"I fell in love with Newcastle in the northeast of England, four years ago.
Arriving in the early evening, when the twilight glow makes colours so vivid, I was captured by a beautiful sunset.
Expecting to find it grimy from the traditional coal and shipbuilding industries, I was pleasantly surprised to find a clean, fresh-looking city.
On a recent return visit I was captivated once again.
Newcastle is a great base for exploring the northeast of England, an area with more castles than any other region and a stunning coastline with white sandy beaches.
The city is easy to get around using the Metro train.
A highlight is the much-lauded River Tyne that runs through the city.
It is a magnificent river with a fascinating history having served northeast industries for centuries.
Not so long ago, it was quite dirty and not somewhere one would visit, but since the demise of coal mining and shipbuilding, the river is clean and now supports salmon and the occasional otter.
It is heartening to see it receiving the respect it deserves.
The development of Newcastle's river quayside area with its cafes; the modern and beautifully arched Millennium Bridge, designed to complement the other five bridges upriver; the restored historic buildings; the Baltic art centre and the ultra-modern Sage theatre, has resulted in a vibrant area.
To access the quayside you walk through streets with aesthetically pleasing curved Georgian terraced buildings.
Grey's Monument, a popular meeting point for the young and a focus for the expression of political views, stands at the head of Grey St.
Around the corner is Northumberland St, a wide car-free shopping precinct.
If shopping is your thing, Newcastle is home to the Metro Centre, the largest shopping centre in Europe.
They say that if the Metro Centre doesn't have it ... you probably don't need it.
Further from the city (but still on the Metro line), places to visit are Tynemouth, South Shields and Sunderland, all on the coast.
A visit to Durham with its cobblestone streets and beautiful cathedral is also worthwhile.
Newcastle is the kind of place where you should lift your eyes from the pavement and look around.
Take time to scratch the surface, talk to the friendly locals and learn some of the history.
It is fascinating, vibrant, historic, a hidden gem and well worth visiting."
• Linda Marchant is a Dunedin resident.
