Tyne and Wear

Tyne and Wear is a county in North East England that covers five boroughs: Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, and Sunderland. The county borders Northumberland to the north and County Durham to the south.

The area came into being in 1974 through an act that merged parts of Northumberland and County Durham. It was created to unify the urban regions around the rivers Tyne and Wear under a shared administrative structure.

Newcastle residents call themselves Geordies, while those from Sunderland go by Mackems. These names reflect old rivalries rooted in the days when both cities competed in shipbuilding and coal mining.

The Metro system links the main towns and makes travel between Newcastle, Gateshead, and Sunderland straightforward. Nexus operates public transport and provides information on connections across the region.

The county holds ceremonial status but no longer has its own governing authority. Residents can therefore refer to their location using either the historic county names or Tyne and Wear.

Location: North East England

Inception: April 1, 1974

Shares border with: County Durham, Northumberland

GPS coordinates: 54.97400,-1.61320

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:01