Newcastle has gone from strength to strength in recent years and it has become the key visitor destination in the north east of England attracting numerous tourists each year. Millions of pounds of investment have re-energized the city centre making it an appealing place to live and work and helped to make 1000s of new job opportunities. There are many good reasons to go to Newcastle and it’s been selected as the United kingdom’s favourite city break for 4 consecutive years in The Guardian/Observer travel awards. In fact Newcastle has so many fantastic attractions it is difficult to know the place to start but let’s start out with sport. It is well-known the north east is a hotbed of sporting zeal and given that Newcastle United are back in the Premier league there are certain to be a large number of soccer supporters from round the nation doing the trip to St James’s Park. The Great North Run is yet another event that draws in thousands and thousands of runners and spectators to the city each year and also helps to raise millions of pounds for charity. The shopping amenities in Newcastle are first rate with a myriad of leading names in the city centre and shopping arcades. The MetroCentre is the largest shopping centre in Europe and it is all too easy to spend a weekend break there going through the countless designer shops it offers. With the Newcastle Quayside Market starting in July 2010 and also the already established Grainger market, Jesmond market and the Farmers & Country marketplace you’ll be hard pressed not to grab a good deal somewhere. Newcastle is well-known across the country for its night life and has something to offer all people to guarantee a terrific night out. The Quayside and the Bigg market appeal to a lively, young crowd and for the somewhat more mature you will find a large number of traditional pubs, theatres as well as high quality dining places. No visit to Newcastle would be complete without trying at least one bottle of the legendary Newcastle Brown Ale that has been brewed in the city for more than eighty years. There is a great choice of hotels in Newcastle to pick from when you’re booking your accommodation for the weekend. From B&B’s to five star hotels there’s accommodation to match each and every pocket and I can personally suggest the Rosebery Hotel in Jesmond as a fantastic place to stay.