Welcome to the North East

North-East England is one of the nine official regions of England and comprises the combined area of Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear and Tees Valley.

The highest point in the region is The Cheviot, in Northumberland, at 815 metres (2,674 ft). The principal city is Newcastle Upon Tyne.

As well as its urban centres of Tyneside, Wearside and Teesside the region is also noted for the richness of its natural beauty. Northumberland National Park, the region's coastline, its section of the Pennines and Weardale provides evidence for this. It also has great historic importance, the evidence of which is seen in Northumberland's Castles and the two World Heritage Sites of Durham Cathedral and Hadrian's Wall.

The shipbuilding industry that once dominated both Wearside and Tyneside suffered a terrible decline during the second half of the twentieth century. Tyneside is now re-inventing itself as an international centre of art and culture and, through The Centre For Life, scientific research (especially in stem cell technology) and popular nightlife, in areas such as the Quayside or The Gate. After suffering economic decline during the last century, Wearside is becoming an important area for quaternary industry, science and high technology. The economy of Teesside is largely based on its petrochemical industry. Northumberland and County Durham, both being largely rural, base much of its economy on farming and tourism. The North East has the lowest GDP/capita in England.

In May 2005 the 'Passionate people. Passionate places' Regional Image campaign was launched to promote North East England as a great place in which to work, study, visit and invest.