Considering moving to Sunderland

[TheMaskOfZorro]

Hello,
I'm investigating moving to Sunderland and wondered if anyone could tell me there experience of it.

I'm after somewhere by the coast, where the rent isn't too high, and Sunderland seems to match the criteria.

I don't need to worry about schools and I work online. I would like somewhere peaceful but not dead.

Any opinions and suggestions of naice areas would be great.

[StrangeAddiction]

Can I ask the people who are saying Sunderland isn't nice what isn't nice about it?

Op I live in Sunderland and just like everywhere else there are nice parts and some not so nice parts.

Places like, Ashbrooke, East/Middle Herrington, Barnes, Fulwell, Whitburn, Roker, Marina area, are the more affluent areas. As someone upthread said Roker does have some HMO's but a lot aren't and are absolutely gorgeous houses.

We have the biggest international air show every July, music festivals, a blue flag beach although unless you want to either walk/sit on the beach and go for food there's not much to do there as unfortunately our fair was closed years ago, however a short drive to South Shields where they have a fair which is really good for the kids. Not only are we by the sea we also have plenty of petting farms and other activities in and around the area.

[ElizabethWoodviIIe]

@StrangeAddiction I think it's more that the city centre in Sunderland isn't so great compared to Whitley Bay town centre/Tynemouth. Sunderland used to be great (and there are still some lovely bits like the museum/winter gardens and Mowbray Park), but so many shops have closed and sadly it has a bit of a down at heel feel. Whitley Bay has a real community feel and in the last couple of years has become quite buzzy - I live in Newcastle but often go for an evening out in Whitley Bay. The new Spanish City is gorgeous. Also it's that bit closer to Newcastle - you've got all the plus points of living on the coast with the convenience of having a major city nearby.

[BikeRunSki]

OP, go and spend some time in the area. The coast around Sunderland and the Shields, and down to Hartlepool/Teesside is heavily post industrial. Heavy industry -shop building, coal mining. The area has been redeveloped in places, but it’s not like the Cornish coast. Sunderland has benefited from being a university town, but is still a bit overshadowed by Newcastle. Further north, Tynemouth, Cullercoats etc is pricier, but but nicer.

[Advancesingle]

The last mine in South Shields closed in 1993. Shipbuilding ? Are you having a laugh ? It's all gone, gone gone. No, it isn't like Cornwall. However, the beach at South Shields and the coastline from South Shields to Sunderland with it's rare Magnesian Limestone cliffs are very pleasant indeed.