Lanchester, Durham & surrounding

[belly36]

We are keen to move to County Durham, Lanchester is looking top of our list so far, but we'd be open to ideas.

Tell me about schools, community, commuting (to Durham, Newcastle, Sunderland or further afield) and anything else.

i live in the south of county durham, why are you moving here? and what are you looking for, ie small town, big city etc? Darlington is not a bad place (its about fifteen mins from me) you can easily get a train to Durham and Newcastle as its on the east line and takes about half an hour to get to Newcastle, twenty mins to Durham. it does have its rough areas (not rough areas as in Moss Side, Manchester for example) but areas to avoid, but it also has some really nice areas. Durham is a very nice place to live as well. Washington is clos to Sunderland and Durham and Newcastle are not too far away but its a bit more industrialised.

Ok, well we liked West Durham initially (sort of Stanhope, Frosterley, Wolsingham) but now thinking they might not be such a good idea.

Looking for somewhere quieter than where we are now (London) and cheaper. With good primary and secondary schools. Keen on a largish village/small town.

I do know Durham a bit, my dad's from East Durham and we still have family there.

Used to live in darlington and loved it.
We looked at houses in Middleton St George, but couldn't afford them. It's a lovely little village just outside darlington.
Yarm, just a bit further south, in Cleveland, is lovely, and good schools too.

stanhope, frosterley and wolsingham are very close to where i live, they are very nice villages, transport links are not very good on the negative side (unless you drive)they are places where everyone knows everyone else and not much crime, on the negative side again is that alot of gypsys take up residence during the summer months when the fairs are on.

Ooh a County Durham thread! I live in Darlington and its ideal for us as excellent links to middlesbrough, newcastle, north yorkshire etc.

Villages outside Darlington which are nice are Heighington, Brafferton, Hurworth. I would stay away from the areas such as Spennymoor, Ferryhill, Tow Law which are in the Durham area.

Good luck in your search!

Satley, Cornsay very remote
Esh very very nice with excellent school
I live in Waterhouses wgich is a little village nr Esh Winning, one pub, walking distance to nearest shop in esh winning
Lanchester lovely & a nice school (CofE & catholic)

Actually i think esh would be your best bet, good school, best commute out of the lot but i think you'll be limited by available houses - we looked in esh & lanchester before buying in waterhouses

Lanchester has a bit more going on - few shops, restaurant, take away etc.
Tesco in Annfield plain is 10 mins away
DS commutes to Sunderland from this area, it's fine(ish) worst it's taken is an hour (apart frm in the severe snow) but used to commute to Newcastle and that was bad.
Durham obv fine. Gateshead also OK and if you're in Waterhouses/Esh Winning/Cornsay you could also do some parts of Darlington and Bishop Auckland

I grew up around there (for 5/6 yrs) and second that - nice place to grow up, good for amentities.

I live in a little village outside of Chester le street. We're in-between Durham and Newcastle. About 2 miles from Durham, 7 ish into Newcastle and probably 7 ish miles away from lanchester.

My ds is just starting nursery school in sept so I don't have personal experience of the schools but Park View is a very good secondary school and I think it has been awarded outstanding status by ofsted.