Its only natural that when you hear someone mention Newcastle, the first thing that pops into your head is fervent English fans chanting inspirational tunes at St. Jamess Park cheering on the much loved home team, Newcastle United Football Club. However there is much more to do in Newcastle than watching hundreds of football fanatics race to St. Jamess proudly attired in their favourite black and whites. A major contributor to the coal industry in England, Newcastle also boasts a number of great tourist attractions such as Baltic - the Centre for Contemporary Art, Bessie Surtees House, the Biscuit Factory, the Laing Art Gallery and the Discovery Museum.
Constructed entirely of stone in the 13th century, the Newcastle Town Wall was first built to defend the area from potential invading forces. Fulfilling its purpose, the wall stood tall in certain testing times when conflict came upon the region. Seemingly impenetrable, the wall was almost 2 metres thick and a staggering 3 kilometres in length. With six gates granting access into the protected region, the wall stands at a height of 7.6 metres. The New Gate, Pandon Gate, West Gate, Close Gate, Pilgrim Gate and the Sand Gate are the six entrances offering access to the protected zone surrounded by the wall.
During the time when there had been continuous battles between Scotland and England, the wall was kept in prime condition. Any section of the wall which suffered damage was immediately repaired and restored. When the struggle eventually ended the wall was neglected and was left to fend for itself against the sands of time. At its prime the wall had a total of 17 towers which were used to spot enemies coming from miles away. A number of postern gates and turrets are also said to have existed when the wall was the only obstacle standing between invading armies and the locals who inhabited the area in the past.
Looking for a comfortable
Newcastle upon Tyne hotel? Copthorne Hotel Newcastle comes to mind as a favourable option. This
Newcastle hotel is also located in the heart of the city offering convenient access to many of the citys important tourist attractions.
