Needed insight from Northerners or ex-Southerners about living in the north

[ReyofLight]

Hello ladies,

Basically, I'm southern, but hate where I live. I have lived east, west and midlands, but not tried the north.

My concerns are crime, rough areas and yobs. I was considering Newcastle, but it is 3rd highest in crime in the country which is pretty off-putting. Do you notice a lot of crime living there? Like random attacks on the public? I was also considering Yorkshire. I would also like to know if northerners dislike southerners for any reason? I have heard some places are friendly, which would be nice, but I have also heard southerners not being treated very nicely because they're southern. I'm currently living in the south west and can't stand how snobby and rude everyone is. There is no such thing as manners, politeness or friendliness anywhere here. Two years I've been here and haven't been able to make any friends.

I'm from County Durham, now living in Gloucestershire.

I lived in Newcastle as a child, in Gosforth, and I loved it then. I can't say much about the crime rates. I always felt safe there and still do whenever I visit, but people who still live there will be able to advise better.

My parents are from the midlands, and were wholly accepted into the community in a very typical "pit village" (old mining village). Places like Staindrop, Barnard Castle (where I went to secondary school), and Richmond are worth looking at. As well as surrounding villages and towns.

My partner is from Gloucestershire, and was very popular in the village and at work, with native northerners

May I ask where in the south west you live?

The town I live in now is very friendly, I've only encountered a few snobbish people that you'd find anywhere, but there's a lovely sense of community and kindness here.

The north is a huge area, north of where?? Do you mean Scotland, Yorkshire ......?
You can't really generalise that a large area of the UK will be all bad or all good, friendly or unfriendly, high or low crime rates. I live in Yorkshire, in an inner city area with high crime rates but it has some positives as well. Less than ten miles from me are some really lovely areas with good schools and a great community feeling, lots of family friendly facilities.

I live in Newcastle and I’m really surprised to hear it has the third highest crime rate in the country. I’ve always considered it a safe city and I certainly haven’t seen any random attacks. Some areas are obviously safer than others though.

It’s generally very friendly and has a very large student population, with lots of people from all over the country. No one I know would treat anyone differently because they were from the south.

I live in outer west Newcastle and crime is not a problem so that really surprises me. We have it all up here in Newcastle. Property prices are still decent, we have beaches and countryside, urban shopping and lots of art and beautiful historical sites. I wouldn’t live anywhere else!

North Yorkshire is lovely and most comparable to the South.

“Do you notice a lot of crime living there? Like random attacks on the public?”

As is the south, it mainly depends on area. We don’t all just start attacking each other in the street for no reason once you pass Watford Gap

For the record, I’ve lived in the north all of my life and somehow managed to escape being randomly attacked or even witnessing a random attack.

'Do you notice a lot of crime living there?'

Living where exactly?! 'The North' is a huge place, you can't just ask if there's crime there - is there crime in the south? Of course there is.

I've lived in Leeds all my life. I've never been the victim of a crime touches wood and I would be hard pushed to leave but of course, there are parts of Leeds that are less than desirable, just like absolutely anywhere in the UK.

Yorkshire is beautiful, welcoming and cheap. North Yorkshire in particular is wonderful but more expensive and more commuting to bigger cities for work, if that's what you needed.

I don't really get the comments about southerners feeling unwelcome either - obviously there's the 'banter' around north vs south but I've never come across it in a hostile way. I work with a lot of people from places all over the UK, due to the fact I work for a large public sector employer.

I live near Newcastle doesn't seem to be any more risky for crime than where all my in-laws live in the south west. housing is very affordable and lots of things to do.

From south London now live in Lancashire (lancaster). Would never ever go back. So much nicer and such a nicer way of life! Don’t get many yobs round here at all

It seems a bit odd to suggest that The North is violent. It has everything from big cities to sleepy rural villages, just like the south does.

I'm a lifelong southerner (London, Home Counties) fairly recently moved to the NW. I'm in a village in a fairly rural area not far from the Lake District National Park. It's beautiful and friendly.

