Where to live between Durham and north Tyneside area

[Toon49]

My partner Has just got a job in Durham and my family live in killingworth (suburb of Newcastle). Basically want to live somewhere between the two preferably south of the tyne so it's about half hour max commute to work and not far from my parents for childcare.
Looking for a nice area with fairly good state schools. Would like 4 bed house with garden for max £280,000 just so you have an idea of budget!
Not sure where to look as don't know south of the tyne at all. Thought about whickham, Chester or street, birtley seems cheap but again is this because it's not so nice an area?
Any advice would be great!

Whickham is lovely. What about Low Fell? Also nice, or west part of Gateshead like Ryton, Swalwell, Blaydon- some nice parts near the derwent walk.

We lived in Low Fell for ages - good primary schools, budget would be okay and nice area - great park obviously!

Low fell looks lovely but seems more expensive for what we're looking for. Oh yes Ryton is nice didn't think if there I'll have a look. I had been warned away from blaydon but I'm guessing there's nice areas there? Someone has also mentioned Stanley to me today as they had a friend from there anyone know if this is nice?
Only just started looking so planning on having a drive around at the weekend to check nice areas out!

Whickham
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-48651084.html

Id recommend chester-le-street over stanley as a place to live personally

Lead Road, Greenside,
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-48090978.html

This is in blaydon and has amazing views....I used to work in blaydon and it had a lot going for it....great medical centre with pool, derwent walk, decent schools, close to metro, on train line, Spa Well Close, Blaydon-on-tyne, Tyne And Wear
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-55772005.html

Stanley really isn't that nice. Rowlands Gill is lovely, as is Low Fell which has a huge lovely park. The only thing is they don't have train stations so it would depend on how your partner is planning to travel to work, Chester le Street would be the most convenient for trains but in my opinion isn't all that nice although of course there are some lovely areas. The town centre is a bit depressing.

Thanks saw that one in whickham looks lovely! Not even heard of greenside shows how ignorant I am but looks a lovely house will definitely have a look at the area. Yes that is a good point about the metro line in blaydon would be useful the views also look beautiful from that house looks like that's another option! So many more places than I realised!

Work will be driving for us both (I currently work in Stockton but planning on moving closer to wherever we move!)

Parts of Birtley are really nice but other parts are awful, it's not the sort of town I'd move to without local knowledge of what streets/areas to avoid. Birtley high street is rough as well.
Low Fell is nice, lots of families and good schools.
In South Tyneside Jarrow is good (particularly York Avenue/Valley View area), it's a bit further North than other areas you've mentioned but has A19 access for Durham and the Tyne Tunnel for your family.

Alll the places mentioned so far have been to the west of the county.
Stockton and Killingwoth are to the East. Have you thought about Seaham?
It's a beautiful coastline, houses are cheap and A19 is better road I think than A1 for getting across the Tyne. Still ok for commuting to Durham as well.

Hmm never really thought of jarrow actually. Yeah need to be nearer Durham really as will be moving my job closer to newcastle/Durham area when we move! But seaham isn't too far not sure I'm too keen on it though not sure why though haha

Chester le street is nice and has good transport links

This house is lovely and right next to Riverside park

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-57801361.html

Chester me street looks good too right on the a1 as well confused now so many places to choose from haha!

I'll pm you

Riverside Park in Chester-le-street has a great playground and splash park for kids. Seaham is nice, good beaches and not far from Durham. Or west of Durham you could look at Lanchester, Shotley Bridge, Ebchester. Stanley and Consett are mixed areas, we live in quite a cheap house (moved up here from the south a few months ago) and have seen a bit of anti-social behaviour (kids setting fire to bushes mostly) but nothing worse that than . I like it out this way as we have a great view from our house and we're on the edge of weardale and lovely countryside. You would get a lot for your money in this area.

Chester le street does look good and seems fairly reasonable. Less keen on seaham and west of Durham as getting a little far away from my parents (ideally want to be about 30-35 mins away max)

Low Fell, Whickham and Blaydon are lovely. You would get a house to suit your requirements and at that budget in all three.

I live part way between Low Fell and the river tyne, and whilst the houses are beautiful and full of character there are few with proper gardens rather than yards.

Avoid Birtley. Kibblesworth isnt too bad with a villagey feel.

My mil lives in Seaham. It's great for the A19 to get to Sunderland and Newcastle.

Great coast there too. My mil lives just off the coast. There's also some nice villages around Seaham.

Cleadon , East Boldon, Whitburn, Seaburn and Fulwell are all pleasant areas with good schools. They are all south of the Tyne.

If your family are coming from Killingworth to South Tyneside for childcare, I'd look very carefully at what the Tyne Tunnel is like at the times they'd be travelling.

My parents both work in hebburn at the moment so travel through the tunnel every day but are retiring they don't have too many issues with the tunnel just need to beat the traffic before or after rush hour!

:-)

I thought you (and they!) would be well aware of the joys of the TT, but mentioned just in case!

Good luck with the move, some lovely ideas on here

Hi, I am looking at moving to Chester-le-Street soon, can anyone please tell me what areas to stay away from please?

Thank you