Jobs in Newport | Pictures of Newport

Newport is arguably the fastest growing city in Wales . Everywhere you go there are redevelopment projects taking place with the common objective of transforming this former industrial powerhouse from a neglected town left to reminisce about its glory days, into a modern, thriving and cosmopolitan city. Is this too ambitious? Not really.

Since Newport was awarded host city status for the Ryder Cup in 2010, the Council have relished the opportunity. And with the eyes of the world looking at Newport , this provided the catalyst to invest heavily in reshaping and redeveloping the city. It seems that Newport 's potential is finally being recognised and the future of the city promises much.

Getting around Newport
Newport 's close proximity alongside the M4 motorway makes it easily accessible by car – from Junction 24 to the east of the city to Junction 28 to the west. However, with the growth of Newport and Cardiff in recent years, the build up of traffic at the notorious Brynglas Tunnels (Junction 26) has seen the rush hour traffic pass through this stretch of the M4 at a frustratingly slow pace. There are plans for a new ‘relief' road that will take traffic away some of the traffic travelling between Junctions 28 and 24 and ease congestion, but this is still in the preliminary stages of development.

That said, once you exit the motorway, the roads entering the centre of Newport flow well and relatively stress free, with an ample number of car parks dotted around the city centre.

Newport 's main train station is a few yards from the main shopping district, at the top of High Street, and is well connected with the suburban areas of Newport , the Valleys, Cardiff and Chepstow. Indeed, it takes just 10 minutes from Cardiff Central to Newport and around 20 minutes from Chepstow.

Newport Transport is the city's main bus operator and operates regular services in and out of the city centre with the last bus leaving the central bus station (behind the Kingsway Centre) at around 11:15pm – so you can enjoy a few drinks after work and catch the last bus home.

Eating, drinking and shopping in Newport
Newport has its fair share of pubs scattered along the main city thoroughfare from High Street at the north end to Commercial Street towards the south. Whereas it has to be said that they have remained relatively unchanged over the years in the main, there are some that are the exception – notably the 1530 Olde Murenger House and the newly opened Seven on High Street.

For a greater choice of traditional bars, nearby Caerleon three miles from the city centre is fast-becoming the fashionable alternative to Newport . Caerleon is a compact town along the banks of the River Usk offering an eclectic mix of students, young professionals and locals.

Food-wise Newport is awash with pubs serving food and affordable eateries throughout the Bridge Street and Commercial Street areas of the city centre. However, the city has limited choice when it comes to fine cuisine, the notable exceptions being the excellent Chandlery on Lower Dock Street , The Waterloo Hotel - located directly opposite the Edwardian Transporter Bridge, Fratelli's Italian restaurant on Caerleon Road , and Junction 28 in Bassaleg. Lest we forget the Michelin star restaurant, The Crown at the Celtic Manor – home of the 2010 Ryder Cup.

In spite of this, Newport is changing for the better and city is among one of the ten fastest-growing retail centres over the next few years.

Indeed, much of Newport 's regeneration is centred on the redevelopment of the city centre. The John Frost Square and Kingsway areas are undergoing a dramatic re-development which will see the emergence of a modern, cosmopolitan shopping centre complete with café bars, restaurants and leading retailers including Debenhams and Marks & Spencer - due for completion in 2010.

And behind the Kingsway along the riverside, the £200m Old Town Dock redevelopment will bring a café culture that Newport has significantly lacked to date, with a number of coffee shops, smaller shops, restaurants and bars.

If you read the tourism guide for the city of Newport , you won't be spoilt for choice of where to go and what to see. Perhaps that sounds too harsh but, the reality is that Newport was built to serve a single purpose: trade. But that doesn't mean that there is nothing to see or do here.

Tredegar House is arguably the jewel in Newport 's crown. Once the ancestral home of the wealthy Morgan family (or Rum fame) who are heralded as establishing Newport as a commercial trading centre, Tredegar House was built in the 1670s shortly after the English Civil War to reflect the increasingly influential position that the Morgan family was gaining in the area.

The Transporter Bridge is perhaps the most recognised symbol of Newport and although it has now become more of a tourist attraction than a functional structure, the bridge dominates the skyline. Towering at some 74 metres above the water, the Bridge is a Grade 1 listed spider-like structure that was built to facilitate cars and pedestrians to cross the river without disturbing the shipping traffic below.

For tranquillity and respite from working in the city all day, Newport Wetlands is the perfect escape. Nestled along the coastline to the east of Newport overlooking the Bristol Channel , the Wetlands is a sanctuary for many breeds of birds that migrate to the area each winter. Created to compensate for the loss of the mudflats and natural habitat for many birds with the construction of Cardiff Bay further along the coast to the west, the Wetlands has now become a designated Special Area of Conservation.

If sport is more your thing, Newport doesn't disappoint. Aside from the familiar health clubs such as Fitness First, Living Well, Banatyne's and JJB, Newport is home to the International Sports Village . Located on the eastern outskirts of the city, the Sports Village caters for 5-a-side football, athletics, badminton, cricket, football, hockey, netball, table tennis, tennis and squash. And next door are Newport Velodrome and Newport County FC stadium.

And it goes without saying that Newport has a strong rugby pedigree. Since 1887, Rodney Parade has been the home ground for the Dragons - one of the UK 's premier rugby teams. But 2009 will be the final season that the game will be played on Rodney's hallowed turf.

Main residential area
Newport finds itself in an enviable position when it comes to the property market. With both Cardiff and Bristol experiencing a property boom in recent years, many people were deterred from moving to these two places because they had been out-priced by the escalating cost of accommodation. And Newport – being just 15 miles and 40 miles from Cardiff and Bristol respectively – soon found itself regarded as the happy medium between the two cities.

With the ongoing redevelopment of many of the city's brownfield sites and neglected areas, Newport has increasingly become one of property hotspots in the South Wales and South West region.

Indeed, the newly developed modern apartments, penthouses and family homes that occupy the former Old Town Dock area of the city, are testament to the growing appeal – and demand – for high quality, city-centre accommodation in Newport .

Allt-yr-Yn, Basseleg, Rogerstone and the picturesque Caerleon are perhaps the most attractive residential areas, dominated by traditional bay-fronted, Victorian detached and semi-detached property – and within a 5 mile radius of the city and on direct public transport routes into Newport itself. However, property prices tend to err on the high side – largely due to their close proximity to some of the country's best schools.

If you're thinking of moving to the area, take a look at some of the current property available to buy or let in Newport.

Take a closer look
A picture is worth a thousand words. You can see some images from in and around Newport below.

Looking for local vacancies? See all current jobs in Newport or find out more information on the local area.