Where is Newcastle? Why is it called "Newcastle"? And how far is it from London?

Newcastle upon Tyne may just be the greatest city on Earth. But where exactly is Newcastle? What county is it in? And how far is it from London? We'll answer all of these questions and more in this handy guide article to our beautiful home city. The city that's home to Newcastle United Football Club.

Where is Newcastle?

The city of Newcastle upon Tyne is in the far North East of England, approximately 46 miles (74 km) south of the border with Scotland.

Newcastle is part of the borough of Tyne and Wear, residing on the northern bank of the River Tyne. The city forms the largest part of Tyneside's "built-up" area and is the most populous city in North East England.

What county is Newcastle in?

Newcastle upon Tyne is technically in the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear, which itself is part of the historic county of Northumberland.

Tyne and Wear is a geographic and ceremonial county without administrative authority, it borders Northumberland to the north and County Durham to the south.

How far is Newcastle from London?

As the crow flies, Newcastle is 247 miles (398 km) north of London. A flight between Newcastle Airport and London Heathrow takes approximately one hour.

On the road, the driving distance between Newcastle and London is 291 miles (468 km). A typical car journey between Newcastle and London takes 4.5–5.5 hours without stops and depending on traffic.

By rail, the fastest you can get from Newcastle Central Station to London King's Cross is in two hours and thirty-six minutes, though most journeys take around three hours.

What's the weather like in Newcastle?

Newcastle's climate is oceanic, with cool, rainy winters and warm, relatively rainy summers. One of the driest cities in the United Kingdom, Newcastle does not really experience any extreme weather.

The best time to visit Newcastle weather-wise is between June and August, although there's not usually much football to watch!

Why is Newcastle called Newcastle?

Originally known by its Roman name "Pons Aelius" and later "Monkchester", the name "Newcastle" has been in use since the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century.

In 1080, William the Conquerer sent his eldest son, Robert Curthouse, north to defend England from the Scots. Curthouse began building a "new castle" ("novem castellum") in Monkchester to achieve his objective, and it was this castle that gave Newcastle its name.

Why are people from Newcastle called "Geordies"?

Unfortunately, there's no definitive answer to this question, but there are a few theories. You can pick your favourite:

The first two relate to George Stephenson, with the first of these being grounded in an incident that occurred during a Parliamentary Commission on Railways in 1826. Stephenson's forthright speech and strong dialect allegedly struck London locals as coarse, leading them to dub North Eastern miners and colliery workers as "Geordies," a moniker stemming from the name "George". The second is due to Stephenson developing the "Geordie" safety lamps, which were employed in the North East, contrary to other mining communities that utilised Davy lamps.

An alternative explanation for the origin of the term posits that it was first used as a derogatory term by Scottish Jacobites in 1745, directed towards the inhabitants of Newcastle Upon Tyne. This theory tends to be favoured by many, as traditionally, only those born in Newcastle are deemed authentic Geordies, while individuals from surrounding regions are given different nicknames.

Why is Newcastle called "The Toon"?

The primary reason for both Newcastle upon Tyne, the city, and Newcastle United, the football club, being referred to as "The Toon" is simply due to the Geordie accent/dialect and the way Geordies pronounce the word "town".

Although "toon" can refer to any town or city, the phrase has become synonymous with Newcastle upon Tyne and its football team, hence "Toon Army".

What is Newcastle famous for?

Newcastle is one of the most iconic cities in Britain and is most known for its Roman origins, industrial heritage, bridges, brown ale, and the distinctive "Geordie dialect.

Culturally, the city is famed for its nightlife, the bakery chain "Greggs", television personalities "Ant & Dec", the Great North Run half-marathon and, of course, Newcastle United Football Club.