Recommendations of where to start looking?

[Nopenotrightnow]

Currently living in Kent and looking to retire further north to be nearer family (just outside Manchester). DH keen to look at North East coast (Seaham and surrounding area). Advice on good or bad areas gratefully received ... I have no clue as lived in Kent/London all my life.

Are you aware that could be between a 3 and 4 hour drive from Manchester ?
Depending on where in Manchester, and depending on traffic, etc.

It seems a little strange to move to be 'nearer family' but still too far away to go there and back in a day.
If I were uprooting my family and all I knew, to be near other people, I'd want to be within half hour - 40mins max of where they were.

The NE coast isn’t very close to Manchester. What is it you’re looking for in an area? And how close do you want to be?

What did you decide OP?