Moving to the uk with teenagers. Durham or Poole?

There's a massive difference between a projected say 30-300k annual income.

Even the bottom of that range makes you well off in NE terms. Top of that range look at Durham High School for Girls for the twins.

Durham is a big student town... so you’re more likely to have noisy student neighbours!

Not with her budget, I doubt she'll be renting a terraced house in the centre of Durham .

I'd personally ask you to volunteer more information tbh OP (although you may choose to decline). Are you moving as a nurse (what band?), are your surgical staff, are you a surgeon? Is you're overall income based on your own or do you have a DP with an income too? It's easier to say what would possibly be a better fit when you estimate an annual income/longevity of being in the UK, vs well I have ?, and I'm looking for requiremts that fill ? criteria. There's a massive difference between a projected say 30-300k annual income.

Tbh if you're relocating to work to either hospital I believe they'll have designated forums to ask questions on? Durham hospital is definately a multicultural/overseas employer. Although outside the actual catchment area of the 'city' (its basically a town with a cathedral), the overall predominate cultural mix is possibly 97% white British. Newcastle on the other hand is much more multicultural and that's reflected in just daily living/ afro Caribbean hairdressers, better provision of Asian/Chinese/Caribbean shopping. Durham hospital has had a high level of Philippine staff for many years who have made the emigration jump. Durham definately isn't a general cultural melting pot outside the city base though. However Durham hospital does offer designated family accommodation to staff that might be a viable living option for say 2-3mth to scope out where you actually want to live long term?

Poole for the weather, especially coming from Spain! There are some naice areas: lower parkstone; broadstone; canford cliffs... the local grammar schools are good but most are single sex before 6th form. There are good private schools and colleges too. If your kids are arty then Bournemouth uni has great access programmes. The beaches are lovely in summer, both for water sports and sunbathing and Bournemouth town centre has a nice aspect and shops, and is next to the winter gardens and pier.

Durham is a big student town... so you’re more likely to have noisy student neighbours!

I loved living in Newcastle as an older teen / early 20s. So much to do, great city centre, hop on a train to the coast.

More for a teen to do, than in Durham, which is v small.

It's cold up north and Bournemouth is very sunny. Tough choice tho' found Durham peeps much friendlier. Good luck.

The problem with living in Newcastle and commuting to Durham is you'll still possibly have to fall within the catchment areas for 6th form? And frankly although Newcastle has some very lovely areas it also has some pretty shit ones too. As does Durham tbh, but frankly I'd rather catch a train in to Newcastle from Durham, than live in a deprived area and catch a train to Durham iyswim. If you choose to say live in Gosforth it's a prime nice area in Newcastle, but I'd frankly then be looking at school catchment there rather than the kids schlepping to Durham. And you'd still need to look at catchment criteria. If 2.5k is your funds for rental (based on normally rental is short term, and looking to offset costs whilst waiting for property to sell/looking to buy). Where would you finically stand to make private schooling a viable option for the duration of 6th form for twins? It's not a long term event, and you could realistically cut your projected rental costs by a 1/3, and still live in a nice area. Just a thought?

Plus side with north east is that accomadation and living is much cheaper

Train from Newcastle to Durham take 15mins so nothing stopping you living in Newcastle and commuting to Durham.

We lived in a Durham pit village when doing postgraduate studies. It was wonderful to be part of the community and we had the choice of city or countryside by easy public transport.

Poole and Bournemouth both have good grammar schools if your dc are expecting good gcse results. It is expensive to live here and the traffic is truly dreadful. But it is lovely!!

*By struggling to find I mean anything anywhere near your projected budget that isn't massively under 😅 Durham is very much a mixed bag of student culture, historical culture (tourism), and as you move outwards coal mining village culture. However, a lot of the 'coal villages', are now very much pockets of wealth as the pits closed down many years ago, and a combination of regeneration, people moving into the area after selling up in SE to relocate. For example for 500k this is what's one random option is www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-60880315.html if you compare prices to the SE you are always going to get more bang for your buck.

This would put you within a 5min drive to DJ (15min walk) and a couple of mins more to the hospital www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-76857154.html This is the other side of Durham but still less than 10min away www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-65785257.html Also approx 6 min drive www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-67377129.html tbh I'm struggling to find anything even near the lower end of your rental budget! All the above are nice areas too.

I had a snoop on your other posts OP 😳 and see your rental budget is 2.5k that's a very healthy figure for the NE! I also had a quick nose on Rightmove and in close proximity to the schools/job you'd be looking at in Durham you could basically take your pick! As you've no knowledge of the area its best if you look on local areas and then come back with some options that are specific so people can comment on yay/nay. The main reason there's less rental choice in Durham City is due to the university and most accommodation is student let as obviously command's a higher yeild for landlords/property investors. However, there's really nice properties either within walking distance or a short bus route that come in well under your budget. The only thing I'd look into is which side of Durham you'd be looking for area iyswim. If you're entering Durham from the Newcastle via driving its pretty busy during rush hour. However, the opposite side will be much quieter as you'd hit the hospital before the city centre, and the kids could easily walk to StL school within under 5mins from there.

When you say the job offer is not so good do you mean moneywise or how interesting the job is? You money will go much further in the NE.

What about living in Darlington, the girls could go to Carmel College for 6th Form and you get a lot more house for your money.

If your DC are about to enter sixth form, they are only likely to be at home for another two years before they go off to University.

So I would base the decision on what will be best for YOU. If the job in Poole is better then go for Poole. Climate is much better. Summer holidays much more fun.

Durham is on the east coast main line so you can be in London direct in under 3 hours, trains every 30m or so. Cheap too, if booked in plenty of time. I'd go for Durham, great city and a cracking night out.

I have sent you a pm op.

DJ has always been considered quite a sports based school, and StL is a Catholic school (don't know if that effects your choice). StL is a 5min walk into the city centre and the bus station provides all links to local areas. DJ is quite a bit more of a trek if waking into the city but you could look at renting at Nevilles Cross which is on the doorstep pretty much and classed as a 'nice area', StL is just along the road from Newton Hall which is also a 'nice area', although massive housing estate. If they pick up friends from their it's all within walking distance to pop round houses. There's lots of opportunity for horse riding if they want to start a new hobby.

Are you looking for Durham City centre for renting or further afield? What kind of budget are you looking at? The pool/leisure centre in Durham city is very good, there's an outdoor pool at Stanhope, Consett have recently opened a new leisure centre with a pool too.

Not been to Durham but DD hates coming home from university as loathes Poole and Bournemouth and finds it very narrow minded down here.

If I worked in Durham I would consider living in Newcastle with good access to the train.

11m Newcastle - Durham.

How old is your DD? I can recommend a ballet/dance dance school in Durham, if needed!