Anywhere nice near North Shields?

[TeaandLemonDrizzle]

Hello,

Potential job opportunity in North Shields. The job is what I’ve been looking for and I also have a child starting university at Newcastle in September. Currently live further south (about an hours drive) but also have a younger child (15) right in the middle of GCSE’s and she wants to stay on at the same school for A-levels.
I’m on my own (apart from the kids) and have no family left living so we could move. I’m thinking of moving up there so my son can stay at home (although he has applied for halls for the first year). I prefer countryside to cities so I’m looking for recommendations of villages (reasonably priced property) with good transport links to Newcastle city centre and North Shields.
Or, I could see (if I got the job that is) if I could compress hours and work over 4 days with one at home and commute. Is that a possibility? I’m worried about moving my youngest and both kids would also be miles from their dad.
I need to leave my current job. Place is a nightmare! Only been there 2 years but need out.
Any advice on the above would be great! No jobs in my field any closer!
I have an interview and have all desirable and essential requirements with experience so it’s looking good.

Why are you moving? You’ve said so your eldest can live at home while at uni. But you’ve also said they’re going to halls. And then you’ve also said it’s for the job.

Then I’m a bit confused about how your youngest would get to stay at their school for A Levels if you moved to North Shields. Or would they have to move schools/college? How would they feel about that?

The eldest would be far away from their Dad anyway as they’ve chosen this uni. So it’s more about what the youngest wants and whether the job is good enough for you to uproot her from proximity to her school and her Dad if those things are important to her.

If she wants to stay at her school and near her Dad then in your shoes I would probably sit out the next two years in existing job and wait for youngest to go to uni before relocating.

I appreciate I’ve not given any advice on specific locations but most of your post gives context on the move itself.

Tynemouth is lovely .

He’s staying in halls the first year. I’m thinking of his second year. He could, however, commute from where we are now or find other accommodation for his second year. I don’t have to move there but, yes, the youngest would need to leave her school and I am reluctant to do that.
I can’t stay in the current job for various reasons.

Thanks

Whitley Bay, Tynemouth

You don't mention a budget. Whitley Bay and Tynemouth are lovely but pricey. Anywhere along the Coast Road (A1058) makes it really easy to get to North Shields and the city centre so you could consider Heaton or nicer parts of Wallsend. Parts of North Shields itself are also lovely.

I have lived in both Heaton and Whitley Bay. Whitley Bay is having a bit of a renaissance at the moment and the seafront is lovely, it should be a bit cheaper than Tynemouth still though.

Both Tynemouth and Whitley bay are on the metro so you can easily get to Newcastle and the surrounds.

Heatin is a good shout by a PP but some bits are very studenty so pay attention to the area if you’re looking for a family feel.

Heaton!

Countryside near North Shields is a bit of a tall order - just because of the geography - to be somewhere rural you would end up being 40 mins ish away, so I’d suggest stay where you are an commute under the youngest has a natural break in school… or get a job somewhere rural?

Your DS should share accommodation with friends in y2/3. Don’t move so he goes back home! Very expensive thing to do! Let him fly.

I'm sure it's looking good job wise but you haven't got the job yet? If you only live an hour south you'll probably already know how fierce competition is in Newcastle for decent jobs.

But if all goes as you hope, then yes Tynemouth or Whitley Bay, or even Cullercoats (personally it's my favourite of those three little towns). If you want somewhere a bit more country you could look round the airport near a metro stop, the metro makes travel so easy if you're in the right bit of Newcastle. You really don't need a car, it's a shame more cities don't have the model...Having said that about locations overall Newcastle has far more green space than similar sized cities I've lived in and in many areas doesn't feel crammed in.

Maybe go up for a long weekend and scout out some areas then see if you get the job. Just curious, any reason you are so keen for DS to live with you during his course, assuming finances aren't a factor?

I'm from Whitley Bay and my parents live in North Shields. It probably depends on what you want, for who, and who has a car, and your son and daughters wishes. Anything on the metro lines is good from some perspectives, but you are in the North Tyneside conurbation, and whereas there are some lovely benefits (nice beaches, and only an hour in the car to absolute Northumberland wilderness) it is not "countryside". I think it could be difficult to have your son study at Newcastle and live at home unless he has grown up here and has other friends doing things more locally that he still ties into, yes it is only 29 mins by metro, but it only runs until 11.45, at which point his counterparts will just be going out. There are some things that are probably more practical also in your search. Budget is probably the main one, Whitley Bay, Cullercoats and Tynemouth, whilst nice, are expensive, North Shields is less expensive, and there are other areas that are better value still - but, with a caveat that you sort of get what you pay for here. I'd echo @Dorrmouse view and come up and have a look. Wishing you the best xxx

Prioritise your youngest being able to stay at the same school for A levels over your eldest living at home as a student. No student I know would move back home during their Uni years! (Yes, for a while afterwards maybe)

Slightly cheaper as slightly further up the coast, could look at Holywell, Seaton Sluice and Seaton Delaval

Hi,
I applied for two jobs and have now been called to attend interview for the 2nd one too!

I think it’s probably wise to stay where I am and commute/arrange a flexible WFH arrangement - at least until the youngest goes off to university.

I am trying to avoid a commute as I know the A1 is a nightmare up near Gateshead/Newcastle atm. I could get the train and metro to avoid this. Being close to the airport would be good (for holidays)!

I’ll ponder my options if I get one of these jobs! I’ll have a look up one weekend too!

My son has a car and gets free train travel so it’s be easier to prioritise the youngest getting thorough A-levels. One of my colleagues lives at Wallsend and travels to Teesside but she works compressed hours over 4 days with one day WFH so something like that would tide me over for 2-3 years.

The further north and west you go, the more rural it gets, but then not so quick to get into town. But because of the coast and the Waggonway footpaths/cycle paths that crisscross that area, you can have access to lovely countryside walks quite easily, and some nice country parks like Rising Sun and West Allotment Country Park. The only thing to be wary of if buying is that anywhere "rural" around that area may not be rural for very long.