BUCKINGHAM Palace has nothing on one North-East city - so say the producers of a travel guide, which hails a night out in Newcastle as Britain's best attraction.

Tourism bosses last night hailed the findings of the latest edition of The Rough Guide to Britain as "fantastic news".

Newcastle was ranked top of the 35 attractions listed in the guide - known as the "backpackers' bible" - and praise was heaped on the city's "stimulating quadrangle of bridges, bars, galleries and concert halls".

The 1,200 page guide - written by five Englishmen and a Scotsman - says there is no escape from the "weekend mayhem" and adds: "There's a case for taking whatever time you were going to spend there and doubling it."

The beer most associated with Newcastle - Brown Ale - is also named the top brew. Surfing in Newquay finished second to Newcastle in the Rough Guide ranking, followed by the university city of Oxford. London's markets and whale and dolphin watching.

But last night, North-East tourism bosses said that while they were pleased by the findings, they were unsurprised.

Andrew Dixon, chief executive for marketing agency Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, said: "The area has long been synonymous with having a great night out. Where else in Europe can you walk from a world-class concert hall to a fantastic street of bars and nightclubs in five minutes."

Louise Davis, head of tourism at regional development agency One NorthEast, said: "North-East England is recognised nationally, and now internationally, as being a region rich in variety.

"Whether to visit our museums and castles, our beautiful coastlines, the countryside, or to simply enjoy a night on the town, there really is something for everyone."