About Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle was part of the county of Northumberland until 1400, when it became a county itself, a status it retained until becoming part of Tyne and Wear in 1974. The regional nickname and dialect for people from Newcastle and the surrounding area is Geordie. The city developed around the Roman settlement Pons Aelius and was named after the castle built in 1080 by Robert Curthose, William the Conqueror's eldest son. Situated in the coldest region of England, the climate in Newcastle is a cold oceanic one. Being in the rain shadow of the North Pennines, it is also among the driest cities in the UK. There are several major shopping areas in Newcastle City Centre. Newcastle was in the top ten of the country's top night spots, and The Rough Guide to Britain placed Newcastle upon Tyne's nightlife as Great Britain's no. 1 tourist attraction. There are concentrations of pubs, bars and nightclubs around the Bigg Market and the Quayside area of the city centre. There are many museums, art galleries and music venues.