North east or north west?

[Chipsahoy]

I know I know. That’s a huge question. Where shall we live? Looking at Northumberland or Lancashire north/ Cumbria south. We had decided on north east but out home is sold and there are no houses we want yet. Most likely we will rent but while browsing found some lovely affordable houses in the west and it got me thinking.

We want beach in under an hour. Countryside lots of hills and forests and walks. Dh works from home so not too worried about jobs although want kids to be able to find work when they are older.
Need high school and primary.

Where would you move if you could?

Ribble valley would be my choice, easily.

Your budget will probably influence your choice though

North east would be slightly drier and the countryside less touristy (Cheviots etc deserted compared to say the Lake District). I would personally opt for there.

Having lived in both I would say North East. It has the better coast and rural Northumberland and County Durham has fantastic walks while
Being less touristy than the lakes. I also think for teens especially there is more in the north east and job opportunities (I grew up very rural in the central lakes and this is my experience but i appreciate that would be different if you were in one of the bigger towns). You can also be in the lakes in about 1.5 hours from some parts of the NE. Where have you looked in the NE? My top choices would be Morpeth, Hexham or Corbridge (not coastal but can get to the coast relatively quickly and beautiful countryside) or I would head to the Whitley bay/Tyne mouth area for coast. I live in the Chester le street area and we love it. We have woods at beamish very close and can be at the coast in a short drive, children are in a good school and in normal times husband commutes to work and not to far to Newcastle airport and Newcastle /Durham train stations.

Thanks so much.
Definitely saying all the reasons why we originally chose north east @Buttercupcup
More for teens. Quiet beaches. We were looking at Hexham and Morpeth originally. Morpeth houses have such tiny gardens though. We are also looking over the border into the villages near consett. Love Hexham a lot but sadly no houses there at the moment. My dh grew up mid west USA and misses snow!
Perhaps we need to settle on renting as with lockdown and it being early new year plus brexit the market is dead. But where to rent? Don’t want to move the children from a new school. Talking of schools I also love that they have middle schools in parts of Northumberland.

@Chipsahoy have you considered Any parts of Gateshead at all? There are some nice more rural places out to the west near the A69/A1 junction that might also suit your needs. Places like Whickham, Ryton, Rowlands Gill and Gibside also heading along the A69 towards Hexham there’s Prudhoe, wylam, corbridge and heddon. Ponteland is fab although pricey it has excellent schools. In county Durham somewhere like lanchester might suit.

North East - Northumberland is beautiful and has everything on your list.

Thanks all.
@Buttercupcup we are definitely considering all areas. I love lanchester!

I would move to lanchester for the garden centre 🤣

I lived in both the North East and West. North East wins every time. I’d happily stay here forever.

I live in the NW and holiday in the NE. Northumberland is beautiful and I love it but too remote for us to live there.

Lanchester Garden Centre is pretty overpriced.

However the Kaffeehaus in Lanchester is wonderful.

Definitely the NE. The weather is so much better for starters.

Yea to the weather! Think we will stick to north east. I was just having a wobble.

I've also lived in both and I would say north east, primarily for the weather but also proximity to Beamish! The east coast railway is good too.

I read the title of this thread and straight away thought Newcastle (freezing ❄) or Manchester (rainy ☔)?

But that's not what your asking... 🙃

I would always choose Manchester by the way!

@MrsJBaptiste definitely on the cooler side up north! That’s fine by me I hate the heat.