Moving to Newcastle upon Tyne area. Where to live?

[susanita]

Hi there
Due to hubby's work, we'll be moving to Newcastle upon Tyne once we?ve sold our house in West London. We?re initially looking to rent and then, with time, look around for a house to buy. Ideally we?d like to rent in a location where we?ll be buying; we have 2 primary school age kids so want to avoid moving them too much (if we can get them into school in 1st place!) Whilst we don?t want to be in the city, we don?t want to be too far and we don?t want anywhere too rural. We?d like somewhere with easy access to Newcastle as DH will be working in central Newcastle.
Ideally we don't want to rely on car for work, school run etc and we'd like facilities for children within walking distance. Are we looking for the impossible?

We have no family in the area although we have some friends who all seem to suggest different places.
We did consider Tynemouth but not sure about living near the coast.
One area we?ve seen and liked is Ryton. When I do a search for properties around Ryton, Crawcrook and the villages of Greenside and Walbottle come up. Can anybody say anything about these areas? Are there any other areas that perhaps we should consider? Last time we went up for a look we did look around Whickham but somehow, for no particular reason, it didn?t feel right.

Any help/thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

I am always up there and there are plenty of houses with gardens in those areas. Royal Grammar is the best boys school in the area as any glance at the league tables shows and it's a bit much to say the boys at that private school are all ill mannered.

Do tell me whereabouts in Gosforth and Jesmond Xenia, I'd love to know as I don't have a garden and have been wanting to find one without having to move out of the city.

Absolutely massive gardens right down to Jesmond Dene in my parents' road. Lots down to the town moor in Gosforth. I can't think of a friend I know from there in those areas without a garden!

Ah well you see Xenia I think we do know about the same streets - but I see them as a small minority of the total number of streets in Jesmond and Gosforth, whereas they loom large in your mental landscape because you know people there.

So - yes true about the Town Moor-bordering street in Gosforth. But it is only one street! Though there is another street that backs onto the Moor in Fenham. And yes, there are a couple of streets on the edge of the Dene with gardens.

But all that huge block of Victorian and Edwardian terraces between the Dene and the Moor, running up as far north as Salters Road - no gardens to speak of as far as I know (a wee patch of lawn maybe, but not really what you could call a garden).

The point, really, I think is that so few properties with gardens come onto the market, that if it's a crucial factor for the OP, it probably rules out those areas.

Can I also put a vote in for Gosforth?

By the by I remember reading something to the effect that Newcastle-upon-Tyne has more private schools per head of population than anywhere else in the UK.

I would also defend RGS but as per the above there are loads to choose from, also plenty of good state schools I might add.

May be that's true. Depends on her price range which I suppose is the issue wherever you go. My brother's friend just bought a house in the road my father lives on which has a very very long garden.

I do think good schools and a convenient central area has a lot going for it even if you get less garden particularly once you get teenagers who you don't want to be driving all over the place.

Popsycal, quite a big first school in momkseaton, not southridge, and hasnt been relocated recently!

Another vote for Gosforth.
Much of my family live there and it is lovely.

One of them doesn't have much of a garden, more a yard, but theh opthers have big gardens.
And my cousin goes o Royal grammar and is a lovely young man!!

The RGS boys have a reputation around Jesmond for being bad mannered and snobbish. would never send a boy there. There are other private schools that produce a much more rounded child.

That's just said by people who are jealous their children couldn't pass the entrance test surely because the children aren't clever enough?

Xenia are you talking about Jesmond Park West - only street I can think of that fits your description. I think there have only been about 3 houses on the market there in the last 3 years, and the houses themselves are not that big...I have a friend there too
I agree with Zazette - I have scoured Newcastle for a house with a garden for several years and there are very few with what I would call a decent garden. Gosforth is the best bet but too far from town for us in the end -we wanted to walk to work.

for the OP, I would look at Hexham if you don't mind a kind of 'small market town' mentality, or being a bit removed from Newcastle centre. I have friends in Ryton, there are some nice houses there, the area is more mixed/down to earth than further up the tyne valley. Coast is also a good option.
imvho, Newcastle is an absolutely fab place to live. I love being so near wonderfully beautiful coast and countryside...leave all your prejudices to one side and enjoy!

No, it's said by residents and shopkeepers who have been on the receiving end of their behaviour.

theresa that leaves 2......and oneof those my ds1 is at......

are we talking fruit??? or red

I have lived in:
jesomnd, gosforth, fenham, kenton, west jesmond and the suburbs bewteen town and the coast.

You will be hard pressed to find a house with a decent garden in jesmond/gosforth without a rather substantial budget. Talking several hundred thousand at least. And elliott is right - they come up very infrequently anyway.

The coast has more gardens and plenty of reasonable sized yards. But if you want a garden for definite you need to look at the newer housing estates half way between. Though I would go for the coast every time.

oh I have lived in three differnt parts of heaton too.....

Can you tell I was a student in newcastle too

We really need an idea of your budget susanita.

A not particularly special 4 bed semi in Gosfoth/Jesmond is going to be around 500k if postcode/location is a main factor.

this is actually on a very busy road with lots oftraffic although it is near a good girls school.

this is in a much quieter location in Gosforth but agin not exciting imho.

oooh yes, tell us your budget and we'll find you a house.

But £450k would get you this in Ryton.

Check out this baby

7 beds

Popsycal, red! (or sometimes grey!)

What are the schools like in Ryton? Love the Old Manse.

Town Centre is nice but can get congested. I live on North Shields/Tynemouth border and it is fab.
We can walk to the beach, we can be in Newcastle in 20 mins and the schools are good. Look at NE30 on rightmove website. LOADS of nice houses with gardens.

north tyneside /tynemouth border is great - somewhere that we would consider moving to....

theresa - we are the other one!!!

now then - it is possible, though not probable, given that info, that I may (or may not) be teaching your dd in september (had I not been giving birth around then.....;0))

aorry for hijack!!!

That's interesting! I have to say we went to open nights for the dark blue one and the green one. The blue one was a nightmare, far too busy. O ver the last few years the green one has had a bit of 'bad press' among parents but both my nephews have been there (one still is) and its been fine for them. All parents from our school loved the open night at the green school, head made you sit up and listen and was inspiring, whereas the other bloke bored the pants off me! We felt welcomed and that our children would be loved there, rather than lost in the other school. however there are five year 4 children in our street and the other four are all going to the blue school so thats the one she chose as well!
Apologies for the hijack everyone, but nice talking to you popsy!