I'd recommend North Yorkshire areas

Newcastle isn't a dangerous city by any means. There's been an increase in recorded crime because the police have stepped up with regard to drug abuse/CSE.

Drug abuse as in spice that was a problem briefly in 2016 but it's been really stamped out.

If you go out in the Bigg Market (the place that's on the Mail Online with lots of people falling over), get absolutely smashed then you could get into a fight - is that what you'd be moving to the city for?

It's considered a really safe city. I live closer to North Yorkshire and it's beautiful but a totally different vibe.

Depends what you're after? Are you a city person?

The crime stats for Newcastle city (as opposed to just the general area) are quite high because few people actually live there but many people visit, work in or pass through it. Crime stats are often worked out per capita so you can see how it can be skewed.

Having said that, like all cities (and suburbs) there are good areas and bad areas. You need to be more specific.

I grew up in Kent and live in cumbria now, been here about 15 years. It's lovely up here, I'd never go back south now, you just have to get used to the lunch/dinner/tea/supper confusion

What ranking system are you using that puts Newcastle 3rd in the country for crime? I've looked at several and not one puts Newcastle anywhere near 3rd.

In general Newcastle is a very safe city. There are some areas around it that are 'rough' much like any large UK city. However there are far more areas that are safe, low crime areas. As someone pointed out Newcastle city centre is mainly a working, shopping, party area with very few people living there so this skews the statistics anyway.

I'm from the Cotswolds now living in the north east. Been here for 14 years now. I live on the coast of Newcastle - it's not 'rough' at all, in fact anything but!
Here in north Tyneside we have some of the top performing state schools in the country, reasonable house prices, good hospitals, vibrant nightlife and fantastic landscapes all around us.
The people are very friendly, it's a very cosmopolitan area and I have no regrets about moving here whatsoever. This feels like home to me now and has been the perfect place to raise my children.
If you want more info or advise PM me.there are of course areas to avoid as there are in all cities across the country but you can easily get good advice about this.

North Yorkshire all the way. Did not regret moving from Gloucestershire!

I'm in Newcastle, I'm really surprised to hear this. There are deprived areas which may push the crime rates up but the other areas I find very safe, safer than Manchester or London.

Gosforth is very safe, ideal family area though house prices are higher than other areas. Jesmond I find very studenty but it has nice residential areas (v expensive!) There's also the coast; tynemouth, cullercoats abd Whitley bay are very popular.

And north Tyneside!

Feel free to pm me too.

I grew up in Newcastle, lived all over the UK then moved back here after having kids. The crime stat is ridiculous. I experienced more crime in 3 years in London than in 30 in Newcastle. We really do have everything here. The only downside is distance to other cities. My husband is a southerner, and many uni students stay here for life, they love it so much. People won't be snobby about you being southern. Most are so proud of the place they'll be chuffed you chose it. Also, with a London budget you will get somewhere amazing to live here. My 1 bed flat on the south circular bought us a 5 bed Victorian house in the nicest suburb of Newcastle, and that was 10 years ago. London/SE property prices have far outpaced NE since then, so you'd do even better.

Also happy to pm, but you might want to try getting an Air B&B for a week in Gosforth, Jesmond or Heaton for the city, Tynemouth or Whitley Bay for coastal life, or one of the villages in south Northumberland or the Tyne or Derwent valleys to get for countryside to get a taste for living here.

Stay down south where it's nice and safe. I've heard London is 100% crime free.

Or has the same murder rate as New York, I can't remember which

I do know a woman who lives right out near Simonside in Northumberland and commutes for work a couple of times a week to London; drives about 45-60 mins to Newcastle to catch the 7:30 super fast train to London that gets there (not sure possibly 2 - 2.5 hours later?!) there are trains during the day that only take 3 hours to London from Newcastle.

Another one surprised at the crime in Newcastle, can you link to your source. Genuinely interested.We never rank on anything usually.

Anyway Newcastle is lovely and continues to develop. I have lived here all my life and still love going into the city but having amazing beaches and countryside an hour drive away is always great.