Birtley is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead, in Tyne and Wear, England.

Until 1974, Birtley and the adjoining areas of Barley Mow, Vigo and Portobello were part of Chester-le-Street Rural District under County Durham until being moved into Tyne and Wear under the Borough of Gateshead.

[5] When the war ended and the inhabitants were largely repatriated, it was occupied by people of British and other nationalities[4] before its demolition and replacement with more permanent housing.

This was an original route for the Great North Road and the A1 until a bypass was built (which was upgraded to motorway standard in the 1960s).

The main East Coast railway line runs to the west of the town.