To love living in the North East?

[DrSeuss]

Following yesterday's thread about the "horrors" of living in Manchester and the North in general, what do you love most about the North East? Where do you recommend people to visit? What aspects of life do you like best here? I would nominate Durham, especially the cathedral, the fish and chips in Whitby and the architecture of Grainger Street. Anyone else?

BTW- the Bigg Market- pro or con?! Seriously scary on a Saturday night!

DrSuess probably I know it had an Italian name I haven't been to Redcar for almost ten years but I can still remember how lovely the lemontops tasted.

DrSeuss - not via university I'm afraid; paid for the privilege of staying in a room when you lot weren't there!

Bigg Market definitely depends on how many drinks I've had as to whether it's a pro or a con.

Haven't been to the Bigg Market since 2000! Not sure I'd drink there now though. T'is a bit rough.

I really like Durham, nice, cosy place

TakeResponsibility, I'll your word for that. I've never been to Romney Marsh, it's a bit too Sarf from my roots, so it would be unfair of me to comment. :)

(Bet it isn't quite as cold as County Durham though!). :o

aha Vallhala i was about to say YABU until you said you used to live in Crook... you are forgiven! Someone i used to work with was always out in Crook'n'Bish, took me there once and it was memorable for all the wrong reasons.

drseuss i too shall wave at your uncle, that is a sad/sweet tale, i didnt know there was a housing estate there many moons ago

and Bigg Market? depends on the number of fights as to pro or con - i used to work in Masters Bar in 1995/96

It's so nice to read this thread. I'm a north easterner, currently living in the boro but from Northumblerland originally.

Most of my favourite places have been mentioned, but I also love all the Roman sites that are around, Chesters and Segedunum. When I was a child we used to walk the wall every summer - not all of it, but a large chunk round the Hexham/Haltwhistle area.

Valhala You are making me giggle about Crook. My hubby has still not let me go out for a night in Crook! Granted I have a ten week old to deal with but he looks all wary when I mention going to a cafe or pub down there!!

DrSueuss The Tyneside cinema does a bring a Baby film every Wed at 11am. Its fab and nobody minds if the wee one cries, they have a lovely cafe and decent films. I have only been twice but plan to go again soon if you wanted to meet up there. (I have not figured out how to park in Newcastle yet but am willing to give it a go!)

I dont live in the North East; but I have connections there; and have always taken an interest in the region "Gabby"

Isn't Crook the place with the pub that does Rook Pie?
Summerbird-it wasn't an estate, it was a group of Nissen huts! That was all miners returning from WW1 with a chest full of mustard gas following having been a stretcher bearer for the DLI could run to. Nice, eh?

Forgot to mention BOYES, the Harrods of the North!

So interesting to see people saying how much they love the beaches.

SIL lives in the NE and when I went to the beaches there (near Whitby etc) for the first time after we moved to the UK I actually cried. I was so damn depressed at how bloody awful they were after the beaches of Australia and NZ. Actually, it wasn't so much the beaches as the water. It was such a hideous colour.

But the landscape was quite pretty and I imagine if you got all rugged up it could be quite invigorating to walk along them.

Sorry to bring down the positive town of this thread but it is AIBU so you need someone like me causing dissent.

oops, I meant "tone" not "town, obviously

I am from the west country, but have lived in north yorkshire for ten years now.
I love living on the edge of the Dales.I spend too much time in all the coffee shops tbh.Betty's is my fav.
My DS1 is down south at uni. and a few weeks ago he got lost in reading and wasn't quite sure what bus to get. He asked a few people, but he was totally blanked.
Where as when he met a friend in Northallerton and wasn't sure what bus to get a lady took him by the arm and showed him the bus stop and waited with him (son very embarrassed). People up this end do seem to have more time to stop and chat/ more friendly on the whole. I can't go out without at least two people stopping me..My PIL also live in Oxforshire, and their water is yuk.

But I do love Harrogate and the Moors - so pretty!

The north is wonderful. One of my older DC spent 3 years at university in Durham so we visited often.....well if you're paying rent on a student house you might as well camp out there! We also have friends who live near Darlington, and have had several holidays on the NE coast.....I have also been to Blackpool!(should be compulsary for all from south of Watford).

It is wonderful but I still think the east midlands is a hidden gem!

Sorry for typos.
trying to sew brownie badges on my DD's uniform.
Yes, love Boyes for all my sewing stuff. MIL, always stocks up when she visits as she says everything is cheaper.
There's nothing better that walking along a North East beach in snow at -6. OH stupid idea.

Exiled Geordie here now feeling homesick!

Stottie cakes. You can only get the actual real ones in the NE.
Yum.

Yes the countryside and coastline. Loads of empty space even in holiday times. Never feels crowded. The bridges across the river Tyne too - lovely. Grey Street.....

Ah, this thread is bringing a homesick tear to my eye! I'm in Northern Ireland now but nothing will ever compare with the wondrous North East.

Things I love:
The Tyneside Cinema & cafe
Popolos cocktails
Corned beef squares from Peters the Cathedral Bakers
Tuna and onion stotties
The beaches
Fenwick's Deli

As a couple of people have said, pulling into Durham station and seeing the Castle and Cathedral lit up at night always brought a lump to my throat when I used to get the train home from Manchester.

I WANT TO GO HOME!!!!!

Jarrow marcher here!

I miss everything about the north east.

Proper public transport, the fact you travel half an hour in one direction for amazing countryside and half an hour ill tin other for the coast.

The fish quay in north shields

Stotties

Dixons savaloys (in a stotty)

Seaton deleval ice cream

I could go on all day. Didn't realise how much I miss home.

Sorry, should be in the not ill tin! Posting on phone while feeding

Brilliant thread. I'm originally from NE. I see stotties get a mention (weeandpoo) I love them and savaloys, not had one for years. Oh it's making me homesick.

Charley You're just up the coast from me, I'm down in Sunderland.

To those who mentioned Saltwell Park, how could I forget that? The park by which all others are measured ... and found wanting! :) And they do a great bonfire night fireworks display, although it's a little too far for us to trail the kids if it's a school night.

Interesting that no one mentioned Gregg's, though I suppose they're no longer just a NE thing. A friend's son recently received a new liver at the Freeman in Newcastle. Several livers which were sent to the hospital for inspection were rejected on the grounds that they were "Gregg's Livers"!