Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle upon Tyne
Nickname: 
The Toon
Motto(s): 
Latin: Fortiter Defendit Triumphans, lit.'Triumphing by Brave Defence'
Newcastle shown within Tyne and Wear
Coordinates: 54°58′41″N 1°36′37″W / 54.9780°N 1.6102°W / 54.9780; -1.6102
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryEngland
RegionNorth East
Ceremonial countyTyne and Wear
City regionNorth East
Founded2nd century AD
City status1882
Metropolitan borough1 April 1974
Administrative HQNewcastle Civic Centre
Government
  TypeMetropolitan borough
  BodyNewcastle City Council
  ExecutiveLeader and cabinet
  ControlLabour
  LeaderKaren Kilgour (L)
  Lord MayorRob Higgins
  MPs
Area
  Total
44 sq mi (115 km2)
  Land44 sq mi (113 km2)
  Rank182nd
Population
 (2022)
  Total
307,565
  Rank46th
  Density7,020/sq mi (2,711/km2)
Demonyms
Ethnicity (2021)
  Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
  Religion
List
Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT)
  Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
Postcode area
  • NE1–7
  • NE12–20
  • NE27–29
Dialling code0191
ISO 3166 codeGB-NET
GSS codeE08000021
Websitenewcastle.gov.uk

Newcastle upon Tyne, or simply Newcastle (/njˈkæsəl/ new-KASS-əl, RP: /ˈnjkɑːsəl/ NEW-kah-səl), is a cathedral city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is England's northernmost metropolitan borough, located on the River Tyne's northern bank opposite Gateshead to the south. It is the most populous settlement in the Tyneside conurbation and North East England.

Newcastle developed around a Roman settlement called Pons Aelius. The settlement became known as Monkchester before taking on the name of a castle built in 1080 by William the Conqueror's eldest son, Robert Curthose. It was one of the world's largest ship building and repair centres during the Industrial Revolution. Newcastle was historically part of the county of Northumberland, but governed as a county corporate after 1400. In 1974, Newcastle became part of the newly-created metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear. The local authority is Newcastle City Council, which is a constituent member of the North East Mayoral Combined Authority.