“I find it fascinating that an invasion that happened well over a millennium ago left its mark so indelibly on the local dialect. Better still, it has been gloriously un-superseded by that new kid on the block, Received Pronunciation, a legacy of the later Norman invasion which left the north comparatively untouched.”

Read more from Sophie’s Words on the influence of the Vikings on the Geordie dialect.

Did you know the city will also play host to the Rugby World Cup in September 2015?

You definitely don’t need to master the Geordie dialect to have a successful and enjoyable conference in Newcastle/Gateshead but, as translators and interpreters, anything language-related tickles our interest.

From Newcastle’s own on-line paper, here are the 56 top things you’ll only ever hear a Geordie say 

And if you want to go a few steps further and master the accent:

You already know that the Hilton Gateshead overlooks the river Tyne and the iconic Tyne bridge, which will offer us some truly fabulous views from the hotel lobby, conference rooms and bedrooms. But did you know that it is also only a few steps away from the extraordinary Sage building, designed by Sir Norman Foster and a centre for musical education and performance?

And that’s not all. Walk a little bit further, towards the Millenium Bridge and you will be at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, an old flour mill transformed into an outstanding venue for art exhibitions and activities (free admission).

Did we say Millenium Bridge? The world’s first and only tilting bridge. Graceful and beautifully colourful at night, it is a feat of engineering people come to see from all corners of the world. Watch it in action here.

The International Centre for Life is a pioneering science village in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne.

At Life, scientists, clinicians, educationalists and business people come together to promote advancement of the life sciences. 

Find out more here

Newcastle’s startups the ‘best kept secret in tech’