Living in Newcastle vs Liverpool.

[SetInStone]

I've been planning a move for some time. It's been delayed a few times by Covid, illness and having to become a carer for a family member but hopefully once I have said relative's estate and additional support in place then I can move.

I'm looking to move to or around a city. Probably one of the relatively larger cities. Newcastle and Liverpool are on my list. Liverpool is my current favourite because I fell in love with it when visiting. Budget is 680K and I'm looking for 2-3 bedrooms. If I can spend less then all the better. Decent public transport would be preferable.

I've no kids to worry about. Any thoughts on either city would be appreciated. TIA

Newcastle is amazing for theatre. They have Northern Stage rep, Live Theatre which does modern local plays, Theatre Royal for visiting companies which includes a Royal Shakespeare Company residency every year I think.

Got some good galleries, including the Laing (trad) and the Baltic in Gateshead for modern art, and the Sage - stunning modern venue for classical music. Loads of touring bands play there.

There's also the coast (easy to get to on the metro. You could even live in trendy Whitley Bay or Tynemouth), Northumberland and Jesmond Dene - the stunning park just outside the city centre. And lovely cafe and restaurant culture down by the Tyne river. The city centre is stunning Georgian streets of sandstone buildings.

You'd get a staggering house for that money.

I don't really know Liverpool but a friend moved there a few years ago and loves it.

Our Newcastle place is walking distance from Jesmond Dene, but for some reason we’ve still never been since we started spending time up there. Is it good for little children?

@SlightlyGeordieJohn absolutely, pets corner is fab for kids, mine loved it when they were younger newcastlegateshead.com/business-directory/things-to-do/pets-corner-at-jesmond-dene

Newcastle, much friendlier and just minutes from the stunning northumberland scenery.

Think about the difference in temperature and daylight hours in the winter. I lived in Gateshead for four years and found the earlier darkness in winter compared with other places I have lived in quite difficult.

For culture? Liverpool. With Manchester so close, you get two for the price of one.

I’ve lived in both cities. Personally I think Newcastle is much nicer. Amazing beaches nearby. I think it’s safer too. I much prefer the accent.

Our Newcastle place is walking distance from Jesmond Dene, but for some reason we’ve still never been since we started spending time up there. Is it good for little children?

My 4 year old loves Jesmond Dene, she’s not that fussed about animals so Pets Corner is lost on her (although I like it!) but there’s a small enclosed playground, loads of places to run around and explore, play on the fields, hide in the rhododendron bushes, and there’s a little train that runs in the summer. We often go when it’s the monthly food market on Armstrong Bridge on a Saturday morning. Good cafe and there’s always an ice cream van.

Compared to Liverpool?

Thanks. We’re up for a week from next weekend, so I’ll definitely take them down there. I’m getting a bit sick of Exhibition Park.

I would move to Jesmond, Newcastle.

Single, no kids, I would live close in to the city centre, and enjoy the quick and easy Metro to the lovely coast.

I think some posters have overlooked that the OP doesn't drive.

I haven't been to Liverpool so can't comment there, but I love Newcastle. DH is a Geordie, and DD is a student there. She is living in Jesmond at the moment, and I love the vibe of the area. Jesmond Dene is stunning. The easy access to the coast, the excellent metro, places to eat, galleries, theatres, museums, lovely buildings in the centre and the friendliness are fabulous.

Being on the East coast mainline you can get to Edinburgh, further North in Scotland, York and London easily, then there are Cross Country trains to most other parts of the country.

The only downside is that it can get quite chilly.

I have lived in both and while I enjoyed both, I preferred Liverpool. I just felt it had a nicer feel. It's also close to bigger airports and while Newcastle is on the Trainline to London, it takes ages to get there and is so expensive!

I come from the North West and live in the North East. Newcastle wins every time. It's safe, friendly, compact enough to get around very easily and has great cultural facilities. We also have space, beautiful countryside and lovely coasts and beaches. I can't say I've noticed it being that much colder or darker than it was when I was living in Manchester. It's glorious here.

@OneCup the fastest train London to Newcastle is only 2 hours 50. I’d say that’s pretty quick!

Yes, Jesmond Dene is magical for children. Keep an eye on them as there's a big waterfall, but there are stepping stones, ruins, loads of winding pathways. Definitely worth exploring/

This thread is making me want to move to Newcastle!

Thank you all so much. I really appreciate all of your advice and thoughts.

Apologies for not replying individually.

It's interesting to see that most people, so far, favour Newcastle.

I live in the suburbs at present and I was thinking of moving to another suburb or town just outside of the cities but I'd definitely consider city centre if I found a nice safe area. I used to live next to the city centre and I loved how everything was close at hand. It's interesting too to see that there's no real premium for city centre living in Newcastle.

Newcastle being colder does concern me a little, as I'm in Glasgow and often feel the difference when I go to Edinburgh but then it's a bit drier than Liverpool and has so much to offer.

I think that I'll have to pay both cities another visit soon so that I can do some research in person.

As a Scouser I’ve got to vote Liverpool!

But in terms of culture, theatre wise we’ve got Royal Court, The Empire, the Everyman, and another few tiny ones in the City Centre, plus whatever is on at LIPA. The Shakespeare Playhouse North is opening soon in Knowsley. Museums there are the World Museum, Walker Gallery, Maritime, International Slavery, Museum of Liverpool, British Music Experience, Anfields football museum, Western approaches…it’s endless! The Culture Liverpool team (guys behind the Giants and Liverpool International Music Fest) are incredible and there’s always so much on.

Concert wise there’s a fair amount in the Echo, Academy, Camp and Furnace, Invisible Wind Factory and Blackstone Street Warehouse and smaller venues around Seel Street, plus more and more are booking the Olympia, but a fair amount are in Manchester. Anything in the Arena, Academy, Royal Albert Hall or Ritz you can get a train back to Liverpool really easily. The only one that’s a pain is Victoria Warehouse.

Also the Empire theatre in Sunderland, which is linked to Newcastle by the Metro system! Everything which tours nationally comes to either the Theatre Royal or the Empire, including a lot of major dance companies if that's your cup of tea. (And there's Dance City's little performance space.)

Moved to Newcastle 17 years ago and can't imagine moving again. Great place to raise kids! Lots of wonderful historical sites in Northumberland too, but those are perhaps harder to get to on public transport.

Thank you to those posters who have added information on culture since my last post. I wish that I could split myself in two so that I could enjoy both cities, or possibly three as a friend in Wakefield is trying to get me to move to Leeds but that's another thread.

I don't know Newcastle at all, but as a scouser - oh my word you could get an absolutely gorgeous house with significantly less than your total budget!

Loads to recommend Leeds. I lived there for 17 years.

If you do a lot of international travel, it's worth bearing in mind that Newcastle Airport has pros and cons.

Cons - limited direct flight destinations especially out of season - I sometimes get the train to Manchester Airport for the bigger selection (there is a direct train to Manchester Airport from Newcastle)

Pro - you can get the Metro to right inside the airport. And it doesn't tend to have the security and customs queues that other airports can have.