Can anyone tell me about Coxhoe and Houghton le Spring?

[reprehensibleme]

Looking at a house move from Scotland. Have family connections to Co. Durham and love the area. Have seen a couple of properties in the above villages - can anyone give me an insight in what they're like to live in.

Houghton is more of a town than village. Haven't been there for many years but it was always handy for facilities. I grew up nearby.

It's handy for Durham and Sunderland. Used to have good bus routes to Newcastle. Good location. School used to be good but this is waaaaay back.

Coxhoe is nothing special. If you have kids it's harder to go anywhere as teenagers from there than Houghton. But I would probably prefer the general location if it was just me.

I'd say identity wise, Houghton is more Sunderland and Coxhoe def Durham.

Coxhoe is a nice place. There's quite a bit of development with new housing there. It's next to the A1, so good access to north and south. It's a safe area and about three miles from Durham City so you can get there easily. It's a very green area and surrounded by farmland and fields. The new Amazon warehouse is nearby and there is some housebuilding going on there as well.

I have friends in Coxhoe and they like living there. I don't live to far away from this village and the people are friendly and we use the doctors surgery in Coxhoe and it's well run, although will come under some pressure from the increased population.

I'd definitely recommend it and the general area. It has a good feel.

Thanks - sounds positive. No school aged kids in the mix so schools aren't an issue, just DH and I looking for somewhere to spend our dotage - we're out in the wilds at the moment with zero public transport, miles to doctors etc so good facilities and good transport sounds great.

The NE in general is a great place to live. You've got Newcastle and The Metrocentre for shopping, the Northumberland coast is amazing, the Durham Dales and Teesdale is beautiful, easy access north and south, The Lake District within a day. Plenty of open spaces, castles, scenery, places of interest to visit.

Durham City is pretty and there's lots of things geared towards the students in particular. There's lots of building and regeneration happening and it's looking nice these days. Lots of places to walk and the Cathedral is good to see. The students don't bother us, but it can get a bit noisy for the residents who live alongside them in the City.

I'd say that Durham is a bit more cosmopolitan than Houghton because of the University. There are lots of Uni staff living in the surrounding areas and it's not so insular as many places in Durham. We have different types of people from different backgrounds etc. Houghton doesn't have that and it's a bit more 'local' ifyswim. Not as outward looking. Depends what you want I suppose.

Yeah Houghton isn't pretty especially. I would prefer Coxhoe if it was without kids. If you drive, you're not far from Durham and much easier to get into proper nice countryside from there. There's plenty of nice Durham villages for sure. Depends what you're after. Do your research though.

Coxhoe is a nice village with a good community. Primary school is good and there are plenty of buses going into Durham etc. Co op, a good butcher, sweetshop, good hairdressers, churches, dentist GP surgery. Large playpark with skate park and a leisure centre