Newcastle, whose proper official name is Newcastle upon Tyne because it lies on the banks of the River Tyne. The city is located in the northeast of England and, with about 300,000 inhabitants, is one of the 30 most populous cities in the United Kingdom. Currently many immigrants are living in Newcastle.
It is a city where modern buildings and spectacular buildings from the Victorian era harmonize perfectly. Its small size makes it perfect for visiting on foot or by bike. Not to mention that in a few minutes by car you can visit the beautiful surroundings, such as the small villages of the surrounding English countryside, the villages overlooking the North Sea or historical sites such as the remains of the famous Hadrian’s Wall.
The services offered by the city are not to be envied in any other English city. The public health service functions much better than in many other cities. Public education is also of an excellent standard and the city’s 3 universities are attended by thousands of students each year from all over the UK and beyond. Finally, I would like to point out the excellent transport system. Buses, streetcars, trains and the Underground (the second largest after London) will take you anywhere. For international travel, you can use the airport, which is well connected to London and many European cities.
Talking about safety, you should know that it is one of the safest cities in the UK. As in any city, there are areas to avoid, but in general it is a very safe city, safer than London, if you will.
As for the weather, we can say right away that you do not need that much clothing for the change of seasons. The annual average temperatures vary between 4 and 15 degrees, with lows around 3 °C and highs that barely exceed 20 °C. Characteristic of Newcastle, however, is the rain, even in summer you have to expect rain every two/three day, and in addition, there is often a strong North Sea wind that, combined with the rain during the gray, periodic winter, certainly does not encourage optimism.
If the weather is not good, at least the cost of living is quite low. Living in Newcastle is much cheaper than in many English high-rise cities. A studio flat in the city center, for example, costs around 650 £, which is nothing compared to 2,200 £ and more in London.
The “Geordies”, as the Newcastleans are called, are open, nice and friendly people who also like to talk to strangers and foreigners. So do not be surprised if you wait your turn in a shop and someone strikes up a conversation with you. The only problem is understanding them, because their accent is really difficult and sometimes even native speakers from another English city have trouble understanding them. So it will take some time to get used to your thick accent.
It is a lively city that offers an intense nightlife, as the universities attract a large number of students. It is estimated that more than 45,000 students live in the city and during the night hours they go to the many pubs and bars that offer live music every day of the week. One of those cities that never sleeps. Although it does not have the size of London, it is a multicultural city where students and workers from all parts of the world live, generally in peace with the local population, without racial tensions.
In terms of work, Newcastle is not the best place in the UK to find work, as the county of Tyne and Wear is one of the poorest in the country. The unemployment rate in the city is 7.5%, which is higher than the unemployment rate in England (5.0%).
Finding a job is not easy or obvious, but as always there are exceptions, for example in the health sector there is a strong demand for workers, in any case it is much more difficult to find work here than in the cities in the south of the country.
Living and working in Newcastle, pros and cons
Living in Newcastle, pros
- A city according to human measure
- Relaxed, friendly and open-minded people
- Good night life
- Beautiful surroundings (sea and countryside)
- Acceptable cost of living
Living in Newcastle, cons
- Few work opportunities
- Gray, rainy and windy weather
Living and working in Newcastle, conclusion
If you can find a good job and do not mind the local weather, I would say Newcastle is a good city to live in.
- The Geordies are extremely friendly and helpful, and if you come from another big city you will be surprised by the warmth of the people, compared to the indifference and coldness of Londoners for example
- It is one of the cheapest cities in the whole of England
- It is full of bars, discos and pubs where you can spend the night without spending a fortune
- It is full of students and workers from many countries of the world, creating a characteristic multicultural environmentt
For all the information on how to work in the UK, I recommend you to read the article: How to work in the UK after Brexit
On the other hand, if you want more information on how to move to the UK, I recommend you to read the article: Moving to the UK after brexit
