]] funfair, said to be the largest [[travelling funfair]] in Europe, is held here annually in June.<ref name="Hop2010-09-17">{{Cite book| last = Lanagan |first = Paul |title = The Hoppings Fair on Newcastle Town Moor |quote =. Thought to be the largest travelling fairground in Europe, it takes place in the last full week of June... |publisher=Books of the North | date = 15 May 2010| page = 128 |isbn = 978-0-9555059-0-4}}</ref>

In the south-eastern corner of the Town Moor is [[Exhibition Park, Newcastle|Exhibition Park]], which contains the only remaining pavilion from the [[North East Coast Exhibition|North East Coast Exhibition of 1929]]. From the 1970s until 2006 this housed the Newcastle Military Vehicle Museum; which closed in 2006. The pavilion is now being used as a [[microbrewery]] and concert venue for [[Wylam Brewery]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Coreena Ford |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/business/business-news/check-out-workers-finishing-wylam-11214241 |title=Check out workers finishing off Wylam Brewery's transformation of the Palace of Arts |publisher=Chronicle Live |date=20 April 2016 |access-date=26 February 2017}}</ref>

=== Ouseburn ===
The wooded gorge of the [[Ouseburn]] in the east of the city is known as [[Jesmond Dene]] and forms another recreation area, linked by Armstrong Park and Heaton Park to the [[Ouseburn Valley]], where the river finally reaches the [[River Tyne, England|River Tyne]].

The springtime [[dawn chorus (birds)|dawn chorus]] at 55 degrees latitude has been described as one of the best in the world.<ref name=dawnChorus/> The dawn chorus of the [[Jesmond Dene]] green space has been professionally recorded and has been used in various workplace and hospital rehabilitation facilities.<ref name=dawnChorus>{{cite news |last = Watson |first = Chris | title = Dawn chorus |work=BBC News |date = 7 April 2008 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/articles/2008/04/01/dawn_chorus_feature.shtml | access-date = 10 April 2015}}</ref>

===Quayside===
[[File:Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne.jpg|thumb|Quayside architecture, showing the historic [[Guildhall, Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle Guildhall]] with its white turret]]
The area around the [[River Tyne|Tyne]] Gorge, between Newcastle on the north bank and [[Gateshead]] on the south bank, is the famous Newcastle-Gateshead [[Quayside]]. It is famed for its series of dramatic bridges, including the [[Tyne Bridge]] of 1928 which was built by [[Dorman Long]] of [[Middlesbrough]], [[Robert Stephenson]]'s [[High Level Bridge, River Tyne|High Level Bridge]] of 1849, the first road/rail bridge in the world, and the [[Swing Bridge, River Tyne|Swing Bridge]] of 1876.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/665382/Newcastle-upon-Tyne|title=Newcastle upon Tyne|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|date=3 December 2023 }}</ref>

Large-scale [[Urban renewal|regeneration]] efforts have led to the replacement of former shipping premises with modern new office developments; an innovative tilting bridge - the [[Gateshead Millennium Bridge]] - integrated the Quayside more closely with the Gateshead Quayside, home to the [[BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art]] (the venue for the [[Turner Prize]] 2011)<ref name=TurnerPrize2010>{{cite web
 | title = Turner Prize to leave London for BALTIC
 | quote = The Turner Prize will not be held at a Tate venue for the first time in 25 years in 2011 when it heads to the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
 | website = M&H online
 | date = 17 September 2010
| url = http://www.mandh-online.com/news/content/1315/turner_prize_to_leave_london_for_baltic
 | access-date = 17 September 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100919165506/http://www.mandh-online.com/news/content/1315/turner_prize_to_leave_london_for_baltic
 | archive-date = 19 September 2010
| df = dmy-all
 }}</ref> and the [[Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank|Norman Foster]]-designed [[The Sage Gateshead|Sage Gateshead]] music centre. The Newcastle and Gateshead Quaysides are now a thriving, cosmopolitan area with bars, restaurants, hotels and public spaces.

