Best areas to live in Darlington?

[mummyb54]

Hi I know it's been asked before but after some advise. My partner has been offered a job in the centre of Darlington, we are looking at moving to darlington but after some advise on best and where to avoid areas please? We currently have a 2yr lb and live in York, I drive so will be commuting but he doesn't so it works out financially better to move up there rather than stay here? I have heard the DL3 postcode area is that right?

[BlackhallRocker]

@pawfoot57

Thank-you, yes they know I'm looking but I think they want me to move near them, Hummersknott and Mowden, and I'm unsure whether living on an estate is my thing. I'm keeping an eye on West End bungalows, on Eldon Road, but wondered if there were any areas that I should be thinking of, perhaps to I really like the idea of being able to walk Susie along the river banks. Neither are they dog owners.

There's a nice area between eggleston view and mowden to walk dogs. Plus you can walk through the woods to the tees. I live by the sea now and don't think I could live there now tbh.

[pawfoot57]

Thank-you, yes they know I'm looking but I think they want me to move near them, Hummersknott and Mowden, and I'm unsure whether living on an estate is my thing. I'm keeping an eye on West End bungalows, on Eldon Road, but wondered if there were any areas that I should be thinking of, perhaps to I really like the idea of being able to walk Susie along the river banks. Neither are they dog owners.

[BlackhallRocker]

Won't your friends who live there be able to advise? I think all areas have bad bits. There's a lot of bedsits now in the Blackwell area that used to be a decent area.
West park is ok. I used to live at Harrogate hill that has nice parts.

[yveeastdurham]

These threads are pretty dead @pawfoot57 but there's a few from Darlo in the long running north east threads so do join us there ☕

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4929763-north-east-thread-7-the-bus-chat-continues?page=8

Generally, though, you need to be looking at the west end, if that is in budget. Darlo, like much of the North east, is one of those towns with some lovely areas and some really scary bits. Lots of open space, wherever you are, thiugh.

[pawfoot57]

Hello I'm considering moving back to Darlington after retiring. I have friends there, more friends than where I am now living on Tyneside. Many years ago I lived in Victoria Embankment then Milbank Court. I'm looking for a two bedroomed and would love a garden. Can anyone suggest the best places to live. My main pastime seems to be walking my terrier, therefore need access to open spaces. Thank-you.

[Jodyanne1]

Hi folks I’m new on here but would like some advice on nice areas to buy in Darlington, been looking more boarder areas , any help would be great as I don’t know area. Thanks

[faloma]

Any of the terraced houses I'm the denes area of town. I'd have a look at local schools and see if there are good ones, for example Reid Street used to be, holy family catholic school and see if you can buy to let in those catchment areas. You'd probably have to accept housing benefit applicants but it's something you could look at and consider.

There's a flat on redmire close, I'd live there, I also love tillage green but those flats are above shops and right next to a pub so probably noisy!

Catterick is travelling distance to Darlington and there's huge investment in the area at the moment. Just avoid colburn if you look further afield.

[user1467117083]

Hi faloma thx for your message. That’s a really good ideas, I never thought about buy to lets. What areas or streets would you recommend, for example if I were to buy a property for £50-£60k I would put down a 15k-20k deposit that way I could buy 2 propeties like you suggest.

[faloma]

I've just had a look on right move, I'd avoid Corporation Road and Yarm Road as they are both busy roads. If you can buy with a small front garden which gives you extra privacy. None of the areas for sale are any better than the other.things to consider are transport, amenities, supermarkets etc within easy reach.


Can you buy to let...you'd get two,houses with your budget? And rent in a nice area? Also consider other areas as well as Darlington?

[user1467117083]

Hi

Sorry to jump onto the thread. I am looking at moving to Darlington for work, and my budget is quite low of £50,000-£70,000 for a two bed terraced. I know a lot of people stay to avoid the North Road area but looking at what I can get for my money I might have to look in this area. My question is, is the areas that bad and if anyone can recommend any streets to aim for or avoid around the area.
For my budget what areas would you aim for within my budget? Needs to be close to amenities and schools.

