Washington (UK)

Town in Tyne and Wear, northeast England, 8 km/5 mi southeast of Newcastle upon Tyne, on the River Wear, designated a new town in 1964; population (2001) 55,450. Industries include electronics, car assembly, and the manufacture of textiles, chemicals, and electrical goods. Beamish Open-Air Museum is nearby to the west.

From 1113 to 1613 Washington Old Hall was the home of the ancestors of George Washington, first president of the United States. Originally built in the 12th century, the house was rebuilt in the 17th century. There is a Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve nearby, established in 1975. Its wildlife includes swans, geese, ducks, and flamingos.