An American traveller has heaped praise on a UK city, arguing it is better than destination giants Prague and Barcelona.

“One of the joys of traveling, whether in the US or abroad, is coming across unexpected delights. Everyone expects to be charmed by Venice or Prague, almost to the point that it is hard for those popular tourist destinations to live up to the high expectations,” Walter Meyer, a writer and adventurer, told the Express when asked about his favourite city he’s visited. 

On a recent trip to visit American friends in the UK, Walter decided to stop off in Newcastle. “I am so glad I did. If nothing else, I loved how British the town sounded: Newcastle Upon Tyne,” the Youtuber continued. He was blown away by the city of 300,000.

“Newcastle, like many European cities, has the requisite old cathedrals. But unlike Barcelona’s La Sagrada Familia, Paris’ Notre Dame or Cologne, these were not clogged with tourists—in fact, St. Nicholas and St. Mary’s were almost empty. There was no admission charge, and the tour guides seemed very happy to have visitors and talk about their churches,” Walter enthused.

“The old castle in Newcastle was definitely worth visiting as well, but the most interesting thing there, because I had not seen anything like it anywhere else, was the Victoria Tunnel. Originally built to carry coal under the city, the 2.25-mile-long tunnel was reopened during World War II to function as an air raid shelter. There are tours that take visitors down into this dark world to explain the two very different functions this tunnel performed.”

Above all else, Walter loved the people. “Everyone I met in Newcastle Upon Tyne was very friendly and talkative,” he added, noting how a woman running a laundrette gave him 50p so he could dry his clothes. This was necessary as Newcastle was being battered by heavy rains. But even that wasn’t enough to dampen Walter’s enthusiasm.

“The rain was bad even by northern England standards—locals were complaining about it, and even tours to Hadrian’s Wall were cancelled due to flooding. So very few people were out in the downpour. Two nights, I went to the bar in the hotel and talked to the bartender, Michael, who was also the night desk clerk, and a few other patrons. Michael was very friendly and chatty and filled me in on some local things to see and do,” he said.

We turned to two of Reach’s resident Geordies to ask them if they recognised the Newcastle that Walter described. Laura Hill, a news editor on the Mirror, was surprised that Walter was such a fan of the city’s cathedral. “I am baffled by (him thinking) the cathedrals are so good. We’re very spoiled to have Durham Cathedral half an hour away, which is far more impressive in my opinion. The Newcastle ones are often overlooked.”

Simon Duke, a What’s On writer for Chronicle Live, noted the comparison between Newcastle and Barcelona. “You could certainly argue the vibe between the two cities is pretty similar,” he said.

“For a start, both destinations can always be relied upon to bring the party and keep it going. While Newcastle might not be the seven-day-a-week knees-up hotspot it used to be, you can still go out on dreary Monday night and still have a ball and, at the very least, bump into some brilliant characters, all with a story to tell.”

As well as the city’s love of football, Simon spoke passionately about the growing food scene in Newcastle.

“Newcastle can also hold its own against its European counterparts when it comes to food, with several Michelin-starred restaurants, two of which have just made it into the top 1000 in the world ranking for 2026. Whether it’s a stottie from Greggs, a mouthwatering burger or something more refined, you won’t go hungry in Newcastle,” he continued.

“The spotlight has been shone on Tyneside for two huge events in 2025 – the MOBO Awards and the Mercury Prize, with the city resplendent and vibrant as millions watched. When it comes to throwing a party and doing it in serious style, Newcastle will never let you down.”