SPOTLIGHT ON NEWCASTLE WELCOME TO NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND Newcastle upon Tyne commonly known as Newcastle, is a city in Tyne and Wear, North East England on the northern bank of the River Tyne. Newcastle is the most populous city in the North East and forms the core of Tyneside conurbation, the eighth most populous urban area in the United Kingdom. The city was named after the castle built in 1080 by William the Conqueror's eldest son. The city grew as an important center for the wool trade, coal mining, and shipbuilding. Newcastle's economy includes corporate headquarters, as well as learning, digital technology, retail, tourism, and cultural centers. Contents Climate and Geography 02 Cost of Living and Transportation 03 UK Visa and Passport Requirements 04 Sports and Outdoor Activities 05 Culture, Shopping, and Dining 06 Schools and Education 07 GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON NEWCASTLE l 01 SPOTLIGHT ON NEWCASTLE Newcastle Climate Graph CLIMATE Situated in the coldest region of England, the climate in Newcastle is a cold oceanic one. However, being in the rain shadow of the North Pennines Mountains, it is also among the driest cities in the United Kingdom. Temperature extremes recorded at Newcastle Weather Centre include 90.5°F (32.5°C) during August of 1990 down to 9.3°F (−12.6°C) during January 1982. In contrast to other British cities, Newcastle has colder winters and cooler summers. Newcastle upon Tyne is generally believed to be the coldest Average High/Low Temperatures major city in England, and shares the same Low / High latitude as Copenhagen, Denmark and southern February 35oF (2oC) / 44oF (6oC) Sweden. August 53oF (12oC) / 66oF (19oC) Average Precipitation Rain 26 in. (651 mm) Snowfall 3 in. (65 mm) GEOGRAPHY Newcastle is situated in the North East of England, in the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear and the historical and traditional county of Northumberland. The city is located on the northwestern bank of the River Tyne. It is 46 miles from the Scottish border, south of Southdean. Newcastle is 103 miles (166 km) south of Edinburgh, 277 miles (446 km) north of London, and 8.5 mi (13.7 km) from the North Sea. The ground beneath the city is formed from Carboniferous strata of the Middle Pennine Coal Measures Group—a suite of sandstones, mudstones and coal seams which generally dip moderately eastwards. To the west of the city are the Upper Pennine Coal Measures and further west again the sandstones and mudstones of the Stainmore Formation, the local equivalent of the Millstone Grit. GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON NEWCASTLE l 02 SPOTLIGHT ON NEWCASTLE COST OF LIVING Newcastle is a vibrant, thriving city with world-class amenities and attractions. It is the capital city of its region. With all that Newcastle has to offer, the cost of living is still much lower than further south in London. Rent prices are almost 200% higher in London, while other living expenses average roughly 36% less in Newcastle. Key Metrics Median Home Price Median Monthly Rent £193,386 £1,286 Approx. $240,937 USD Approx. $1,602 USD TRANSPORTATION Highways A1 (To London), A19, A69, A167, A1058 Airport Newcastle International Airport (NCL) Bus and Rail Newcastle railway station, also known as Newcastle Central Station, is a principal stop on the East Coast Main Line and Cross Country Route. The city is served by the Tyne and Wear Metro, a system of suburban and underground railways covering much of Tyne and Wear. There are 3 main bus companies providing services in the city; Arriva North East, Go North East and Stagecoach North East. There are two major bus stations in the city: Haymarket bus station and Eldon Square bus station. GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON NEWCASTLE l 03 GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON NEWCASTLE l 03 SPOTLIGHT ON NEWCASTLE VISA AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS To work in the UK, an expat has a huge number of different visas to choose from. Make sure that you take the time to find the right visa for your situation so that you will not be violating any of the requirements. There are several work-based categories which are part of the UK’s point-based system for immigration. Tier 1: High Value Migrant Visas The High Value Migrant Visa for the UK applies to “exceptionally talented” people such as investors, entrepreneurs and others. It is designed for highly skilled workers who have made significant contributions in DID YOU KNOW? their field and want to immigrate to the UK to work. In order to qualify for this type of visa you will need to There are 4 types of UK meet certain criteria on a points-based system. Tier 2 Skilled Worker Visas. Learn more at Gov.uk Tier 2: Skilled Worker Visas If you are a national of a country outside of the European Economic Area or Switzerland and you have a job offer from a licensed