Within its bounds are the towns of Wallsend, North Shields, Killingworth, Tynemouth and Whitley Bay, which form a continuously built-up area contiguous with Newcastle upon Tyne.

Unlike most English districts, North Tyneside Council is led by a directly elected mayor; since May 2013, this post has been held by Norma Redfearn of the Labour Party.

It has traditionally been a centre of heavy industry along with the rest of Tyneside, with for example the Swan Hunter shipyard in Wallsend, and export of coal.

Today most of the heavy industry has gone, leaving high unemployment in some areas (over the borough, 5.1% compared to 3.7% for the UK in 2022).

The nearest National Rail stations are Cramlington, Manors and Newcastle, which is also served by the Tyne & Wear Metro.

[10] Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC North East and Cumbria and ITV Tyne Tees.