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Original poster

Is Durham a nice place to live?

89 replies

Mrshermit · 07/02/2023 18:29

We are desperate to move due to how expensive it is to live in the midlands. We are currently paying 1k in rent which gives us no chance of saving to get on the property ladder.

We have found lovely properties in Durham for around 6-700 much bigger than what we are living in now.

scared to make the move but seems like our only option!

OP posts:
Wisterical · 07/02/2023 18:33

Do you mean within Durham City itself or villages/towns around Durham? The city is a nice enough place generally. Depends what you're looking for. Surrounding areas vary massively.

User0ne · 07/02/2023 18:39

No, the whole county is grim, poor and cold. Don't move there. You'll never eat decent takeaway again

Original poster
Mrshermit · 07/02/2023 18:40

@Wisterical surrounding, we are looking to view one in Belmont.

@User0ne oh dear 😩 was kind of hoping it would be ok even for a year or 2.

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 07/02/2023 18:40

I've now lived in 30 places all over the UK, Durham is the only place I actively disliked

Spiderboy · 07/02/2023 18:42

There is beautiful countryside around Durham and the city is lovely. Short drive to the coast too

Redannie118 · 07/02/2023 18:43

Im pretty sure @User0ne is joking. The county is stunningly beautiful and parts of it are very affluent. I would put a punt in and say Northumberland is nicer and just as cheap if not cheaper, plus you are closer to the coast.

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 07/02/2023 18:44

I love it. Came as a student many years ago and still here. Affordable housing, great schools, beautiful countryside and coastline.

We're out in a village now and yes you do have to take care with villages because some are not great but don't let levels of deprivation fool you, there are some great villages with good schools and communities in areas of high deprivation.

jollypostwoman · 07/02/2023 18:48

East Durham has the highest levels of poverty in Europe. Houses are cheap for a reason. Also, it can be hard to fit in to the established close knit communities. It's bitterly cold in winter and many of the villages get cut off. I nearly moved there 30 years ago. I'm so glad I didn't!

MargaritMargo · 07/02/2023 18:49

User0ne · 07/02/2023 18:39

No, the whole county is grim, poor and cold. Don't move there. You'll never eat decent takeaway again

Sorry but I have to agree.

The city is OK but it’s a university town so it’s very busy but not actually that much to do outside of coffee shops, bars etc.

the surrounding areas are not great, there’s a lot of poverty and not that much going on industry or employment wise.

there is some beautiful countryside as a PP says but then there is beautiful countryside across most of the country.

if you work from home, aren’t overly arsed about facilities and it’s short term then it could work but don’t assume just because Durham the city has a (somewhat) nice reputation that the whole county follows suit - it def does not!

RTHJ14 · 07/02/2023 18:55

As above there are some lovely places.. and some not so lovely. Belmont always used to be considered a nice suburb, with decent schools and very handy for the city.

I think the biggest factor for me would be employment - will you be looking for new jobs? What do you do now? It’s not that options are limited - it’s a fab city, close to Newcastle too but there are potentially less immediate opportunities than in the bigger towns and cities in the Midlands, you might find your commute costs go up even when rent goes down…

doadeer · 07/02/2023 18:57

I'd rather live north east coastline (Tynemouth, Whitley Bay etc) than Durham

Hoppinggreen · 07/02/2023 18:58

I love the City but there are some shite areas and lots of poverty too.
Depends on which bit you live in

Cherrysoup · 07/02/2023 18:58

Some surrounding areas are extremely deprived. Do your research, mention areas you’re interested in, there was a thread on here a while back which pretty much listed the good and bad. Belmont, to my recollection, is decent.

FenghuangHoyan · 07/02/2023 18:58

I was in a bedsit there for a while and its not an amazing place. The town looks nice enough in places, but there is a lot of poverty in that county and the area around it.

CaramelisedLeeks · 07/02/2023 18:59

Another Durham hater here too! I lived there for a year and found the students annoying and Saturday night felt more unsafe than big cities I have lived in.
Not much diversity and cold, wet and dark.

WhereIsMumHiding3 · 07/02/2023 18:59

I love Durham it a a beautiful city

It's very much a university city though as small and the uni buildings and collegiate system means students surround and live in the city so can kind of take over

WhereIsMumHiding3 · 07/02/2023 19:02

It's is bitterly cold
The city itself is stunning though and a real sense of history

Where have you been looking OP as there is lots of cheap housing in many areas- up in that area and you do have to be careful- like many places it has its deprived high crime areas- what's your work requirements?

BenCoopersSupportWren · 07/02/2023 19:03

doadeer · 07/02/2023 18:57

I'd rather live north east coastline (Tynemouth, Whitley Bay etc) than Durham

Tynemouth is one of the most expensive parts of the north east, you’re looking at £1k+ to rent a 3 bed terrace, so that would defeat the OP’s rationale for moving north.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 07/02/2023 19:04

Just go a bit further north. Low fell/whickham in Gateshead or North Shields/Cullercoats by the sea.

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 07/02/2023 19:06

The city is ok for an afternoon, full of students and tourists. Like people say, it can vary so much. Jobs are pretty tough going. There are some bleak villages and suburbs. If you are considering rent, then commutable properties are snapped up by students. And rents go up accordingly.

Someaddedsugar · 07/02/2023 19:06

What are you looking for in terms of a place to live @Mrshermit? There's a north east group over on the chat board and I'm sure there's plenty of knowledge between us about the region and places to live.

Belmont is a nice suburb and I've got friends that live there. They've always commented on the good public transport links and shops etc nearby.

MichaelAndEagle · 07/02/2023 19:08

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 07/02/2023 19:04

Just go a bit further north. Low fell/whickham in Gateshead or North Shields/Cullercoats by the sea.

I live in North Shields, its over 700 per month to rent a 2 bed now.
Prices have rocketed everywhere.

cravingtoblerone · 07/02/2023 19:09

Durham Town Centre is actually very small and dominated by the University. The countryside is beautiful but villages vary enormously from extremely deprived to very posh, so do your research.

If you want a pretty little town in nice countryside but remote try Barnard Castle. If you want a nice area with good facilities, I'd be tempted to look at the nicer areas around Newcastle - Tynemouth, Is cracking and has amazing coastline. Jesmond is closer to city centre but very elegant.

There's no getting past the fact that it is cold a lot of the time....

Newpuppymummy · 07/02/2023 19:09

Wow lots of Durham haters. I think it’s a nice place to live. But there are some old pit villages that are very close knit that I’d avoid. Belmont is fine

2ndMrsdeWinter · 07/02/2023 19:09

There are nicer areas of Durham but they will be a similar price point to what you’re used to now. Same goes for Northumberland, Tynemouth and Whitley Bay. Those areas are also very expensive.