The towns and cities situated along the Tyne and at the mouth of the river where it meets the North Sea have been known
People from the Tyneside area are known as Geordies but no one is quite sure why and as with such names there are a myriad of suggestions, from alliance with King George III to links with George Stephenson, who invented the first driven railway.
What is certain is that visitors are warmly welcomed and the Geordie hospitality is renowned.
The main city and the heart of the area is Newcastle, with a buzzing nightlife and lots of shopping, it is regularly mentioned as one of Britain's top ten cities.
Nearby Gateshead boasts one of the biggest shopping centres in Europe - the Metro Centre and a must see is the Angel of the North - a huge sculpture of an angel which dominated the skyline as motorists snake their way up the A1.