{{wide image|Tyne_quayside_2.1.jpg|1100px|Seen here in 2008 on the Quayside is a Tyne Salmon Cube at right, an art exhibit celebrating  [[River Tyne]] salmon, which has since been removed<ref name=salmonliek>{{cite news|last=Hunt |first=Amy |title=Art mixing with nature in the wild |quote="The Tyne is England's best salmon-fishing river, and this is something the North East should be really proud of, but it is so much more than a fishery." |newspaper=Evening Chronicle |date=11 December 2007 |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/the-environment/go-green-news/2007/12/11/art-mixing-with-nature-in-the-wild-72703-20234813/ |access-date=1 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080707004653/http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/the-environment/go-green-news/2007/12/11/art-mixing-with-nature-in-the-wild-72703-20234813/ |archive-date=7 July 2008}}</ref>}}

===Grainger Town===
{{Main|Grainger Town}}
[[File:Newcastle England, Grainger Street c. 1906.jpg|thumb|right|Grainger Street, circa 1906]]
The historic heart of Newcastle is the Grainger Town area. Established on classical streets built by [[Richard Grainger]], a builder and developer, between 1835 and 1842, some of Newcastle upon Tyne's finest buildings and streets lie within this area of the city centre including [[Grainger Market]], [[Theatre Royal, Newcastle|Theatre Royal]], [[Earl grey|Grey]] Street, Grainger Street and [[John Clayton (town clerk)|Clayton]] Street.<ref name=ggrmrkt2>{{cite web
 |title       = History of the Grainger Market
 |quote       = Richard Grainger, builder and developer, planned and constructed some of Newcastle's finest buildings and streets during 1830s including Grainger Market, Theatre Royal, Grey Street, Grainger and Clayton Street.
 |publisher   = Newcastle.gov.uk
 |url         = http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/market_customers_grainger_history
 |access-date  = 3 March 2011
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100825132008/http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/market_customers_grainger_history
 |archive-date = 25 August 2010
|df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> These buildings are predominantly four stories high, with vertical dormers, domes, turrets and spikes. Richard Grainger was said to 'have found Newcastle of bricks and timber and left it in stone'.<ref name=GgrMrkt1>{{cite web
 |title       = History of the Grainger Market
 |quote       = Richard Grainger was said to 'have found Newcastle of bricks and timber and left it in stone.'
 |publisher   = newcastle.gov.uk
 |url         = http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/market_customers_grainger_history
 |access-date  = 3 March 2011
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100825132008/http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/market_customers_grainger_history
 |archive-date = 25 August 2010
|df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> Of Grainger Town's 450 buildings, 244 are [[listed building|listed]], of which 29 are grade I and 49 are grade II*.
[[File:Earl Grey atop his monument (geograph 2368405).jpg|thumb|upright|left|Grey's Monument]]

[[Grey's Monument]], which commemorates Prime Minister [[Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey|Earl Grey]] and his [[Reform Act 1832]], stands above Monument Metro Station and was designed and built by [[Edward Hodges Baily]] and [[John and Benjamin Green|Benjamin Green]]. Hodges, who also built [[Nelson's Column]], designed and built the statue,<ref name = "Baily2010-2010-07-26">{{cite web
 | title = GRAINGER TOWN, Greys Monument, Edward Hodges Baily
 | quote = His statue by sculptor Edward Hodges Baily (also responsible for Nelson's Column) tops a column, Grey's Monument, of {{convert|41|m|ft|abbr=off}}. It has remained a favourite meeting place since it was unveiled in 1838.
 | url = http://northeast.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/north-east-life-newcastle-grainger-town-grey-street-eldon-square-chinatown-eldon-garde-17318/
 | access-date = 26 July 2010
| archive-date = 23 August 2011
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110823095119/http://northeast.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/north-east-life-newcastle-grainger-town-grey-street-eldon-square-chinatown-eldon-garde-17318/
 }}</ref> and the monument plinth was designed and built by Benjamin Green.<ref name="BenjaminGreen2010-07-26">{{cite web
 | title = Newcastle Upon Tyne: The Architecture...; Greys Monument Centrepiece
 | quote = The centrepiece is Grey's Monument, designed in 1838 by Benjamin Green
 | access-date =26 July 2010
| url = http://history.knoji.com/newcastle-upon-tyne-the-architecture-of-an-historic-city/
 }}</ref>

