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With its nightlife voted the number one UK tourist attraction by the Rough Guide to Britain, and currently home to Europe's largest shopping centre; you could be forgiven for dismissing the city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne as merely a source of entertainment for younger generations. Upon further inspection, however, it becomes apparent there is more to Newcastle than meets the eye. Joining the town of Gateshead in 2002, the two areas, which lie on either side of the River Tyne in the north east of England, were marketed as NewcastleGateshead. An initiative aimed to promote the region as a centre of innovation, it has since grown to become a vibrant cultural capital, recognised for its range of attractions. Although there are numerous parks to enjoy, cathedrals to visit and galleries to see, it is its packed events calendar which gives the city its unique edge. And, with something happening almost each month, it is an ideal destination for people of all ages to visit. Starting in early February, Newcastle's Chinatown marks the start of the Chinese New Year with a carnival. A celebration of culture, the streets become filled with a mixture of vibrant colours, music and performances, such as dragon dancers and Chinese magic shows. Following on later in the month is the UK's largest international celebration of audio visual arts, the AV festival. Hosted by NewcastleGateshead, alongside Sunderland and Middlesbrough, the bi-annual event was established in 2003 and features a range of visual arts, music and films for the public’s entertainment. The month of May sees one of Newcastle's top attractions take centre stage in The Evolution Festival. This event is held during the spring bank holiday and includes a line-up of leading music artists in the fields of rock, indie and dance. The event is set on Newcastle's quayside and prominent artists such as The Proclaimers, Duffy, and Echo and the Bunneymen have attended in recent times. Believed to be Europe's largest travelling funfair, the summer entertainment continues in June with The Hoppings. Taking place on the Town Moore in Newcastle, it is famous for its annual first night, know as Guinea Pig night, where rumour has it the rides are typically cheaper since it is used to test their stability! And, designed to celebrate the city's multi-cultural side, the Newcastle Mela is a two-day event in August, featuring a range of drama, music and food from the Asian cultures. It is followed in September by the annual international arts fair, which is the largest of its kind in the north of England. There are a huge number of other events in and around Newcastle that take place throughout the year and with so many experiences to be had, there is no question of its merit as a top UK travel destination. The only thing left to do, therefore, is book your trip. And, with numerous flights to Newcastle available, as well as excellent rail and road links, it is easy to enjoy Newcastle's festivals and fairs year round! The information contained within this article is the opinion of the author and is intended purely for information and interest purposes only. It should not be used to make any decisions or take any actions. Any links are included for information purposes only.
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Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newcastle, Gateshead, Chinese New Year, AV festival, Evolution Festival, The Hoppings, Newcastle Mela, flights to Newcastle,
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