Gateshead Life

Gateshead, based in the North East of England, has changed beyond recognition in recent years.

With a history as vibrant as its future, traditional, heavy industries have given way to high tech companies, leisure and cultural facilities.

There is a pace and vibrancy about Gateshead and its near neighbour Newcastle that is helping to raise the profile of the area to an international level.

With a current population of just under 200,000, Gateshead covers an area of 55 square miles incorporating both urban and rural areas and is the largest in area of the five Tyne and Wear districts.

Living in the borough

Gateshead has a vast array of good quality, affordable housing, from traditional terraced housing to luxury Quayside developments.

The borough has some of the most affordable properties in the country with an average house price of £115,000 in 2004. A detached house in Gateshead cost approximately £213,000 in the same year. There is also a wide range of readily available rented housing.

A number of sites are currently being developed by private housing developers in partnership with Gateshead Council to increase the range and type of dwellings available in prime locations across the borough.

Education in the borough.

The borough of Gateshead is served by 76 primary schools and 10 secondary schools. All 10 are specialist schools offering specialised support to young people in certain subjects including sports, art, languages, maths, english, business, computing and technology.

Recent GCSE results have placed Gateshead as the best performing Local Education Authority for the region. During 2005, over 65.5% of the borough's young people gained at least five higher graded GCSEs. The predicted figure for 2006 for the same indicator is 70%.

Gateshead College, the borough's largest higher education college, offers a wide range of courses and has extensive links to the region's major employers and three local Universities.

Gateshead Landmarks

Gateshead’s innovation is seen clearly through stunning new landmarks such as the Gateshead Millennium Bridge which arches across the Tyne, providing a gateway to the new arts, cultural and leisure developments on Gateshead Quays.

On the banks of the River Tyne, overlooking the Millennium Bridge, lies two of the most prominent developments in Gateshead’s recent transformation. In the heart of the regeneration of Gateshead Quays stands BALTIC, the Centre for Contemporary Art. The major new art gallery opened in July 2002 to an international audience and offers a dynamic and constantly evolving public arts programme for the region to enjoy.

The Sage, Gateshead, a new home for music and musical discovery opened in December 2004. With outstanding facilities for all kinds of live music, the centre also house’s a music education centre and concert hall.

Art, as they say, imitated life, when the arrival of Gateshead’s Angel of the North symbolised the start of Gateshead’s high-profile regeneration. The sculpture played a major role in the changing environment of the borough and Anthony Gormley’s creation is now one of the best known sculptures in Britain.

Gateshead Leisure

Leisure time in Gateshead is easily spent. For shopaholics the borough boasts Europe’s largest retail and leisure complex - the MetroCentre - which attracts millions of visitors each year.

And if shopping is not your thing, the North East is home to some of the UK’s finest sporting arenas and venues; people in the region are passionate about sports and there are many opportunities to participate as well as spectate.

Although the area is renowned for its interest in football, athletics, rugby, golf, horseracing and many others are also well represented. The borough is home to Gateshead International Stadium, one of Europe’s premier athletics venues.

Getting there

Getting to the area is simple with excellent communications by road, rail and air. Newcastle Airport is nine miles from Gateshead and there is direct access to the A1. The region has excellent public transport links, including the Metro light rail system which offers fast, efficient travel around Tyneside and out to the airport, Newcastle and Sunderland.

For further information on Gateshead or the North East look at our website www.gateshead.gov.uk