The Grainger Market replaced an earlier market originally built in 1808 called the Butcher Market.<ref name =Grain201308/> The Grainger Market itself, was opened in 1835 and was Newcastle's first indoor market.<ref name=ggrmrkt3/> At the time of its opening in 1835 it was said to be one of the largest and most beautiful markets in Europe.<ref name=ggrmrkt3/> The opening was celebrated with a grand dinner attended by 2000 guests, and the Laing Art Gallery has a painting of this event.<ref name=ggrmrkt3/> With the exception of the timber roof which was destroyed by a fire in 1901 and replaced by latticed-steel arches the Market is largely in its original condition.<ref name=ggrmrkt3>{{cite web
 |title       = History of the Grainger Market
 |publisher   = Newcastle.gov.uk
 |url         = http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/market_customers_grainger_history
 |access-date  = 3 March 2011
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100825132008/http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/market_customers_grainger_history
 |archive-date = 25 August 2010
|df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> The Grainger Market architecture, like most in Grainger Town, which are either grade I or II listed, was listed grade I in 1954 by English Heritage.<ref name =Grain201308>{{cite web| title = Grainger Market| url = http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-304574-grainger-market- | publisher = britishlistedbuildings.co.uk | access-date =28 August 2013}}</ref>

The development of the city in the 1960s saw the demolition of part of [[Grainger Town]] as a prelude to the modernist rebuilding initiatives of [[T. Dan Smith]], the leader of [[Newcastle City Council]]. A corruption scandal was uncovered involving Smith and [[John Poulson]], a [[Real estate developer|property developer]] from [[Pontefract]], West Yorkshire, and both were imprisoned. Echoes of the scandal were revisited in the late 1990s in the [[BBC TV]] mini-series, ''[[Our Friends in the North]]''.<ref>Flannery, Peter. ''Retrospective – An interview with the creators of the series''. Included as a bonus feature on the ''[[Our Friends in the North]]'' DVD release. (BMG DVD 74321 941149).</ref>

====Chinatown====
[[File:Porte Chinatown Newcastle Tyne 5.jpg|thumb|Newcastle's Chinatown arch|alt=A red gold and blue Chinese arch over a busy city centre street]]
Newcastle's thriving [[Chinatown, Newcastle|Chinatown]] lies in the north-west of [[Grainger Town]], centred on Stowell Street. A new Chinese arch, or ''[[paifang]]'', providing a landmark entrance, was handed over to the city with a ceremony in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/chinese-new-year-2015-newcastle-8518677|title=Chinese New Year 2015 Newcastle: Guide to shops and restaurants in Chinatown|first=Sarah |last=Jeffery|date=26 January 2015|work=nechronicle}}</ref>

===Housing===
The [[Tyneside flat]] was the dominant housing form constructed at the time when the industrial centres on Tyneside were growing most rapidly. They can still be found in areas such as South Heaton in Newcastle but once dominated the streetscape on both sides of the Tyne.<ref>{{cite web|title=Heaton (HMOs & Tyneside flats)|url=https://newcastleareas.wordpress.com/heaton-tyneside-flats/|website=Newcastle residential areas|date=28 December 2012|access-date=10 January 2016}}</ref> Tyneside flats were built as terraces, one of each pair of doors led to an upstairs flat while the other led into the ground-floor flat, each of two or three rooms. A new development in the Ouseburn valley has recreated them; Architects Cany Ash and Robert Sakula were attracted by the possibilities of high density without building high and getting rid of common areas.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Williams|first1=Francesca|title=The rise, fall and rise of the Tyneside flat|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-26868399|work=BBC News |access-date=10 January 2016}}</ref>

In terms of housing stock, the authority is one of few authorities to see the proportion of detached homes rise in the 2010 Census (to 7.8%), in this instance this was coupled with a similar rise in flats and waterside apartments to 25.6%, and the proportion of converted or shared houses in 2011 renders this dwelling type within the highest of the five colour-coded brackets at 5.9%, and on a par with [[Oxford]] and [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]], greater than [[Manchester]] and [[Liverpool]] and below a handful of historic densely occupied, arguably overinflated markets in the local authorities: [[Harrogate]], [[Cheltenham]], [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]], inner London, [[Hastings]], [[Brighton]] and [[Royal Tunbridge Wells]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/census/2011/census-data/2011-census-interactive-content/index.html |title=2011 Census Interactive |publisher=ons.gov.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129132219/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/census/2011/census-data/2011-census-interactive-content/index.html |archive-date=29 January 2016 }}</ref>

