Relocating to Durham

[Katiescarlet]

Hello, I wondered if anyone would be able to give me some advice on relocating my family of five to Durham.
My husband's job is moving to Newcastle and so we're researching both Newcastle and Durham as possible areas to live and at this point we know nothing of the north east.
We have three children from 7 months to 5 years. Some guidance on where the good schools are in the area as well as the area's overall provision for Children's services would be useful.
Also, where are the nice areas within Durham to live that are within easy reach of a commuter link by train or car to Newcastle.
Many thanks

[3LegsandNoTail]

Hi Katiescarlet

We live in a village about 2 miles outside Durham City and absolutly love it here. There are lots and lots of good schools, city centre ones especially, if you can afford to live there and can put up with the students! Newton Hall area has a lot of families and a good choice of schools, as does Belmont. Trains to Newcastle are frequent and only 10-15mins but it depends where in Newcastle you're going. My dh works north of Newcastle so we chose to live in between the two main roads, A1 and A19, so that he has a choice of routes!

HTH, ask away if there's anything more specific you want to know, we moved here for university 17 years ago and now wouldn't live anywhere else.

[Katiescarlet]

That's fabulous thanks. We're coming up over half term to do a reccie of the area and will check out the places you mention. V useful. Cheers

[StealthPolarBear]

TBH if your DH's job will be in Newcastle I'd probably look to live in Newcastle (I assume you don't have a job as you don't mention), especially if travelling by car. DH worked in Newcastle for a while and the commute was an hour on a good day, an hour and a half on a bad day.

[Indith]

Hello

Framwellgate Moor, Nevilles Cross, Newton Hall and Langley Moor are all in easy reach of the train station and in good areas for schools. There are loads of groups around and in any of those areas you are walkable to Durham city and on good bus routes. There are loads of good places further out too. If I were you I would go with renting somewhere while you get to know different areas a bit better as there is a lot of variety. Eg Nevilles Cross is much sought after, great schools and easy walking distance but no shops whereas Langley Moor a little further out has its own little centre witha Tesco Metro, cafes, baker, butcher etc. Unlike SPB I would choose Durham over Newcastle even with the commute, I love it here. Good job really since dh's office is goinbg to relocate to Newcastle centre!

[StealthPolarBear]

didn't realise - glad he doesn't mind!
so if DH ends up getting a job there can they car share? He did for a while & enjoyed that, it's the stuck in traffic on your own thing that really got to him, and the driving.
where in newcastle?

[Indith]

if the hours coincide well enough car sharing would be great. The whole office is relocating as they are closing the Gateshead one. Some bright spark realised Newcastle which they own was half empty and they pay rent on Gateshead. Think it is pretty central. Not sure yet what iwll be best in terms of parking etc, parking at the metro centre and getting the metro or bus to Newcastle has been suggested.

[StealthPolarBear]

do they not have a car park?
DH used to park...somewhere...and walk in, took about 15/20mins to get to laing art gallery area - can figure it out if you need me to?

[StealthPolarBear]

stupid q, obviously not!!

[Indith]

lol no they don't have a car park. If you do know where good parking spaces are I'd love to know! we keep hearing about mythical cheap spaces but not where they actually are!

[StealthPolarBear]

well I used to park there too, just a terrible memory!
OK, it was SHieldfield, I remember that much.
BTW I'm not talking about a car park, just a dusty industrial estate type lane. If it still exists, it's free though.
Will have a look at maps and see if I can figure it out

[Indith]

dh says he would very much like it if you did remember

[StealthPolarBear]

will do my very best! might have to drivce there
google maps!!

[muggglewump]

I grew up in Durham, and though I haven't lived there, or even visited in 13 years I'd move back in a heartbeat.

I lived in Pity Me, 10 minutes walk from Framwellgate Moor schools, and back when I went, they were considered good schools.

It had, and I know as I google it far too much, still has plenty of shops within walking distance, the centre of Durham is walkable too and quick taxiable when you have teens coming home from a night out.

Durham is a fantastic place. Everything you need, 15 minutes from Newcastle if you want better shopping. MetroCentre when it's cold.

Oh, and it's a gorgeous city, truly stunning with the castle and cathedral.

