Advice on moving to Durham

[Shivva]

Hello everyone,

I don’t have kids but have been told this is a great place to get information.

I moved to the uk from Ireland almost four years ago for a job in Romford. Sadly the job has come to an end and now I’m considering moving up north (Durham) for cheaper housing as it’s so expensive down here. But I’m really nervous & unsure whether it’s the right move or not! I’ve been for a week to Durham it seems like a friendly place.

My main questions would the people of Durham be friendly to outsiders? I’m not being rude asking this question, but unfortunately people aren’t always nice to outside people. So would like to know before going down route of buying something as it’s a lengthy process and I’m moving by myself.

Also what’s the nicest & safest areas to buy in for a single person with a dog?

Thanks in advance

Hah, yes, I've barely left my side of Durham City for the past 6 months. It's quite self contained and all very walkable.

Are you meaning Durham City or Co Durham? As people have said there are a few depressing villages around Durham city like the Sherburn Road estate but most are nice. My friend lives in a lovely house in Bearpark which is literally a five minute drive from Durham city so plenty nearby.

Newcastle has more going on than Durham but Durham is improving with a new shopping, cinema, restaurant complex about to open.

I would agree with you not really being able to afford a chi chi high street with your budget. Lots of retail areas are going to more out of town shopping so the high street is going to suffer in most places unfortunately. Jesmond and Gosforth have nice high streets but are very expensive and the houses feel on top of each other to me.

There are some nice suburbs further out too. Lanchester is nice.

We lived in low fell for years and it is lovely and not expensive by national standards but it is more than surrounding areas. You could get a 2 bed or maybe a 3 bed terrace with a year for 150k we sold our 2 bed semi there for 169k 2 years ago. Slightly further out so Birtley, Chester Le Street, Eighton Banks you would get more for your money. Also it's quite a friendly place am married to a southerner never had any probs. Also loads of people have Irish heritage and if it's your cup of tea lots of active Catholic clubs etc cause of this so people will welcome you with open arms

Just To add I would maybe stay clear of more rural county Durham like Consett and Stanley Initially there are lovely bits and amazing value houses but I think it would be harder to identify the best areas and meet new people from scratch. However you could rent somewhere else and explore later. I work in that area x

Go for a visit and have a look about op. You will find people will be very welcoming, you being Irish, northerners will align with you on an 'historical hard pressed by underdog' vibe and yes there are loads of non-northeners too. The only area still considered to be rough is sherburn road and you would immediately recognise that with your own eyes! (Even it's reputation is just stereotypes because it's still a council estate).

@Shivva

Last message was meant to be for *@Newuser82* which place is it that you moved to that’s great?

I really appreciate all the feedback on here there is so much info provided thanks so much. Plenty to look into.

One more thing I forgot to ask about a lot of people down here are saying I’m mad moving up that way that the weather will be absolutely rubbish year. Am I being optimistic here or is that a load of nonsense? Considering I’m Irish it’s not much of a problem but do like a bit of dry weather now and again.

Thanks 😊

We live in a little village near lanchester. It’s pretty rural so not much there but we like it.

Witton Gilbert is lovely. Very friendly. Lots of nice walks and if you have car easy to get to A167 for A1 and Arnison centre. Norburn park which is a nice estate has a 2 bedroom with parking for good price.
I hate the beach so never go.Waldridge fell is lovely and the Riverside park at Chester le Street is nice but have visited so much during lockdown never want to visit again.

I live right near the Sherburn Road Estate. It's not pretty, but just standard council really and is hardly the wild West. Personally, I'd suggest that wherever the op chooses, she rents for a year or two first. You can't really know a place from afar and what is important and appeals to one person is anathema to another.

Being Irish you won't have any issues with people not being friendly to you. The Irish are generally very welcomed up North. Durham is a lovely, beautiful city, as is Newcastle. Both have very different vibes though- best to come and explore for yourself!

Durham is lovely but I'd not want to live there and some areas of Co Durham are a bit bleak. Washington is a good place to be based, it's a new town but great access to Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham and the coast. Schools are a bit...mixed, but I grew up there and it's a good place to be. Your money will go far too! Chester-le-Street definitely gets my vote too. Wouldn't recommend Sunderland, it's gone downhill since I lived in the North East. Very sad really.

Unlike ColourMeExhausted I would recommend Sunderland. But like every town there are good bits and bad bits. If you only shop for essentials it has plenty, if you shop frequently for leisure, then not so much. But the beach is popular with dog walkers and there is Herrington Country Park and Penshaw Monument not too far away.

Depending on how rural / far north you want to go, you might want to look at Cramlington (inland) or Blyth (on coast) in Northumberland, plenty of countryside around them.

Sorry to jump in, was thinking of moving to Sherburn Road, is it really bad area to live I’m in Seaham

@Shivva Hey did you do the move? I'm interested to hear if you did and which area you chose. I'm looking at doing the same thing this year on my own from Wales as I want to clear the mortgage