Significant Newcastle [[housing developments]] include [[Ralph Erskine (architect)|Ralph Erskine]]'s the [[Byker Wall]] designed in the 1960s, and now [[Listed building|Grade II* listed]]. It is on [[UNESCO]]'s list of outstanding 20th-century buildings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://architectuul.com/architecture/byker-wall|title=Byker Wall|website=Architectuul.com|access-date=5 May 2021}}</ref> The Byker Redevelopment has won the first [[Veronica Rudge Green Prize in Urban Design]] in 1988.<ref>
{{cite web |title= Veronica Rudge Green Prize in Urban Design |website= gsd.harvard.edu |url= https://www.gsd.harvard.edu/urban-planning-design/fellowships-prizes-and-travel-programs/veronica-rudge-green-prize-in-urban-design/ |access-date= Oct 16, 2024 }}
</ref>

===Climate===
Newcastle has an [[Oceanic climate|oceanic]] climate ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''[[Oceanic climate|Cfb]]''). Data in Newcastle was first collected in 1802 by the solicitor [[James Losh]].<ref name=tyneWeather1800s>{{cite news | last = Henderson| first =Tony | title =The remarkable record of what Newcastle's weather was like some 200 years ago | newspaper =Chronicle | location = Newcastle, England| language =en | publisher = chroniclelive.co.uk | date = 24 November 2019| url =https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/james-losh-newcastle-weather-jesmond-17298083
 | access-date = 8 March 2020 }}</ref> Situated in the [[rain shadow]] of the [[North Pennines]], Newcastle is amongst the driest cities in the UK. Temperature extremes recorded at Newcastle Weather Centre include {{convert|37.0|C|F}} set in July 2022<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/england/newcastle#:~:text=The%20highest%20record%20is%2037,%C2%B0F)%20in%20August%202003 | title=Newcastle climate: Weather by month, temperature, rain - Climates to Travel }}</ref> down to {{convert|-14.0|C|F}} on 29 December 1995.<ref>{{cite web |publisher = TuTiempo | url= https://en.tutiempo.net/climate/1995/ws-32433.html | title = 1995 temperature}}</ref> Newcastle can have cool to cold winters, though usually warmer than the rural areas around it, and the winters are often compensated for by warm summers, with very long daylight hours in the summer months, longer than all other major English cities. Newcastle upon Tyne shares the same latitude as [[Copenhagen]] and southern Sweden.

