Moving to NorthEast - advice on areas

[lydia321]

Hello all,

We are moving the North East, hopefully by August 2021.
We'd like to be outskirts of Newcastle, 4 bed house with garden - preferably a village or smaller town with a nice community feel and opportunities for our boys to join sporting clubs and have hobbies etc.
We've visited a few times already to look at areas seen on Rightmove and suggestions made in this group on previous threads from a few years ago.
So far have liked Dinnington and Ponteland, but didn't like Morpeth.
Alnwick was too far out, as was Hexham.
We're looking south of the river on our next visit, at Chester-le-street , Pelton Fell, Whickham.
Low Fell was nice but houses for space we wanted were too expensive or didn't have a nice garden.
Our budget is up to £350k.
There are no particular restrictions regarding work, as both happy to have a commute up to 40 minutes.
Schools have been a bit of sticking point for me, as I would like to be in catchment for good secondary ..... I'm trying to have it all really, aren't I!

If anyone has any advice or new suggestions for me to look at, I'd really appreciate it !

Thank you for reading, Lydia x

Whitley Bay is great for families and if you look at the Monkseaton end you're more likely to get a garden rather than a yard. The end closer to the lighthouse has good schools and is in the catchment area for WB High School. WB used to be rowdy at weekends but it's more family orientated now, Tynemouth seems to draw the drinkers and Cullercoats gets the summer rowdy crowd on the beach.

Great area for cafes, wine bars, walks, kids parks, skate park, independent shops. Lovely wee cinema and a good community vibe.

@Ginfordinner
Hi, the main reason we didn't like Morpeth was the volume of cars through the town centre. Walking with with kids on the narrow pavement just felt a bit unsafe, and very busy.
I remember it from about 15 years ago, and felt it hadn't really improved (or moved on), just expanded.
We just didn't get a good enough vibe from it to picture ourselves living there.

@Marcelduchamp
We're moving up from Greater London/Kent Border.

My family was from Newcastle (Benwell & Wallsend), and I used to live in Seahouses and Ponteland (about 20 years ago!). I have older relatives in Birtley still, but I know I don't want to live there.

I saw there's variance in social economics between areas.
We could technically afford to pay more and live at the coast (for instance), but the move is due to my husbands recently developed poor health and to have a quieter pace of life, so we're looking for a lower cost property and not over extend mortgage-wise so it can be paid off quicker.

and I know I'd rather have a smaller house in a nicer area, than the biggest house in the worst area :)

I need the help of Kirsty & Phil hahaha!

Agreeing with those suggesting Whitley Bay. It's just so lovely.

Washington would be off the list for me - it's really crap, in all honesty. A new town built around a zillion roundabouts, flyovers overhead and feels like all the houses are built in little estates underneath the roads.

@Sam1815
Hi Sam,

your comment on the traffic and being on the right side of the A1? what did you mean - your location in the village? I'm confused
my boys love the woods, you're description of Sunniside sounds lovely x

thanks all,
I'll definately start looking at Whitley Bay /Monkseaton/Cullercoats again, if so many people recommend it... x

It’s very cold at the coast. That is enough to put me off. You’ll notice a big difference coming from Kent.

We’ve just moved from Gosforth to Ponteland and I really miss Gosforth, although I’m sure I’ll get used to it!

Gosforth and Jesmond are lovely but the housing stock is older (Victorian/ Edwardian) so not so good for parking and not many houses with gardens - you pay a premium for outdoor space. I loved being close to town and having Gosforth high street nearby, but my husband hated the traffic so that might not suit you. Schools in Gosforth are outstanding; primaries in Jesmond are also very good but a lot of people go private for secondary as the nearest high school hasn’t got such a good reputation.

Ponteland is still not a cheap area but there’s a lot more choice of houses with gardens, and the schools are excellent.

We were put off Wylam and surrounding areas because Prudhoe high school isn’t great. Schools in Hexham much better but it is a lot further from Newcastle.

In Chester le street you would have Beamish woods nearby and also Waldridge Fell as well as the park with the river. I agree with you about Birtley (lived there before we moved to Chester le street). I’ve heard the high street in Chester le street has gone down hill but most people shop online or in Durham or Newcastle anyway. The area I lived in was called red rose towards waldridge fell and definitely had a nice sense of community. The riverside is also nice if you prefer newer houses.

Depending on your husband's condition you may want to be in striking distance of one of the specialist hospitals e.g. Freeman for cardiac and cancer, Sunderland for eyes.

So if you live on the gateshead side of the a1 you miss the traffic that commutes through Newcastle (and the queues) if you want to go south. Most of the queues are on the bridges.

If you want to go north you also don’t need to go through Newcastle so you miss the town traffic there too. I can travel north or south with little problems.

If I lived in Durham there are always huge queues from Durham on the a1 to the angel if you want to work in Newcastle or gateshead but live further south.

Being in the middle means I’ve missed all the queuing traffic no matter which way I want to go.

Chester le Street loads of people go to Arnison centre or Metro centre, Team valley, plus it has a small hospital, Durham hospital is 10 minutes away. Sunderland hospital is straight down the road from Picktree roundabout. And I’m going to stick up for old Pit villages, we are not all inbreed and racist

Agree with previous suggestions of Prudhoe. Wylam is also lovely but expensive. Ryton and Crawcrook are also lovely.

Check our Gosforth, £350k will get you a decent size 30’S- 50’s 4 bed semi near good schools in the parklands area, check out Melton Park, Brunton Park and Grange Park. Great Park is much newer estate, further out but you will get more house for your money. Garden Village in Gosforth also well worth a look, fabulous gardens and loads of potential for extensions etc. All of the above areas are easily accessible to city centre.

I'm thinking to buy a property in NE15, on Howdene Road. Could someone tell me how is to live there in terms of shops, people, transport going to Newcastle centre?Thanks

Didn't know where that road was but just checked and it's close to Excelsior Academy. Have you ever visited the area? It's not great.