Newcastle has gone through something of a transformation in the last decade and it’s now the leading center for tourism and business in the north east of England. It has had millions of pounds of investment to encourage corporations into the region and to completely redevelop the city center making it one of the best places in the UK to live and work. Newcastle’s position as one of the best destinations in the UK to visit is confirmed by the fact that it has won the Guardian best city break for the last 4 years. There are lots of good reasons to visit Newcastle and one of the most popular is the sporting events there. With Newcastle United back in the Premier League again thousands of soccer fans will be journeying to Newcastle to watch their clubs play at St James’s Park. Another event which attracts countless numbers of people from all over the nation is the Great North Run. It is held each year and raises millions of pounds for lots of different charitable organizations. Shopping in Newcastle is something of a leisure activity for its residents and it is not hard to see why. The MetroCentre is among the largest shopping centers in Europe with many hundreds of big name stores, restaurants and bars in one place. If you prefer a more boutique shopping experience you’ll find lots of smaller more individual retailers at Jesmond Market and the brand new Newcastle Quayside Market. The Farmers & Country market held at the weekends is another terrific place to shop. Newcastle is well known nationally for its nightlife and it has something to offer everybody to make sure a great night out. The Quayside along with the Bigg market attract a lively, younger crowd and for the slightly more mature you will find a large number of traditional pubs, theatres and top quality dining places. Of course no visit to Newcastle could possibly be called complete with out trying one bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale or a trip to the brewery where it’s made. When you are planning your trip you will find a selection of good quality hotels in Newcastle in which to stay. From B&B’s to five star hotels there’s accommodation to suit every pocket and I can personally highly recommend the Rosebery Hotel in Jesmond as a great place to stay.