I'm very envious.

[stickylittlefingers]

Hi - I think Neville's cross is very nice!! I love living in Durham...

Re car parking - the Sage car park works out very cheap - is handy obviously if you work on the Quayside, but it's only 20 minutes up to the Laing (I know from going to have my hair cut by there!)

I tend to do the commute by train, tho, and find it pretty good, except they do tend to thin out a bit later on in the evening. Depends on hours and so on. If you're coming from a place where the commuting is horrible (i.e. me from Dublin) the Durham/Newcastle commute is absolutely fine.

[2bubs4me]

I love living in Durham. We have come from Newcastle and my partner works in Newcastle but its cheap to rent out here and the views are amazing in the countryside

We live in a small village which is located just off the A181 and is 5mins from the A19 and 10mins from the A1 so easy to reach for work for your Husband x

[dieselwoo]

hi my family and I are moving to the Durham area from Wiltshire and would be very grateful if anyone would be so kindly and give us advice on where and where not to move too we live in a village in Wiltshire and love the village life style so a village near to Durham would be ideal my youngest daughter will be starting collage as well so commuting for her will be very important. we considered ferryhill but family from the area surgested not to move there???? no idea why though??

[juneybean]

Spennymoor is on the up I believe, Ferryhill is still firmly down...

[dieselwoo]

thank you juneybean that definitely an idea we will consider

[Indith]

What do you want from a village? Do you want to be rural? Still close to Durham? Do you know where your dd will be going or is that still up in the air? By college do you mean 6th form/A levels or other courses?

Areas I know something of: Newton Hall/Fram are suburb really rather than village but are nice areas, you can walk in to Durham and in good area for schools.

Shincliffe is very naice. I'm not as clear on Bowburn and Coxhoe in that direction. I think they have some nice bits and not so nice bits but I don't know which is which.

Towards my side of Durham you Have Langley Moor which has a decent little high street and you can walk to Durham (quite nice going back way to river and in towards the Cathedral). But still feels like more of a suburb.

Ushaw Moor is a fairly deprived area (but then a lot of villages are. Ex mining = deprived. Agricultural background = less so) but has a very good community going on with active community group. Durham Community Business College is in Ushaw Moor. Used to be an over my dead body sort of a school/college but has improved a LOT in recent years so is not to be discounted. Depends on what your dd wants to do.

Further out from Ushaw Moor you hit Esh Winning and the surrounding villages (Waterhouses, East Hedley Hope, Cornsay Colliary, Esh Village). Esh Winning is where the shops are plus Dr, NHS dentist etc. All pretty nice places to live with a fair amount going on. I'm in Waterhouses (we have a website if you google to get a flavour of events in the village), feels nice and rural but still only a mile along a nice cycle path to Esh Winning and shops. You are looking at being 5/6 miles from Durham in this area. 7/8 if as far as East Hedley Hope.

Also in the same direction is Lanchester which is nice and pretty and has a very good school up to 6th form. Nice little array of shops, agricultural not mining. Great cafe.

As you move on to Stanley, Consett etc I don't really know much.

[Hlaura158]

Hi,

I am also relocating to County Durham area in a couple of months. We will be renting a property (3bed) for a few years. We do not know the area at all as we are moving from scotland. Any info/advice as to where to start looking would be helpful. We have 2 children so somewhere near schools and also shops etc.

Thank you in advance,

[LocalEditorDurham]

Do you have any particular areas you will need to be near, for work or family? It is quite a large area geographically. Do you prefer town or more rural?

[Starings17]

I am considering buying a property on Kings Terrace Southmoore in Stanley County Durham. Anyone know this area? Any advice?

[Indith]

I don't really know stanley I'm afraid, hopefully someone else will know more. Where are you moving from?

[Starings17]

I am moving from Essex. My company has an office in Durham and I believe it is about half an hour drive from Standley.

[Indith]

Yes that sounds about right.
Have you any other areas you've considered? Children and schools to consider? Partner working elsewhere? Durham is so varied from expensive streets in the city, family friendly suburbs and a whole host of villages, mostly ex mining which can be fantastic or rather deprived and not too nice. I came up about 13 years ago i think and I'd hate to leave, it is fab up here.