Blogs > A snapshot of UK Cities
A Snapshot into..Newcastle
- October 26, 2020
Newcastle is a university city situated in the North-East of England. It is a vibrant and exciting city and the people who reside there are friendly and welcoming to expatriates and visitors.
The city has a population of 250,000 but including the surrounding urban area its population is almost 1 million.The city is compact which means it is quick and easy to get around, most people use the Metro, bus, cycle or walk. The nightlife is regarded as one of the best in the UK, and the city offers a range of entertainment from clubs, gigs, comedy, dance, bars and pubs – your choice! Newcastle is one of England’s core cities – being the centre of culture, architecture and business.
This guide briefs you on details of the city, popular areas to live, the average living costs, fun facts, must-sees, and how to get to and from the city.
Facts about Newcastle
- Newcastle is said to be the coldest major city in England, but it is also one of the driest cities in the UK – due to being in the rain shadow of the North Pennines.
- Newcastle Central Station was the first covered train station in the world and it was opened in 1850 by Queen Victoria.
- Newcastle ranks as the 15th UK city most visited by visitors from overseas.
- The windscreen wiper was invented in Newcastle by a Newcastle United fan as he drove home in a storm from a cup final match in 1908.
- The North East has the greatest variety of ginger hair in the world! There are 47 shades of red hair around the Tyne.
The Trust
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, offering a wider range of specialist services than any other. The Trust delivers healthcare services from six sites:
- Freeman Hospital (including the Institute of Transplantation, Northern Centre for Cancer Care and Renal Services Centre)
- Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) (including the Great North Children's Hospital and the Great North Trauma and Emergency Centre)
- Campus for Ageing and Vitality (the former Newcastle General Hospital site) which is home to the Region's NECTAR Service, Westgate Road Walk in Centre, Newcastle Diabetes Centre, CRESTA Clinics
- Newcastle Dental Hospital
- Newcastle Fertility Centre
- Northern Genetics Service
Where should I live?
Below is a list of the best places for families and professionals to live in.
City Centre
The city centre attracts many professionals. Everything you need is here, from retail shops to banks, entertainment and transport.
You will also only be a short walk away from the famous Newcastle Quayside and a stroll to the Millennium Bridge, The Baltic Art Gallery as well as The Sage.
Jesmond
You will also find many professionals living in Jesmond, and for some – it is the only place to live! This upmarket area is shared by professionals, families and students so there is a good mix of locals and residents.
This area is full of restaurants, cafes and bars, and plenty of places to eat and drink.
Jesmond is just a 10-minute walk away from the city centre, and it is a good choice for those who have to commute to and from work every day.
Gosforth
Gosforth forms one of Newcastle’s northern suburbs. Its array of green spaces and personal character have helped make it one of the city’s most popular residential areas and a growing favourite among young professionals.
The area is just two miles from the very centre of Newcastle, Gosforth’s Metro stations, frequent bus services and excellent road links also make it perfect for commuting around the wider Tyne and Wear area or beyond.
Average Living Costs
| Housing | Cost |
| Monthly rent 900Sqft furnished accommodation in an EXPENSIVE area | £810 |
| Monthly rent for 900 Sqft furnished accommodation in NORMAL area | £600 |
| 1 month of utilities for two people in a flat | £250 |
| Internet 8Mbps (1 month) | £20 |
| Transportation | Cost |
| 1 litre of petrol | £1.23 |
| Monthly ticket public transport | £55 |
| Taxi Trip (5 miles) | £11 |
|
Entertainment |
Cost |
| Basic dinner out for two in a neighbourhood pub | £35 |
| 2 tickets to the cinema | £18 |
| 2 tickets to the theatre | £80 |
| Dinner for two at an Italian restaurant including starters, mains, dessert and wine | £50 |
| 1 Cocktail | £7 |
| Cappuccino | £2.84 |
| 1 beer in a neighbourhood pub | £3.87 |
| 1 month of gym membership | £30 |
Things to do in Newcastle:
The Quayside
Newcastle Quayside is a beautiful and vibrant waterfront on the north bank of the River Tyne, just across the Millennium Bridge. The area will offer you a lively scene of culture, art and music. The Quayside is also known for its amazing restaurants, cafes, pubs bars, and nightclubs.
You will also find other exciting entertainment venues in Newcastle-Gateshead Quayside, including the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, The Sage Gateshead and Millennium Bridge.
The Quayside is also home to the Tyne Bridge. The bridge was officially on 10th October 1928 by King George V and has since become a defining symbol of Tyneside. It is ranked as the tenth tallest structure in the city.
Angel of the North
The Angel of the North is a contemporary sculpture, designed by Antony Gormley. Completed in 1998, it is the largest angel statue in the world - 20 metres tall, with its wings measuring 54 metres.
The Angel is built on top of a former coal mine and it was built to signify the miners, to grasp the move from an industrial to an informational age and to be a focus for evolving hopes and fears.
St. James’ Park
St. James’ Park is a world-class football and entertainment stadium in Newcastle. The stadium is one of the largest in the UK and is home to Newcastle United Football Club and the football matches for the 2012 Olympic Games. The stadium also hosts concerts and other entertainment events.
Newcastle Castle
Newcastle Castle has recently received a £1.67m refurbishment and it tells a story of the city’s history from its Roman origins to the present day. A visit to Newcastle’s castle will also provide you with fantastic views of the city. There is a £7 admission fee for adults and £4 for a child.
Working in Newcastle
Living in Newcastle can provide you with excellent value for money when buying a property. Therefore, for many, some prefer to live in and around Newcastle and commute into other North East England NHS Trusts.
North East England NHS Trusts that we work closely with are:
- Cumbria
- Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees
- County Durham and Darlington
- Northumberland and North Tyneside
- South Tyneside and Sunderland
Getting to and from Newcastle
Newcastle has all the access links you would expect from a major British city. If you are flying to and from Newcastle, you will have a range of airlines to choose from.
The route from the airport to the city centre is one of the fastest in Europe, taking only 23 minutes on the Tyne and Wear Metro. Metro trains run every 5-15 minutes and single tickets start at £3.40.
A taxi from the airport to the city centre will cost around £15.
| Location | Rail (Times) | Road (Miles) | Airline | Airtime |
| Aberdeen | 4 hours 5 mins | 253 | Eastern Airways | 55 mins |
| Belfast | - | - | easyJet/Flybe | 1 hour |
| Birmingham | 3 hours 30 mins | 206 | - | - |
| Bristol | 5 hours | 295 | EasyJet | 1 hour 5 mins |
| Cardiff | 5 hours 35 mins | 315 | Eastern Airways | 1 hour 15 mins |
| Leeds | 2 hours | 98 | - | - |
| London | 2 hours 53 mins | 283 | British Airways | 1 hour 15 mins |
| Manchester | 2 hours 20 mins | 144 | - | - |
So, if you are an international doctor who is interested in working in Newcastle, its surrounding areas or any other part of the UK – send your CV to [email protected] and we will be happy to help you.
Come and say hello! Join our Facebook group IMG Advisor – this will give you access to frequent blog posts, the opportunity to ask questions on relocating to the UK and to meet other IMG’s!
References
Newcastlegateshead.com. (2020). Getting here and getting around - NewcastleGateshead. [online] Available at: https://www.newcastlegateshead.com/conferences/why-newcastlegateshead/getting-here-and-getting-around
TH_NK, h., 2020. Newcastle Hospitals - About Us. [online] Newcastle-hospitals.org.uk. Available at: <https://www.newcastle-hospitals.org.uk/about-us/index.html> [Accessed 26 October 2020].
