Gateshead

Gateshead is a large town in the metropolitan borough of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. It sits on the south bank of the River Tyne, opposite Newcastle upon Tyne, and forms part of the Tyneside urban area. It lies within the historic county of Durham and became part of Tyne and Wear in 1974.

Historically, Gateshead developed from a number of medieval settlements into an industrial town. In the 19th and early 20th centuries it grew through shipbuilding, glassmaking, and coal mining, and then transformed again after deindustrialisation through redevelopment focused on culture, education, and service sectors.

Key landmarks and cultural venues include the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, opened in 2001; the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, housed in the former Baltic Flour Mill on the Gateshead Quays; and The Sage Gateshead, a music venue and concert hall opened in 2004. Saltwell Park and Saltwell Towers provide green space. The Angel of the North, a large sculpture by Antony Gormley, stands nearby and has become a regional symbol.

Gateshead’s economy today is centered on services, retail, and the creative industries, with ongoing regeneration of the Quayside area and improved transport links. The town is connected to Newcastle and other areas by the Tyne and Wear Metro and major road routes; the Gateshead Millennium Bridge links Gateshead with Newcastle across the Tyne, and the Tyne Bridge is a major historic crossing.

Demographics: the town has around 110,000–120,000 residents; the wider Gateshead borough is home to about 200,000. The area is served by Gateshead Council, which governs the borough.