whitley bay/newcastle?

[cambo59]

DH will be working in Walls End, Newcastle for the next 6 months (we live in the south). The company will rent him a house where he wants but we have never been there before and don't know where to ask for.
He is hoping I will bring the children aged 5, 7 and 9 for weekends and the summer holidays. Does anyone know the area/ have an opinion of a place good for kids? DH will have a car but we won't. Is Whitley Bay nice? Or better to rent a place in the city? Any advice gratefully received.

[CremeEggThief]

Cullercoats and Tynemouth are both gorgeous and only down the road from Whitley Bay and on the metro to Newcastle.

[RandomMess]

I'm sure the proper locals will be along soon.

I would want somewhere with quick access to the metro system if you're not going to have a car.

Plenty to do for trips etc.

Beamish is fab easily go more than once IMHO. Some great child orientated things in central Newcastle.

[DraenorQueen]

Whitley Bay is quite nice; as mentioned, Tynemouth is beautiful. Jesmond is nice but student-y. Gosforth is smart with lots going on.
The Metro has been a bit ropey lately but is usually fab and really reliable.

[MrsL2012]

Tynemouth, Monkseaton, Cullercoats all lovely. Most of Whitley Bay lovely too! All have good transport routes - bus & metro - into the city centre. Schools are good at the coast. By car it'll take half an hour to get into Newcastle. Tynemouth is beautiful, has a lovely beach as well as quaint shops, cafes etc. There is also l a market in the metro station every weekend and you must visit Crusoes cafe on the beach - best muffins and scones ever!!

I would definitely pick the coast over the city centre!

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

I would second cullercoats or tynemouth as both easy for the metro. You may also want to have a look at Jesmond / Gosforth both of which would be a good family base.

[MagratsFlyawayHair]

Try for Tynemouth. It's one of my favourite places in the north east. We used to live in Whitley bay and while it is getting better I'd pick Tynemouth or Monkseaton to live in over there

[ovenchips]

Depends what your DH/ you are looking for? What things are most important for you?

Tynemouth is right on coast with gorgeous beaches and craggy clifftops. Lovely spot. Expensive housing. Gets very busy on nice days/ weekends and has holidayish feel to it. Has Metro station (tube equivalent) so good transport.

Jesmond v close to city centre also nice. And chichi. And expensive.

Whitley Bay - a similar but lot less posh version of Tynemouth.

[cambo59]

This is great info, thank you all.
Ovenchips- I probably won't see much of DH, it'll be me trying to entertain the kids all day, mostly outdoors (as there won't be much in the rented work apartment to entertain them)

[LineyReborn]

Will you be flying up or driving?

[cambo59]

coming by train, (middle child carsick..)

[LineyReborn]

Definitely stay on the Metro line then, as pp have suggested, as that will connect you with Central Station and all the other places. Whitley Bay and Tynemouth are lovely.

[MagratsFlyawayHair]

I'm with liney. The metro is excellent and it will make life much easier if you are travelling by training you are easy walking distance from a station.

[Drogon]

Tynemouth is beautiful but a lot more expensive to live in (IMO). I live in North Shields (next to Tynemouth) which is a lot more rough around the edges but still has its nice areas. I would chose Tynemouth above Whitley Bay to live in if I could afford it, but I grew up in Whitley Bay and it is lovely. Lots of buses and transport links, and walking along the coast is lovely. From Whitley bay it's about a 25 minute metro journey into Newcastle city centre.

I also second Crusoes for a visit as the cheese scones there are the best I've ever had (I feel bad saying that as I work in a competitor cafe but it's true!)

[BikeRunSki]

YY to Tynemouth, Whitely Bay, Cullercoats even N Shields, especially if he's going to be there over the summer hols.

[cambo59]

Great advice, thank you everyone.

[cambo59]

decision to head to Tynemouth, DH looking for house

[MagratsFlyawayHair]

Oo. Exciting. I'm very jealous, Tynemouth is beautiful.