Whickham is a small, prosperous
commuter town in
North East England, south west of
Newcastle upon Tyne, and is situated on high ground overlooking the
River Tyne. In 2011, it had a population of 16,652, and it has a postal address of Whickham, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE16. Whickham is a semi-rural,
middle class suburban town and former
civil parish. Built on a large hill, it overlooks a large part of the northern and western horizon, including the
MetroCentre, and contains a mixture of large suburban housing estates and private streets for the local residents. The main street that goes through the town contains some shops and retailers, a few pubs and restaurants, and St. Mary's Church, the oldest building in Whickham.