Newcastle upon Tyne / United Kingdom
Newcastle upon Tyne ), often shortened to simply Newcastle, is a English city in Tyne and Wear. On the northern bank of the River Tyne, it is 8.5 mi from the North Sea. Newcastle is the most-populous city in North East England and forms the core of the Tyneside conurbation, the eighth most populous urban area in the United Kingdom. It is a member of the UK Core Cities Group, as well as the Eurocities network of European cities. It was part of the county of Northumberland until 1400, when it became a county of 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. Newcastle has two universities: Newcastle University, a member of the Russell Group, and Northumbria University. It is a member of the North of Tyne Combined Authority. The city developed around the Roman settlement Pons Aelius and was named after the castle built in 1080 by William the Conqueror's eldest son Robert Curthose. In the 14th century, the city grew as an important centre for the wool trade and later became a major coal mining area. The port developed in the 16th century and, along with the shipyards lower down the River Tyne, was amongst the world's largest ship-building and ship-repairing centres.Newcastle's economy includes corporate headquarters, learning, digital technology, retail, tourism, and cultural centres, from which the city contributes £13 billion towards the United Kingdom's GVA. Among its icons are Newcastle United FC and the Tyne Bridge. Since 1981, the city has hosted the Great North Run, a half marathon which attracts over 57,000 runners each year.