Areas in Tyne & Wear

[LaurenJ0]

Hi,

I know there has been so many of these posts but the threads I’ve read have been so helpful, I’m posting in the hope that we’ll be able to receive some insider knowledge from people who live in Newcastle/surrounds.

We are looking into moving to Newcastle this summer. The areas we are considering so far are Gosforth, Whitley Bay and Low Fell, so hoping to receive some advice on suitability of these areas or suggestions on other areas.

DH will either be working in Newcastle or Gateshead, and I’ll be working a couple of days in Newcastle. We need to be in catchment area for good primary/middle and secondary schools, ideally near a metro station and lots of things to do with kids.

We’ll be renting at first with a budget of around £900pm, with the aim of buying a 3 bed house in a few years with a budget of 300-350k.

Thank you in advance if anyone can spare a minute to help us out!

I think you might struggle to rent in Gosforth for that price. But they are all nice areas.

I know whitely bay quite well, it’s a really hip coastal town and is by some great schools, there have been pockets of crime at the metro stations on the coast increasing over the last year- still much safer crime wise than places I grew up in in the midlands- they are usually kids in gangs - but have been a couple of weaponised (Amonia) attacks. That aside? It’s friendly, quirky, well served with Independents and has a fabulous sense of community- lots of causes, groups and street events etc. it’s overall a fabulous place to live - I think you’d be okay in your budget. Gosforth, I don’t really know that well other than it’s considered a good area. I think it has less amenities than Whitley bay.
low fell, I don’t believe is considered a good area, and I’d not choose it on schools/location or community over the others. Whitley bay would win for me. You could also consider cullercoats/ monkseaton.

I can only speak for the area I know best -

Low fell (and Kells Lane) is a lovely part of Gateshead, on the main route to Newcastle and Durham. It doesn't have a metro (would need to bus or walk into Gateshead town centre for that), but has excellent bus links into the city.

The primaries in Low Fell are all pretty good, with plenty of choice - Kells Lane, Harlow Green, Oakfield and (if you go more towards the Gatesead end of Low Fell) you may just get into Caedmon (absoloutely excellent school).

The secondary choices are somewhat restricted if you would want to make use of Scholars buses. Choices would be Grace College (grim as fuck!), Lord Lawson (fluctuates, great for drama), Cardinal Hume (catholic) or, if you can get in, Emmanuel College. Whickham School and Kingsmeadow both also good but not as easy to access.

Low Fell itself is nice, with a good selection of shops and cafes etc. It doesn't have the same feel as Gosforth or Whitley Bay for many reasons, but it's a more affordable choice than those two.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz Lord Lawson have just got good again in their last ofsted. I hear good things about the new head.

If you were thinking ahead to secondary schools and were looking at low fell I would abandon low fell and look at Birtley. Primary schools just as good, better secondary schools and so much more for your money in housing terms.

I'm not too familiar with Low Fell as its over the water but it's not the best in terms on transport links and not comparable to Gosforth or Whitley Bay imo. I think Gosforth, Jesmond, Whitley Bay and Tynemouth may be slightly beyond your budget in the nicer areas and these areas are less easy to get into schools. I'd look at the rest of North Tyneside which is cheaper than the coastal areas and easier to get into schools. However the metro doesn't serve all of it.

Whitley Bay, Cullercoats, Tynemouth and Monkseaton are three tier for schools, the rest of North Tyneside is two tier.

Low Fell will be the cheapest, it’s not on the metro line though. Whitley Bay has a wider choice of good schools than Gosforth, but gosforth is closer to Newcastle. Whitley Bay has lower crime (that ammonia attack thing was a local FB group myth, which didn’t really happen, it’s true there were some disorder problems at metro stations last year, seems to be under control now). One problem will be finding a rental, it’s v tricky at the minute. You’ll probably need to keep your location options open a bit to find somewhere.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I was wondering if you would recommend any specific areas of North Tyneside?

