Middlesbrough

[taylorrosej85]

Hello everyone,

We are relocating to Middlesbrough from Hampshire for my husbands work. I don't know the area and would really like some advice on where is a safe place to live. I have a 9 month old and my husband works nights so I need to feel safe in the house on my own. My husband is happy to drive 20-30 minutes to work. We are considering renting or buying. Renting would pay up to £700 a month but only have a small budget for buying £100,000 so really just depends what's available. We want to find somewhere to settle as don't want to be moving again for a few years.

Thank you

I Iive on the outskirts. There are a lot if challenging areas and you need to be cautious. Acklam might work for you?
Theres a fb group called yummy mummies Teesside which is worth joining.

You could get a semi or terrace for the budget you mention

Thank you puddlet will have a look at the FB page. I've heard it's not the best place to live so really need to get it right. Will look at this area and see what it's like

There are nice areas but equally lots of problems. Great Ayton is a nice village if you wanted to be outside Middlesbrough.

I'm happy to be outside Middlesbrough. I think I would rather be tbh

Hi, I'd suggest areas such as Yarm, Eaglescliffe, Wynyard and Norton to look at. All very commutable to Middlesbrough without having to live in Middlesbrough!

Look at Ingleby Barwick, or Eaglescliffe, very safe, family friendly although you may struggle with your budget

Ingleby Barwick is just outside Middlesbrough, you will get a rental for less than £700 (if you don't want anything massive) but you won't be able to buy for £100k or less.
Acklam is another good shout as well or Brookfield.
Hope you get sorted.

Can you find out exactly where he I'd working? It will help guide areas.
Patches are lovely. Patches are grim.
700 for a rental is fine.
100,000 to buy is probably tight.

I'd agree with Yarm, Eaglescliffe, Ingleby Barwick, Acklam, Norton.
Would add in Hartburn.

Stockton fringes are probably better than Boro fringes.

Do you drive? Will you have a car in the day?

Agree with the recommendations to go for a village outside rather than Middlesbrough itself.
There are some lovely villages and then you have the north York Moors and the coast all nearby. But Middlesbrough itself is bleak, even the "nicer" parts (exPIL live there).

Thanks everyone for your help I don't drive but I'm more than happy to walk places or jump on a bus. Will be learning to drive this year or the next. My husband will be based at the railway station. I don't think my 100k is going to get me much so might have to settle with renting. A village or small town sounds ideal. Anything round Stockton-On-Tees that's nice?

Ok, if you dont drive, you need to be within walking distance of a shop and a childrens centre.
I would strongly recommend avoiding a village until you are driving - check out bus timetables before you commit to somewhere. Do NOT go to Wynyard if you dont drive (unless bus services have improved dramatically since I worked there)

Most of the places mentioned are Stockton. Great Ayton and Acklam and Brookfield are the exceptions.

What's Redcar like?

Wouldnt be my first choice.
There is loads of money going into development currently, but the loss of the steelworks has devastated the job market, and it's pretty deprived.

We relocated to Middlesbrough when my children were small and I didn't drive back then and chose Ingleby Barwick for the convenience of Tesco, doctors, dentists, gym, nursery etc etc within walking distance lots of good schools again within walking distance and great cycle routes around the place. You can cycle to Preston Park from there which has a great museum and play areas. I loved living there and the people were so friendly. It's a huge purpose built new estate which has grown and grown which can put people off but for convenience and facilities it's great. Yarm is also lovely nearby but at a higher price.
Good luck with your move

I'm in East Cleveland and would say Redcar isn't great. Saltburn or marske would be a better option, they're on the train line to Darlington and bus lines to Middlesbrough though they can be a bit on the expensive side because they're better connected than further afield villages. Anything thing further than saltburn and you're going to struggle with not driving (voice of experience!) Because public transport is ok(ish) during the day but not so much at night or Sunday/Bank Holiday.
Saltburn has a fair few shops and pubs, cafés, restaurants etc, a bank, post office and the beach and valley gardens. Marske has pretty much the same. The schools in Saltburn and Marske also have better reputations looking forward. House prices are quite high but you'd be looking between £500-£650 pcm for a 2 bed in Marske. Probably a bit more for Saltburn.

Village public transport is awful. I might say Harburn or Acklam until you can drive.
If you had the money I would say eaglescliffe, esp as there is a train station. But you might struggle for school spaces there.

Thanks everyone you have all been very helpful. Lots for me to think about, we are going up in a week so will drive around and get a feel for places see what we think.

Would you consider Sunderland? It's a brilliant place to live and is subject to lots of investment and regeneration. We recently relocated here from a very middle class part of Northumberland and haven't looked back. Ashbrooke in particular is fab. Period housing, walking distance to the city centre and there are lovely parks and amenities on the doorstep. It would take 30 min to get to Middlesbrough by car. I used to teach in Middlesbrough and would not live there.

What's Redcar like?

The aftermath of a nuclear war but with candy floss.

I used to live in Yarm, it was nice then. I agree with others, I wouldn't imagine you wouldn't get anything there for £100,000.

Saltburn or marske would be a better option,

Yes, if you want to be near the sea, Saltburn is much nicer. I would guess it's also pricey though.

No I've not looked at Sunderland hadn't even thought about it. Will look and see what we think might as well.

Sunderland will be way over half an hour to Boro.

Yeah we had family in great ayton when I was little that's a lovely place to live.

I really wouldn't say Middlesbrough was bleak. I think that's quite harsh. It's really no better or worse then many towns of a similar size and of course there are nicer parts and certain areas which are not as nice.
Parts of Acklam, Ormesby, Eston, Normanby are all nice and are well connected.
Outerskirts of Redcar also have some really nice estates and good transport links.