Where to move to in the north?

[DamnUserName21]

Posting for info.
Single parent (1 DC Y8), work in healthcare, renting a one bed in SE. Cost of living ridiculous.
I'll never afford a mortgage in SE and renting is just getting more and more expensive.
I'm considering moving north but I don't even know where to start.
I don't drive so this place needs to have good transport links, a bit of culture, good secondaries, safe neighbourhoods, affordable rents, and near a beach!
Any ideas??

Inverness

I wouldn't go to the Manchester suburbs or Warrington unless you really like sitting in traffic jams. The areas with good schools are still expensive, particularly Trafford because of the grammar schools. I don't think you can compare it to having the beach within walking distance!

Glasgow, fantastic city and a short drive to beautiful countryside. Or do you mean the North of England?

Newcastle, South Shields, Cullercoats - plenty of places to pick from.

Newcastle!
Lived here for years and never felt unsafe. This includes visiting the less safe areas.

@Bairnsmum05

Glasgow, fantastic city and a short drive to beautiful countryside. Or do you mean the North of England?

I'm open!

With all these suggestions, might need a blindfold, pin and a map.

@JoborPlay what's dreadful about Scorton?

It's lovely, and it's not really Lancaster or with good transport links either.

Go to Scotland and then you won't have to pay university fees when your DC gets to that age

@justnorthofsanity

Lancaster

Agreed.

Edinburgh.

Isn't Edinburgh pricey?

[quote NigelSlatersXmasTaters]@JoborPlay what's dreadful about Scorton?

It's lovely, and it's not really Lancaster or with good transport links either.
[/quote]
I think they must mean Skerton. It’s not that bad though, my friend lived there for 5 years as a student. It’s all relative, it’s certainly not Moss Side! You don’t have problems with gangs and people being stabbed etc.

North east has cheaper house prices than the North West.
Lots of areas are perfectly fine and lovely places to live. Eg. Heaton, Gosforth, Jesmond, Whitley Bay, Tynemouth, parts of Gateshead like Whickham, parts of Sunderland like Seaburn, Whitburn, Cleadon, Roker, East Herrington, Doxford Park. Seaham is a lot less rough these days - east shore village is lovely.

I used to live in monton/worsley area and it has lots to recommend it but I wouldn't say good secondary schools were one of them. And the beach is a fair old drive away.

@JoborPlay

I think people need to be more specific really. Lancaster for example has some lovely parts and some dreadful areas (Scorton). Newcastle similar - Gosforth is great, other areas not so much.

I'd throw Salford in to the mix - there's a huge hospital/ northern care alliance. and good transport links. I'd avoid weaste, ordsall, Claremont Little Hilton and Broughton but Worsley, South Swinton and the Monton end of Eccles are good. Parts of Trafford (Urmston and Stretford) would work for you - Sale & Altrincham are much more expensive and Old Trafford isn't great. For Bury I'd say Prestwich (not Sedgley Park) and South Whitefield are nice. Bit further from a beach though, St Anne's is lovely and not too far.

@JoborPlay you mean Skerton, Scorton is a beautiful village near to Lancaster!

Lancaster or surrounding villages or most places in Fylde and Wyre avoiding Fleetwood would be good options.

you mean Skerton, Scorton is a beautiful village near to Lancaster!

Phew! I used to live in Scorton and was wondering what the hell happened it was tourist coaches galore in summer, more a 'Midsomer Murders' setting than 'Shameless'!

@LadyCatStark glad you sorted the Skerton V Scorton error, I couldn't work out what the poster meant 🤣

We moved to Lancaster for its affordability yet decent employment opportunities, decent secondary schools etc from the SE.

Definitely worth coming to have a look, I'm from the North East originally and I still slightly prefer it here - really good bus network for the students was a huge pull.

@Playdoughcaterpillar

Go to Scotland and then you won't have to pay university fees when your DC gets to that age

Good call. DD's degree, masters and maintenance loans cost her 60k.

you mean Skerton, Scorton is a beautiful village near to Lancaster!

Yes I do! My bad. Scorton is lovely, Skerton not so much

Skerton is ok too tbh. It's not Scorton, obviously, but the OP could do a lot worse!

I don't drive so this place needs to have good transport links, a bit of culture, good secondaries, safe neighbourhoods, affordable rents, and near a beach!

Preston has all of those. It's about 30 min drive from various beaches and it's very cheap for what you get- you could afford decent catchment areas.

Around Hathersage in the Hope Valley is lovely (open air swimming pool) and short distance from Sheffield which has loads of hospitals. Also a nice city.

Just ignore me sorry. Totally missed the beach bit!

@DamnUserName21

Isn't Edinburgh pricey?

Very! Also a different school system in Scotland so more upheaval for your DD, higher taxes and the potential for independence. I'll be moving to the Newcastle area if the later happens!