About a three-hour train ride from London, Newcastle is the largest city in North East England. It's an industrial town that helped build Great Britain into a world recognized power. Newcastle's numerous coal mines supplied the coal both in Britain and beyond during the Industrial Revolution. The city fell into decline in the mid-20th century when coal was replaced by oil as the world's energy source, and the mines were closed. In the 1990s the city redeveloped, becoming famous for its vibrant arts and nightlife as well as a being a soccer town with friendly locals who enjoy music and drinking.