Sport & Leisure

If there's one thing we're passionate about in the North East, it's sport. South Tyneside, NewcastleGateshead, North Tyneside and Sunderland are packed with fantastic teams and venues.

A guaranteed conversation-starter here is the varying fortunes of Newcastle United (box office 0191 261 1571, stadium tours 0870 850 8074), affectionately known as the 'Toon Army'. The Magpies regularly receive capacity gates of up to 52,000, and the local area has produced some of the most famous names in footballing history, from Alan Shearer, the Premiership's greatest goalscorer, to mercurial genius Paul Gascoigne. Take a stadium tour and go behind the scenes of St James' Park, which is bang in the centre of town.

The Stadium of Light is the magnificent home of Sunderland AFC, widely regarded as one of the best stadia in Europe. Tours of Sunderland's Stadium of Light (0191 551 5000), recently voted 'Best Away Ground' in the Football League, are available too.

The rise to prominence of the Newcastle Falcons (ticket hotline 0871 226 6060) has been meteoric, thanks to the efforts of some of rugby's most talented stars, most notably fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, Tony Underwood and one of the world's most daunting players, Inga Tuigamala. And for cricket fans don't forget the stunning Durham County Cricket Club ground watched over by Lumley Castle (ticket hotline 0870 389 1991).

If you enjoy horseracing, then visit Newcastle Racecourse. It's just three miles from the city centre and is the North East's premier racecourse. Over 29 race meetings are held there each year, making it one of the busiest in the UK. The three-day Northumberland Plate festival takes place from 28-30 June 2007 with the final day the most famous day of the year here when ladies wear hats and the champagne flows. Tickets from £20. The racecourse also has one of the fullest and best calendars of flat and National Hunt races around.

We also have some excellent golf courses throughout the region. In fact, there are 92 courses within one hour's drive of NewcastleGateshead, offering plenty of choice.

Athletics is well catered for at Gateshead International Stadium which has a regional, national and international reputation for hosting some of the UK's top athletics events. It features a superb range of indoor and outdoor facilities and hosts both national and international events.

We are also home to the BUPA Great North Run, the world's largest half-marathon. Over 40,000 people take part in this demanding race every year, with thousands more cheering them on along the course which runs from Newcastle to South Shields.

The BUPA Great Women's Run in association with Cancer Research UK return's for it's second showing in the Coastal City of Sunderland on Sunday 17th June 2007.
Thousand's of women of all running abilities will be swapping their stilettos for their running shoes as they take on the 10km route along Sunderland's stunning coastline.

Wet 'n' Wild in North Shields is a fantastic venue for exhilarating rides and water thrills. Or if the weather is good then try the North Sea for some equally exhilarating pursuits such as surfing or power kiting.

Sports centres throughout the region offer a wide range of sports and leisure activities including football, badminton, trampolining, karate, yoga, aerobics and many have health suites with gym facilities.

The wonderful scenery provides a perfect setting for the numerous walking and cycling trails or why not try out horse riding for a slightly different viewpoint. Check out the Walking and Cycling section, under Tours for more details of excellent cycling or walking routes.

Sunderland Sk8 City, at Silksworth Sports Complex, is a new sports park for wheels of all kinds - boarders, bladers and skaters - and all levels. Or test your skills at the Sunderland Wall; a supervised indoor climbing centre with Europe's highest climbing wall, suitable for all ages and levels. If fun on the water is your thing then find your water-wings at the Marina or the Yacht Club and learn a new skill.