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Whitley Bay's position on the coast, overlooking scenic bays, and its closeness to main-line railway connections, helped it to gain a positive reputation as a resort for working-class holidaymakers from [[Glasgow]] and other towns in central [[Scotland]], as well as for day-trippers from industrial [[Tyneside]]. It also prospered as a middle-class dormitory for [[Newcastle upon Tyne]], to which it was connected by one of England's earliest commuter railways.

Whitley Bay's position on the coast, overlooking scenic bays, and its closeness to main-line railway connections, helped it to gain a positive reputation as a resort for working-class holidaymakers from [[Glasgow]] and other towns in central [[Scotland]], as well as for day-trippers from industrial [[Tyneside]]. It also prospered as a middle-class dormitory for [[Newcastle upon Tyne]], to which it was connected by one of England's earliest commuter railways.

In the Edwardian period the [[Spanish City]] was opened, a pleasure park built of white-painted reinforced concrete in a Spanish-Moorish style by architects [[Cackett & Burns Dick]] of Newcastle. The Spanish City survives, but is no longer (2007) a funfair. Derelict, it awaits new uses. The Spanish City was mentioned in the plangent ''Tunnel of Love'' by ''The Police'' - Sting (Gordon Sumner), coming from the nearby industrial town of [[Wallsend]], would have been well familiar with Whitley Bay.  

In the Edwardian period the [[Spanish City]] was opened, a pleasure park built of white-painted reinforced concrete in a Spanish-Moorish style by architects [[Cackett & Burns Dick]] of Newcastle. The Spanish City survives, but is no longer (2007) a funfair. Derelict, it awaits new uses. The Spanish City was mentioned in the plangent ''Tunnel of Love'' by ''Dire Straits'' - Sting (Gordon Sumner), coming from the nearby industrial town of [[Wallsend]], would have been well familiar with Whitley Bay.  

Today Whitley Bay retains popularity as a residential centre (linked by the modern Metro system to Newcastle and other towns in [[Tyne & Wear]]).

Today Whitley Bay retains popularity as a residential centre (linked by the modern Metro system to Newcastle and other towns in [[Tyne & Wear]]).

[[Category:UK Towns and Cities]]

[[Category:UK Towns and Cities]]