North East England is the region of England that lies east of the Pennines between the River Tees and the Scottish border. It centres around the River Tyne, with Newcastle on the north bank and Gateshead on the south bank, and industrial sprawl south along the coast. Inland lies a string of former coal-mining towns, whose produce fed the ship-building and other heavy industry of the region and was exported worldwide. "Sending coals to Newcastle" used to be a common phrase for a pointless activity, and generations of travellers would have felt the same about visiting the North East for leisure.
They should think again. First, most of this region has never been industrial, and has outstanding natural beauty. Hadrian's Wall snakes over dale and hill along the crest of a sharp ridge. Along the coast, windswept castles raise defiant stone fists against invaders and the elements. Northumberland National Park has wild tracts of moorland and dark, dark skies - the Northern Lights are often seen. Charming small towns include Hexham, Corrbridge, Alnwick and border town Berwick. Durham's old city centre is remarkably well preserved. And second, the industrial areas are re-inventing themselves, Newcastle with Gateshead being the most successful example. This region is no longer a rusty blur on the journey between Yorkshire and Scotland, it's a major area to visit in its own right. Come soon before the rest of the world discovers it.
The North East is England's most northern and sparsely populated region. The area has a very long and bloody history, due to its proximity to Scotland and has fallen under Scottish hands at least once as the border shifted over time.
Eating out in North East England is very much dependent on where you are. Fresh fish can be found at many of the coastal towns such as Redcar. Fast food chains, Italian, Indian and French restaurants are all common to most larger towns.
North Easterners pride themselves on serving what they argue is the best traditional English fish and chips. From the largest cities in the region to the smallest villages, the presence of a fish and chip shop and a pub are practically guaranteed.
Northerners are wonderfully friendly and can usually be counted on to look after those not familiar to the area. As in any large city, certain areas will not be as safe after dark . As a general rule of thumb, you should avoid travelling alone late at night.