The nearest weather station to provide sunshine statistics is at Durham, about {{convert|14|mi|km|0}} south of [[Newcastle City Centre]]. Durham's inland, less urbanised setting results in night-time temperature data about 1 degree cooler than Newcastle proper throughout the year.
{{Weather box
|location = Newcastle ([[Durham, England|Met Office Durham]]) Extremes Newcastle
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C= 14.0
|Feb record high C= 14.0
|Mar record high C= 21.0
|Apr record high C= 21.0
|May record high C= 25.0
|Jun record high C= 26.0
|Jul record high C= 37.0 
|Aug record high C= 32.5
|Sep record high C= 21.0
|Oct record high C= 20.0
|Nov record high C= 18.0
|Dec record high C= 15.0
|year record high C= 
|Jan high C = 6.6
|Feb high C = 7.2
|Mar high C = 9.5
|Apr high C = 11.9
|May high C = 15.0
|Jun high C = 17.6
|Jul high C = 20.1
|Aug high C = 19.8
|Sep high C = 17.2
|Oct high C = 13.3
|Nov high C = 9.4
|Dec high C = 6.7
|year high C = 12.9
|Jan mean C = 3.8
|Feb mean C = 4.1
|Mar mean C = 5.9
|Apr mean C = 7.8
|May mean C = 10.6
|Jun mean C = 13.3
|Jul mean C = 15.6
|Aug mean C = 15.4
|Sep mean C = 13.1
|Oct mean C = 9.8
|Nov mean C = 6.4
|Dec mean C = 3.9
|year mean C = 9.2
|Jan low C = 0.9
|Feb low C = 0.9
|Mar low C = 2.3
|Apr low C = 3.7
|May low C = 6.1
|Jun low C = 9.0
|Jul low C = 11.1
|Aug low C = 11.0
|Sep low C = 9.0
|Oct low C = 6.3
|Nov low C = 3.4
|Dec low C = 1.1
|year low C = 5.4
|Jan record low C= -12.6
|Feb record low C= -3.0
|Mar record low C= -9.0
|Apr record low C= -2.0
|May record low C= -1.0
|Jun record low C= 1.0
|Jul record low C= 6.0
|Aug record low C= 3.0
|Sep record low C= 0.0
|Oct record low C= -5.0
|Nov record low C= -11.0
|Dec record low C= -14.0
|year record low C= -14.0
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 52.3
|Feb rain mm = 41.8
|Mar rain mm = 44.6
|Apr rain mm = 52.7
|May rain mm = 44.2
|Jun rain mm = 55.4
|Jul rain mm = 54.0
|Aug rain mm = 60.8
|Sep rain mm = 55.4
|Oct rain mm = 60.9
|Nov rain mm = 72.0
|Dec rain mm = 57.0
|unit rain days = 1.0 mm
|Jan rain days = 11.4
|Feb rain days = 9.3
|Mar rain days = 9.7
|Apr rain days = 9.5
|May rain days = 9.2
|Jun rain days = 9.7
|Jul rain days = 9.0
|Aug rain days = 9.6
|Sep rain days = 9.3
|Oct rain days = 11.3
|Nov rain days = 12.3
|Dec rain days = 11.7
|Jan sun = 58.6
|Feb sun = 80.3
|Mar sun = 115.5
|Apr sun = 150.3
|May sun = 181.7
|Jun sun = 164.8
|Jul sun = 172.3
|Aug sun = 167.3
|Sep sun = 134.5
|Oct sun = 102.8
|Nov sun = 66.4
|Dec sun = 51.2
|year sun = 1445.4
|source 1 = Met Office<ref name=NewcastleStats>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19812010/sites/durham.html
 |title       = Durham 1981–2010 averages
 |work        = Station, District and regional averages 1981–2010
 |publisher   = [[Met Office]]
 |access-date  = 4 November 2012
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20121031164509/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19812010/sites/durham.html
 |archive-date = 31 October 2012
|df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>
|date=August 2010