sponsor and a certificate of sponsorship, as long as you pass the points-based assessment, you can immigrate to the UK under the Skilled Worker Visa. This visa is for people with specific skills who have been offered a job in the UK. UK VISA BEST PRACTICES Before moving to the UK for work, you will need to determine the appropriate visa for your situation and undergo an application process. You can obtain a visa application form from the UK Embassy or online. Seeking the assistance of a professional visa processing agency can simplify the process, and is highly recommended to ensure your visa acquisition is both successful and timely. To obtain a UK visa, you may apply for a visitor visa at any of the visa application centers within the country. Any other visa applications, such as a working visa, must be made outside of the UK, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It's a good idea to apply for your visa well before your intended travel date, since it is difficult to predict how long processing times will be and what delays might arise during the process. It is also important to note that you must apply to obtain your own visa for the UK. A third party cannot apply on your behalf, but may help you complete the application form. *This summary is intended for informational purposes only, and is not an authoritative guide on how to obtain work authorization. GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON NEWCASTLE l 04 SPOTLIGHT ON NEWCASTLE LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT Newcastle is the largest city in its region and a center for the arts and sports. The city is host to many festivals which include the Foodies Festival, the Summer Nights Festival, and the Times Square Weekender. Residents of Newcastle enjoy its many parks and attractions. Rich in history, Newcastle is home to many castles and historic building to explore. SPORTS Pro Teams Newcastle Eagles - Basketball Newcastle Falcons - Rugby Newcastle Thunder - Rugby Newcastle United FC - Football (Soccer) Newcastle United WFC - Football (Soccer) Major Venues Kingston Park Stadium Newcastle International Sports Centre St. James Park OUTDOORS & ADVENTURE Parks and Trails Nearby Water Historic Attractions Discover More Benwell Nature Park Hollywell Burn Lambton Castle newcastlegateshead.com Jesmond Dene Park North Sea Newcastle Cathedral visitbritain.com Leazes Park Ouse Burn Ravensworth Castle visitengland.com Paddy Freeman's Park River Tyne The Castle visitnewcastle.com Tyne Riverside Country Park Whittle Dene Watercourse Tyne Bridge visitnortheastengland.com GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON NEWCASTLE l 05 SPOTLIGHT ON NEWCASTLE SHOPPING & DINING Newcastle's Best Bites So Much Shopping As with any major city, Newcastle is home to a diverse Newcastle is full of modern shopping malls, including restaurant scene. One can easily get French, Italian, Indian, Metrocentre, one of Europe’s largest shopping complexes. Mediterranean, Spanish, Thai, or Turkish cuisine, as well as The Central Arcade has been fashioned in an Edwardian traditional foods from all parts of Great Britain. Newcastle theme. It provides a nice contrast to the more modern also has a thriving Chinatown with many restaurants and shopping districts and centers in the area. For more local and food stands. There are many English pubs in the city that boutique shopping, venture to Northumberland Street, home serve the world-famous beer brewed right in town - of Fenwick's, Newcastle's oldest department store. Travel to Newcastle Brown Ale. Grainger Market for local and Chinese produce and gifts. ART & CULTURE Newcastle has some wonderful, historic theaters that attract top acts from around the world. There are also many museums and art galleries in Newcastle that will engage the minds of visitors of all ages. Museums and Galleries Theaters l Beamish Museum l Bandicoot Theatre Company l Centre for Life l Gosforth Civic Theatre l Discovery Museum l Live Theatre l Great North Museum l Newcastle City Hall Theatre l Hatton Gallery l Northern Stage l Laing Art Gallery l People's Theatre l Museum of Antiquities l SA Performing Arts Centre l North East Land, Sea, and Air Museums l Stagecoach Performing Arts l Shefton Museum l Theatre Royal l Turbina Museum l Tyne Theatre and Opera House GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON NEWCASTLE l 06 SPOTLIGHT ON NEWCASTLE EDUCATION IN NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND There are eleven LEA-funded schools for ages 11 through 18 and seven independent schools with sixth forms in Newcastle. There are Notable Colleges & Universities a number of successful state schools, including Walker Technology College, Gosforth High School, Heaton Manor School, St Cuthbert's Academy of Music and Sound High School, St. Mary's Catholic Comprehensive School, Kenton Gateshead, England School, George Stephenson High School, Sacred Heart and Benfield School.