Neighborhood recommendations

[amandasig]

Hello!

My husband is being transferred to work at Peterlee, so we’re looking for a place around the Newcastle area to rent.

We’re coming from outside of the UK, and although I have heard great things about the northern friendliness, I think we would have a better adaptation if we were closer to the city instead of small villages. We also have a two-year-old daughter and we’ll be looking for a daycare for her.
I’ve been checking the houses at Rightmove and it seems like Low Fell and the coast from South Shields to Whitley Bay are good options. However, we have no idea how these areas really are, and the farthest north we have been in England is Oxford.
Our rent budget is a maximum of 1800£ per month, and my husband is ok with commute time being up to 35/40 min.
I appreciate any recommendations and tips!

I know you will have looked on Google maps that whitley bay etc will say you can get through the tyne tunnel to Peterlee in your time frame, however, if your husband will be travelling at rush hour he will find that this could be substantially increased due to traffic on the a19. Also if you are looking north of the river tyne, then he will have tyne tunnel tolls to pay to get to work.

In terms of cities, the city of Durham is nearby to Peterlee and is a beautiful, small city. Regular trains run into Newcastle from there also.

I can certainly recommend some lovely locations for you nearer to Newcastle if that is really your goal but I'd look at the traffic situation for the a19 when your husband would need to be travelling to work before committing to a house north of the river tyne

@COS2102

Thank you very much for your reply!

I played with the times on Google Maps after you mentioned, and there’s a big difference. I also didn’t know about the tolls. I think I’ll have to stick with the options south of the river!

I forgot to mention Durham in my post, but I’m checking places there. I noticed a big difference in prices and overall quality of the houses depending on the location around the city.

I would love to know your recommendations! Thank you again!

Yes, Durham can be varied. I worked in County Durham around 8-9 years ago and looking ahead to when your little one would be starting school - Nevilles Cross & St Margaret's are near eachother and having worked in them, I'd recommend looking at houses around there as they both had a wonderful feel to work in with happy and well behaved children!

I live north of the water so it is easier to comment on over here but less useful to you I would feel!

South of the water, and within good reach of Newcastle & Sunderland City, there's a lovely estate recently built in Hebburn, Chaffinch Drive and surrounding streets. They go all out at Christmas, Easter & Halloween for the kids around there and there's always children playing out. There's lots of lovely day nurseries local to Hebburn, too. Not all areas in Hebburn are the same but you will notice that by the rental prices.

You've already mentioned Low Fell which is a lovely place and is south of the river. Definitely a desirable place to live with lovely primary schools 😊