}}
{{Weather box
| name         =  Newcastle, United Kingdom (1981-2010) <!-- Add a name to the weather box in template namespace to show VTE editing options. -->
| width        =  <!-- Width parameter for wikitable, default width=100%. Set width=auto to fit the table in the next available space automatically. -->
| collapsed    =  <!-- Any entry in this line will make the template initially collapsed. Leave blank or remove this line for uncollapsed. -->
| metric first = yes
| single line  = yes <!-- Any entry in this line will display metric and imperial units in the same cell. Leave blank or remove this line for separate table rows. -->
| location     =  Newcastle, United Kingdom (1981-2010) <!-- Mandatory field, location the climate data was taken, usually an airport. -->
<!-- Average high temperatures -->
| Jan high C  =8.2
| Feb high C  =8.5
| Mar high C  =10.2
| Apr high C  =12.1
| May high C  =14.9
| Jun high C  =17.2
| Jul high C  =19.1
| Aug high C  =18.9
| Sep high C  =17.0
| Oct high C  =13.8
| Nov high C  =10.6
| Dec high C  =8.5
| year high C =
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
| Jan mean C  =5.4
| Feb mean C  =5.4
| Mar mean C  =6.8
| Apr mean C  =8.2
| May mean C  =10.7
| Jun mean C  =13.2
| Jul mean C  =15.1
| Aug mean C  =15.0
| Sep mean C  =13.2
| Oct mean C  =10.5
| Nov mean C  =7.6
| Dec mean C  =5.7
| year mean C =
<!-- Average low temperatures -->
| Jan low C  =2.5
| Feb low C  =2.3
| Mar low C  =3.3
| Apr low C  =4.2
| May low C  =6.5
| Jun low C  =9.2
| Jul low C  =11.1
| Aug low C  =11.0
| Sep low C  =9.4
| Oct low C  =7.1
| Nov low C  =4.5
| Dec low C  =2.9
| year low C =
| rain colour  =  green <!-- Enter "green" for green rainfall colours, "none" for no colours, remove this line for blue colouring. -->
| Jan rain mm  =106.6
| Feb rain mm  =74.8
| Mar rain mm  =80.4
| Apr rain mm  =63.2
| May rain mm  =66.8
| Jun rain mm  =68.3
| Jul rain mm  =60.5
| Aug rain mm  =81.8
| Sep rain mm  =73.6
| Oct rain mm  =100.0
| Nov rain mm  =105.3
| Dec rain mm  =101.9
| year rain mm =
<!-- Average number of rainy days -->
| Jan rain days  =14.2
| Feb rain days  =10.6
| Mar rain days  =12.7
| Apr rain days  =10.4
| May rain days  =11.2
| Jun rain days  =10.1
| Jul rain days  =10.0
| Aug rain days  =11.3
| Sep rain days  =10.0
| Oct rain days  =13.0
| Nov rain days  =13.4
| Dec rain days  =13.2
| year rain days =
<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
| source = WMO<ref name="WMO">{{cite web |url= https://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=29|title= World Weather Information Service|publisher= WMO|access-date=2 July 2023 }}</ref>
}}

===Environment===
{{main|North East Green Belt}}
The city is located within the centre of the North East Green Belt, also known as the Tyne and Wear Green Belt.<ref>{{cite web|title=Planning for the Future Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan for Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne 2010–2030 – Adopted March 2015|url=https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/sites/default/files/wwwfileroot/planning-and-buildings/planning-policy/planning_for_the_future_core_strategy_and_urban_core_plan_2010-2030.pdf|website=Newcastle.gov.uk|access-date=22 January 2018|archive-date=16 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116081218/https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/sites/default/files/wwwfileroot/planning-and-buildings/planning-policy/planning_for_the_future_core_strategy_and_urban_core_plan_2010-2030.pdf}}</ref>

The green belts stated aims<ref>{{cite web|title=Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan – Section 3 Strategic Policies – Chapter 12 People and Place|url=https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/sites/default/files/wwwfileroot/planning-and-buildings/planning-policy/section_3_-_strategic_policies.pdf|website=Newcastle.gov.uk|access-date=22 January 2018|archive-date=22 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122134206/https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/sites/default/files/wwwfileroot/planning-and-buildings/planning-policy/section_3_-_strategic_policies.pdf}}</ref> are to:

* ''Prevent the merging of settlements''
* ''Safeguard the countryside from encroachment''
* ''Check unrestricted [[urban sprawl]]''
* ''Assist in urban regeneration in the city-region by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land''

The green belt surrounds [[Brunswick Village]], [[Dinnington, Tyne and Wear|Dinnington]], Callerton, [[Hazlerigg]], [[Throckley]], [[Walbottle]], and [[Woolsington]]. Popular locations such as Ryton Island, Tyne Riverside Country Park, the city's golf courses, [[Newcastle Racecourse]], and [[Newcastle International Airport]] fall inside the green belt.

The city has been recognised for its commitment to environmental issues, with a programme planned for Newcastle to become "the first [[carbon neutrality|carbon neutral]] city"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.managenergy.net/products/R338.htm |title=Case Study: Newcastle, the first carbon-neutral town – UK on the ManagEnergy Website |publisher=Managenergy.net |date=13 July 2010 |access-date=4 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620071043/http://managenergy.net/products/R338.htm |archive-date=20 June 2010 }}</ref> however, those plans have been revised and they now hope to be carbon neutral by 2050.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/your-council-and-democracy/policies-plans-and-performance/our-policies-and-plans/council-plan/big|title=Big considerations|website=Newcastle City Council|access-date=24 November 2016}}{{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>