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz Lord Lawson have just got good again in their last ofsted. I hear good things about the new head

That's good to hear!! It's been great in the past, just had a wobbly few years.

If you were thinking ahead to secondary schools and were looking at low fell I would abandon low fell and look at Birtley. Primary schools just as good, better secondary schools and so much more for your money in housing terms

Aside from Lord Lawson, what other secondaries are there for the Birtley primaries? Would students go into Washington or Chester Le Street?

From Birtley they either go to Lord Lawson or to Cardinal Hume. Essentially they’re your options, but as one is good and one is outstanding then I don’t think people look for any more options!

The other 2 options for closeness are St Roberts or Park View.

Gosforth - primary and secondary both excellent and you get the Metro.

Same for Whitley Bay, plus the area itself has hugely improved after a slightly bumpy road in the 90s where Tynemouth was always seen as superior. Tynemouth and Whitley both lovely and you could also look at Monkseaton or Cullercoats. Both have metros.

Low Fell doesn't have a metro. Primary v good. Secondary as mentioned above a mixed bag. You'd struggle for your DC to get to either Whickham School or Kingsmeadow by bus from Low Fell (two buses). Low Fell is a really nice area. The quieter more rural parts of Gateshead are not serviced by the metro as they are too hilly (and also pretty).

Crawcrook and surrounding area is near the main train line to Newcastle Central Station (which is also a metro station) and have access to good schools - Thorpe Academy and St Thomas More for Crawcrook. Wylam, Ovingham and Ovington all border on Northumberland so not so clear on their catchment. That's a lovely area that's often overlooked.

If you are catholic then in Newcastle you have St Mary's (mixed), St Cuthberts (boys) and Sacred Heart (girls) and you could have a look at the catchments for those. They are all in the built up city wards though and from your choice of locations, it feels that you are looking for more of a small town / large village community feel?

If I had my time over, I'd have gone for Whitley Bay. We are in a nice part but the transports a nightmare - about to go to a three car family!

If you want north tyneside then areas of North Shields are really up and coming! I live in wallsend and there are some lovely areas and outstanding schools plus the park is fab and location is very handy for both Newcastle and the coast! (Hadrian park is a nice area and very close to the rising run country park).

In terms of central wallsend you'd want to be near the green for the naice areas!

Forest hall is nice too (a bit like a smaller gosforth in parts).

Monkseaton is lovely and is on the metro line and not far from Whitley bay.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/125874476

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/130147340

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/129799421

A few examples of what's on the market!

There are lots of new build estates. popping up in North Tyneside so if that's your vibe there are lots of new areas to consider.

Otherwise I'd say parts of North Shields, which are almost in Tynemouth, Monkseaton, Wellfield, parts of Forest Hall (not on metro but only about 1 mile away), also worth a look are West Moor, Killingworth and Backworth but they are a couple of miles or so from a metro station. It's a small area, there are nice pockets all over and you're never more than a few miles from the coast or city.

Hi,

There are some areas in nice parts of gosforth that would come within budget. Look at grange park, (NE3 2 post code- the 30’s houses in the 4-5 avenue streets) excellent location for schools and amenities and great community. Garden village is a fabulous community too, again brilliant location and as the name would suggest many have a amazing gardens. You should be able to pick up a 3-4 bed up in either of those locations for less than £350k. Ones requiring a bit of work sometimes come up in both Melton and Brunton for your price range too. A little further out is Red House farm, further from local amenities but nice community and backs on to lovely nature. Hope that helps !

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/130768949#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/130594940#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/129888593#/?channel=RES_BUY

a couple of examples. Good luck in search.

Monkseaton, Cullercoats and Whitley bay all really great areas.

Meant to say Marden Estate is considered North Shields iirc but is almost cullercoats but without the price mark up

The beaches round there are amazing. I'd go for Tynemouth, Cullercoats or Whitley Bay if I were you. They all have great metro links to Newcastle. You'll be able to buy in budget there, possibly not Tynemouth though.