Where to move to in the north?

[DamnUserName21]

Posting for info.
Single parent (1 DC Y8), work in healthcare, renting a one bed in SE. Cost of living ridiculous.
I'll never afford a mortgage in SE and renting is just getting more and more expensive.
I'm considering moving north but I don't even know where to start.
I don't drive so this place needs to have good transport links, a bit of culture, good secondaries, safe neighbourhoods, affordable rents, and near a beach!
Any ideas??

[WhoAteAllTheDinosaurs]

The Wirral. Ticks all those boxes.

[CareerConcerns1999]

Whitley bay or Cullercoats.

[ilovelamp2]

My vote goes to Newcastle! Loads of surrounding areas with with good schools and you're always just a 10 minute drive from bustling city centre, gorgeous beaches or beautiful countryside. Good luck in your adventure!

[DamnUserName21]

Thank you for the ideas!!! I'll research them.

[justnorthofsanity]

Lancaster

[namechange30455]

Another vote for Newcastle/Whitley Bay kind of area. Beaches are gorgeous and metro, although not anything like the same as being in London with the tube and buses, is a pretty solid transport option between the city and the coast. What's your rental budget?

[emmathedilemma]

The coastal suburbs of Newcastle get my vote too!

[DamnUserName21]

@namechange30455

Another vote for Newcastle/Whitley Bay kind of area. Beaches are gorgeous and metro, although not anything like the same as being in London with the tube and buses, is a pretty solid transport option between the city and the coast. What's your rental budget?

Good question.
Mid-range. Income around 26,000.
Would be for 2-3 bedroom property.

[EatSleepRantRepeat]

Just be aware, a place up north with everything on your list can also be pricey compared to the surrounding areas - wages are often lower as well unless you work for a large organisation with national pay scales. I've looked at moving back home to the North West before but I'd be taking about a 25%-30% pay cut, my industry is quite niche with a lot of people wanting the roles for the few jobs on offer. There's a reason the cost of living is lower.

[DamnUserName21]

@EatSleepRantRepeat

Just be aware, a place up north with everything on your list can also be pricey compared to the surrounding areas - wages are often lower as well unless you work for a large organisation with national pay scales. I've looked at moving back home to the North West before but I'd be taking about a 25%-30% pay cut, my industry is quite niche with a lot of people wanting the roles for the few jobs on offer. There's a reason the cost of living is lower.

I'll be mindful of this, thanks.
Currently work NHS (not London) so wages should be the same.

[EatSleepRantRepeat]

I'll be mindful of this, thanks.
Currently work NHS (not London) so wages should be the same.

Brilliant, if you're planning to stay within the NHS it's well worth it. My cousins are teachers and nurses and they can afford 3 bed semis on their wages, which would be unheard of in my current area unless you have a big fat deposit.

[Anycolourwilldo]

Whitley Bay, Tynemouth areas for beach life and good schools.
Tynedale (Hexham, Corbridge, Riding Mill) is beautiful and fantastic schools with good transport links to newcastle (45 mins from the coast though).
Likewise Morpeth.

[GetDrunkWithMe]

I wouldn't move to Newcastle personally.

Durham is nice, failing that Gateshead.

[Laska2Meryls]

Or you could come to the Isle of Wight... much more affordable and we have NHS hospital ..

[saleorbouy]

Carlisle, ticks the boxes except the beach. It does have lovely surrounding countryside and park in walking distance. The lake district is on your doorstep. Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Lancaster all within 1-1.5 hrs on the train. London 3.5hrs train and Manchester Airport 2hrs. Great links to M6 motorway is you have relatives and friends to visit. Nice Victorian houses at very good prices with in 10min walk of the city centre.

[DamnUserName21]

I've got quite a list to research. Thanks all!

@GetDrunkWithMe, why not Newcastle?

[GetDrunkWithMe]

Just not a place I'd choose to raise my kids. Lots of gangs, drugs etc. i lived there for a year and moved further out to the countryside.

[WhoppingBigBackside]

Liverpool

[Livpool]

Liverpool gets my vote (obviously!). It is a city with good transport links and easy access to a beach at Crosby plus New Brighton on the Wirral

[JoborPlay]

I think people need to be more specific really. Lancaster for example has some lovely parts and some dreadful areas (Scorton). Newcastle similar - Gosforth is great, other areas not so much.

I'd throw Salford in to the mix - there's a huge hospital/ northern care alliance. and good transport links. I'd avoid weaste, ordsall, Claremont Little Hilton and Broughton but Worsley, South Swinton and the Monton end of Eccles are good. Parts of Trafford (Urmston and Stretford) would work for you - Sale & Altrincham are much more expensive and Old Trafford isn't great. For Bury I'd say Prestwich (not Sedgley Park) and South Whitefield are nice. Bit further from a beach though, St Anne's is lovely and not too far.

[WeRTheOnesWeHaveBeenWaitingFor]

@GetDrunkWithMe

Just not a place I'd choose to raise my kids. Lots of gangs, drugs etc. i lived there for a year and moved further out to the countryside.

Newcastle is safer than most urban areas. Much safer than places like Manchester and london.

[monstermash14]

Warrington, great transport links all the major motorways, half an hour from Manchester but far enough out of both Manchester and Liverpool to not have too much hassle. Big town everything on your doorstep.

[DamnUserName21]

@JoborPlay

I think people need to be more specific really. Lancaster for example has some lovely parts and some dreadful areas (Scorton). Newcastle similar - Gosforth is great, other areas not so much.

I'd throw Salford in to the mix - there's a huge hospital/ northern care alliance. and good transport links. I'd avoid weaste, ordsall, Claremont Little Hilton and Broughton but Worsley, South Swinton and the Monton end of Eccles are good. Parts of Trafford (Urmston and Stretford) would work for you - Sale & Altrincham are much more expensive and Old Trafford isn't great. For Bury I'd say Prestwich (not Sedgley Park) and South Whitefield are nice. Bit further from a beach though, St Anne's is lovely and not too far.

Thanks, Jobor.

You all rock!!!!

[NeverTheHootenanny]

I also think somewhere on the Wirral would be nice. Good links to Liverpool if you want to be in the city, Cheshire if you want the countryside and lots of beaches nearby on the Wirral itself and in North Wales.

[happytoday73]

I wouldn't go for Salford unless you can get very local. Schools and areas are mixed. Some fab areas.. Often little in the middle. Fine if you know the area not if you don't...

You would really struggle to rent in Urmston for example.. There is very little available... and house prices are very much on level with Sale these days.

I would go with the wirral or some of Newcastle areas suggested above.