Thanks

[Chelle22]

Hi
I'm new to here so a big hello to all. I wanted to ask. If anyone knew what it is like on Bellburn Lane in Cockerton? I am looking to move and one of the properties of interest is on the above. I do live alone most of the time (my son is away at university and only home during the holidays) so I do want to live somewhere where I will feel safe. Darlington is completely new to me. Any help or advice at all would be really appreciated. Tia x

[feelslikethewaltonshere]

I know I am re-resurrecting this....we were looking at Durham for our move but are now very interested in Middleton St George nr Darlington. Does anyone have any experience, in particular of the primary school St Georges in the village? Any help most valuable!!

[kaystar01]

Thanks very much for the reply and very useful info magnolia and apologies for not getting back sooner. I haven't been able to get up to County Durham yet but I like the look of the areas you've mentioned and even more so Darlington market square. From what I've heard and read about Darlington, although it's quite a large town with all the facilities you could want, it still has that market town feel. The only thing that puts me off a little is that it does seem you have to be fairly careful what areas around Darlington you choose to live in as there would appear to be some pockets, even in or near some of the better areas mentioned here, that aren't so good and, for instance, have higher levels of crime than I would be happy with.

Anyway Magnolia, I'd really like to hear how the move went and how you're settling in. If you'd rather PM please feel free.

[BlackhallRocker]

I've lived Cockerton area, Whinfield and Harrogate Hill. No problems in any of those places.

[magnolia777]

Hi Kaystar, I just saw this reply today.

We ended up finding something in a village to the South of Darlington, near the A1, which was better for my partner's commute, which has actually changed slightly since we began looking. We haven't closed yet so I don't want to post details at the moment. The prices are generally a good bit higher there than Darlington but if you look at the low end of the market there are a few houses around (which generally need a lot of redecoration work).

We did look in Cockerton, Denes and Harrowgate Hill and liked the areas a lot. In particular we liked an estate just south of the Drinkfield nature reserve, street names are Ridgeway, Mewburn Court etc.

[kaystar01]

Hi everyone. Very informative thread. I'm looking at property in County Durham too and Darlington is now very much one of the areas that I will prioritise. Like others here crime is an important consideration for me so you may be interested in the police.uk crime map figures regarding the Harrowgate Hill area and further south. Generally speaking HH has pretty low reported crime, but as you move below the generally accepted southern boundary of HH, Thompson st, crime starts to pick up quite significantly but is noticeably higher West of North rd than east of it, when it doesn't really pick up until Henry st.

Hi magnolia and Lizzie. Did you go for properties in either Harrowgate Hill or Cockerton or are you still looking?

[Lizzie2452]

Morning, looking at houses in Middleham Road, Inglewood Close and Blackmoor Close does anyone know anything about these streets? Thanks in advance .

[magnolia777]

Thank you to all the locals who are posting on this thread. All the information provided so far has been invaluable to me.

[Toomanyclares]

I would say so magnolia

[magnolia777]

Toomanyclares, just saw your post about Harrowgate Hill - missed it previously, apologies. Is North Park considered the southern border of the area?

[magnolia777]

I am also looking into Harrowgate Hill and the borders are a bit hard to discern from Google maps. The Harrowgate Hill primary school is adjacent to North Park so perhaps that park is considered central to the area (?). Then there is the Harrowgate Hill Lodge north of the park, near the A167. So perhaps it's quite a big area.

[Toomanyclares]

There are plenty of amenities in cockerton.
Less so on moorfields as far as i know. Town is about 30 mins walk from both sides but plenty of busses.

[Lizzie2452]

Thank you for replies, no our children are grown up so schools won't be an issue ... Basically what we are looking for is a quietish area where there are amenities within walking distance .. Thanks again

[iambicpen]

My DH and I live in the Moorfields Estate in the Eastbourne area and have done for a few years. It's been no problem at all for us and actually very quiet. The way in is a bit grotty but generally isn't too much of a problem. We're looking to move out soon but simply to a bigger house maybe in the countryside...so a only a slight change!

[Toomanyclares]

Harrogate hill is the top of North road. By top i mean long field road, salters lane

Eastbourne is mixed. Depends what you are looking for. There are a few traveller families round there which i don't have a problem with but some people do. Harris Street is an upper border of an estate called firth moor which had a reputation. Moorfields the new estate to the side has people i know living there who like it and it's newer houses. Will schools be a factor for you?