The Angel of the North: A beautiful, surreal monument

The best-selling Lonely Planet guide describes Newcastle as a "great city with a fierce sense of pride".

It says the area has overcome past struggles and can now boast "some epic new development" like the Angel of the North, which it says is "a beautiful, surreal monument."

The region's stunning coastline and countryside are also praised in the guide which describes Britain as the "most beautiful island on earth."

The guide says visitors to Newcastle's Bigg Market - where scores of pubs and clubs are concentrated - that "wearing a coat will earn you some funny looks even on the coldest nights," but the drinks are cheap.

It says the city's Quayside is "fast becoming the place to go, it is more stylish and attracts an older crowd."

'Positve comments'

The guide claims Newcastle United's fans follow the club with "unrivalled fervour" and the Tyne and Wear Metro system is described "cheap, efficient and pleasant to use".

The guide's verdict on Tyneside has been welcomed the those behind the Newcastle and Gateshead bid for Capital Culture in 2008.

Neil Rami, Chief Executive of Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, said: "The Lonely Planet guide is a highly regarded and well read publication and its positive comments about Newcastle Gateshead spell good news for the region's growing tourism industry."

The guide describes Alnwick in Northumberland as a charming place with an imposing castle.

The coastal village of Bamburgh is an "unspoilt hamlet dwarfed by the romantic profile of an intimidating castle" and Lindisfarne is a magical, two-mile square island.

The guide claims the Northumberland National Park has a bleak great countryside with wide horizons and vast skies.

The market town of Hexham is a "working bustling town with a fine abbey, and busy high street shops."