Relocating to Northumberland - Alnwick or Hexham?

[Evasmum88]

Hi all, my husband and my two children (6 and 9) are looking to move to Northumberland this time next year. We are going to visit over the summer to scope places out but I was just wondering what HExham and Alnwick are like? We are after a small town so our girls dont get too bored, but they enjoy outdoorsy stuff mostly anyway, so being within a hour of Newcastle is fine for us. We are looking for a pretty location which is peaceful and has nice scenery/a sense of space. Equally, I want to make sure we dont move somewhere insular where the kids will feel ostracised, so a friendly and welcoming place is really important. Its also important to us that the school is supportive and where they are likely to meet like minded friends (they are typical middle of the road academically). This is going to sound bad but I am specifically concerned about moving to an area where there is higher crime or anti-social behaviour as my oldest is very easily led by peers. Does anyone have any thoughts on Alnwick or Hexham with regards to this? I looked on the locrating website and the schools in have much better results than Alnwick, but I know that doesnt mean everything so would love some insider knowledge. Our budget is around 450k and would love a detached house with a decent garden. Thanks!

I love both towns and hope to buy a property in Alnwick when we retire BUT I think there is probably more for younger people in Hexham.
Can’t help with schools though

I’d go with alnwick but that’s just my personal choice. Both places are just as you describe in your op. Fairly small towns, relatively isolated, beautiful surrounding countryside. Really lovely. I’d go with Alnwick because on the proximity to Northumbrian beaches which are fabulous. Countryside surrounding Hexham feels more ‘wild’. It has a different kind of lure. I’d agree that both have typical social mixture of towns, but I’ve never thought of either a crime ridden at all - a mix of different people, but I’m sure you’d find your tribe in either 🙂 I thought the duchess school was ok actually, has its problems but no more so than anywhere else. Beautiful houses too at good value. Hexham is also nice. Sorry that’s not useful at all 😅

I'm so jealous, would love to live in Northumberland. The NE of England is awesome. It's my plan for if Scotland goes independent or maybe before

@Stompythedinosaur

I don't think Morpeth is too big, it isn't much different in size to Alnwick. I think it is slightly rougher (or I may have just gained that impression from the rather wild nurse nights out that used to be hosted there).

Morpeth really is not rough .

Penjin I didn't say it was rough, I said it was a bit rougher than Alnwick (which is my experience, although I'm sure you can share yours if it is different).

@Stompythedinosaur

Penjin I didn't say it was rough, I said it was a bit rougher than Alnwick (which is my experience, although I'm sure you can share yours if it is different).

Fair enough. I grew up in Alnwick and now live in Morpeth. There are parts of both areas I guess that could be viewed as rough just like anywhere else. Overall I think Morpeth is less so though.

Hexham would be better than Alnwick for teens but I wouldn’t choose either. Morpeth is a good shout, otherwise look at neighbouring areas like North Tyneside, Newcastle etc which are farther north than Hexham but nearer the coast

@TooTiredForToday

I'm so jealous, would love to live in Northumberland. The NE of England is awesome. It's my plan for if Scotland goes independent or maybe before

Swap you, we fancy Scotland!

Of course it's a generalisation, as you said, its a big county.

And yes, the three tier system does create lots of lovely little first schools. But - statistically - children suffer a dip in performance at each transition point. The three tier system means they have two dips rather than one, and the second of these occurs at the start of year nine when they move to high school, giving them very little time to catch up with their peers in a two their system before starting their GCSEs in year ten. (OP I know Alnwick is in the process of changing to a primary/secondary system just don't know how far along it is.)

The Duchess isn't a terrible school, but it's not a great one either. It underperforms when compared nationally.

To compare with the similar size comprehensive secondary in my town (let's call it school A)

School A:

Progress 8 score 0.31 above average
Grade 5 or above English and maths GCSE 60%
Attainment 8 score 54.2

The Duchess

Progress 8 score -0.38 below average
Grade 5 or above English and maths GCSE 41%
Attainment 8 score 44.3

Hexham is a fantastic place to raise a family. It's a very middle class area with low crime rates. Since it serves a large rural catchment area it has loads of facilities for its size (schools, cinema, leisure centre, swimming pool, theatre, loads of shops, great restaurants).
The schools are brilliant. I went through the Hexham 3 tier system and I can say that every single one of my friends have gone on to have happy and successful lives. This is the main reason why I wanted to raise my own children here and they are, so far, happy and thriving.

Thanks for your post, that is really useful to know. We visited Hexham this week and the centre was stunning! It is a lovely place, just wish it had more detached houses, we could hardly find any but were maybe looking in the wrong places. Do you know if corbridge or any other villages are friendly to incomers? Decent for kids/teenagers? Thanks

Really interested to know how you're getting on with your search as we're in a similar situation. Wanting to move from South West to North East, same budget and same towns of interest.
Our only sticking point is eldest will probably need a specialist secondary school so travelling time to one is a major consideration. We're staying Alnwick in March so hoping a bit of local exploration will help us narrow down locations. 🙂

I was thinking of a move to Northumberland until I read about the woman who ate her own mother!

Hi, just wondered if, 2 years after this post, there is an update? Where did you choose?
Best, R

Hi @Evasmum88 I'm also keen to know what you decided. Where in the South West were you- I've been here a while and looking for a change of scenery and did you make the move? Do let us know!

Really hard to read this - Wish I could spend 450 on a home in my own county after a career teaching southern and London families kids. You talk like you’re choosing wallpaper!
If you want real opinion from a local - Ive been back 3 yrs trying to afford to buy decent in my childhood areas-Northumberland, Tynemouth-
Ive discovered - Tales that you wouldn’t want to live Alnwick - some rough kids there.
Hexham (I go weekly), is like an old peoples home! And I’m a senior!
Northumberland council are a nightmare if you ever look to get permission to change your house - and they have no vision or logic about such things (from experiences and quotes of friends and acquaintances). The nhs services are suss.
Newcadtle is ok but very run down.
The Government has just pledged billions to developing social housing and is looking to source properties for this ..and I quote..’ in …Birmingham…and …and ALL OF THE NORTH EAST and Northumberland’
Good luck in your new home.
Sounds like you’re emigrating.
I can’t say the welcome will always be positive.
People really are getting fed up of the southern invasion - with their money

Evasmum -CJr84 and the Truck load heading North from ‘down there’. As one who has lived South- -working and contributing hard-and from the coast NE…and who can now not even DREAM of competing with your purses back here as I rent and slowly loose faith I’ll find a decent place I can afford…amid stories of so many in similar position.
Why would you think local people can welcome you when you are preventing them have a lifestyle they deserve ie a decent home.
(professional -5y post grad quals ..and contributing to society with it).

Southeners coming North are not realising what they do to the local housing market and for folks who are equally or even more-skilled, and contributing individuals.
It used to be about moving to find work- now it’s about using the well fleeced (from housing) pocket to chase places the new media marketing has promoted and fired up in peoples imaginations.

They never tell you …It is VERY cold and damp here in NE.
Summer clothes are never automatically sleeveless (that’s only on the odd day or so)

Detached houses? Perhaps you could get the developers to sparsely and ruin even more of our county to build some.
They stand greedily in tbe wings holding land till it’s released for development ..But that is ALREADY ruining what you are chasing here! The coast eg is already sprawling across the fields.
On the continent and in really developed (I mean developed in a community sense) countries like Denmark - people realise how precious land is and live together with imaginative architecture even in flats. You are wanting your exclusive plot ..somewhere you decide you want to invade?