up north

'Up North' is a variable expression in English.

As a Londoner from North of the River Thames, 'Up North' generally means above Watford, which is about 20 miles north of London itself. A South Londoner would regard 'Up North' in much the same way as 'North of the River' (Thames) and a North Londoner (and taxi drivers) regard 'sarf of the river' as a somewhat unknown area.

But today I've been properly 'Up North' in Gateshead - which is adjacent to Newcastle, in the quayside area by the rather spectacular theatre complex known as 'The Sage' - and I know its proper North because there's a famous landmark called 'the Angel of the North' which is slightly to the south of Gateshead and Newcastle.