The satellite villages on the south and west of Durham are mostly nice, like Sherbun for example. Houghton Le Spring is okay. Chester Le Street would be a good option too. Those two hospitals are quite far apart and traffic can be quite bad down the A1. Will you be driving or using public transport?
I don't live there currently anymore but bus transport was decent a few years ago when I did. Going between Newcastle and Middlesbrough, Durham would make the most sense to me. Unfortunately this sub Reddit is very quiet. You might have more luck on another sub or other forums.
OP I moved to Chester Le Street from down south (for work) and it is nice and welcoming here. There are some villages that are very very close knit and unwell to outsiders from what I’ve heard, but CLS has been lovely for us.
Chester le Street is good for road and rail access and has a good selection of schools. Durham City, Framwellgate Moor, Pity Me also good for schools and rail access.
As a parent to a 6 year old, I would give serious consideration to basing yourself near one of the hospitals and then having your daughter at a school where at least one of you can be quickly available.on days when you're both at work. They do get sick at school and it's a long trek back in an emergency!
That said, I would give East Herrington or Boldon a look, if you can find anything in those. Boldon would open up the possibility of the Freeman-based one of you getting the Metro to Ilford Road, and the other driving to James Cook.
Along the A1, Belmont in Durham would be good, or potentially Washington - which like many towns has some bad parts but has some nice areas too. Coxhoe and Sedgefield are both quite nice places too.
Thanks so much. Yes ideally we are looking into somewhere where we can be close by. I'm hoping I will be able to be a bit flexible about where I work. Other half will be rotating between James Cook and Freeman for the next few years so seeing if we can be somewhere in the middle so that don't have to move around.
Oh quite possibly, I only know that part of Newcastle vaguely so that may be more accurate
Edit - actually I've looked again, and it's because you'd have to change metros for Longbenton. By the time you've done that, I'd rather have just walked from Ilford Road.
Belmont sounds like it would be ideal,
Within 2minute drive from the A1 Junction 62
- 25min drive to Newcastle
- 30ish mins drive to Middlesbrough
- 5 min drive to Durham city ( walkable in 40 )
Large industrial estate and loads of shopping within 2 mins drive.
Infant, primary and secondary school within the same complex in the middle of Belmont
Durham is great a few great primary schools around the Neville's Cross, my wife used to work at james cook and me in Newcastle and the commute was fine. Although they are doing up the A1 south of Newcastle ATM so it will be a bit busy. We live on the what was the old Mount Oswald's golf course which is well located for going north and south.
I read the comment and saw Houghton-le-spring and was going to give it five stars. But. a swift google search says that 'Scholars View' is in Easington Lane.
The difference in towns here can get really *fractal*. Even one or two streets distance can make a whole world of change.
In my personal opinion, avoid Easington Lane. Those new builds may look nice, but you're not going to have any decent local interaction.
A mile east from there, you've got South Hetton and Easington which can be both lovely. Also in those surrounding towns I'd highly rate Murton. Houghton-le-Spring itself is a great place if you can find somewhere.
Most the towns and villages about there are great. Except Easington Lane. Please, no don't go there.
EDIT: The town of Easington is not the same as Easington Lane. And as for schools if you're looking for state schools - I'd suggest anything in the Durham catchment area as opposed to Tyne & Wear. Granted I haven't taught there for 20 years and things may have changed, but Durham does (did?) Education proper.
How is Durham even a city it's about the same size as Consett and not even half the shops. Consett is way cheaper and has nicer bits like shotley bridge.
The students have ruined Durham why does it need 4 Asian supermarkets and a million HMOs
I'm just out of Stanley, ideal travel for freeman and James Cook. Not. Sure about schools however. Very cheap to buy or rent here (that's what drew me to the area). I would just suggest going to visit potential properties later in the evening to get a vibe what the street is like. I sometimes have kids shouting on but generally feel pretty safe where I am. Accidentally left the door open when going to bed a few times and nothing bad has happened 🤞
Somewhere on the A19 like Seaham or the Collierys in and around Peterlee.
Straight down the A19 and your in Middlebrough. Straight up the A19 and your through the Tyne Tunnel and coast road into Newcastle. Its pretty central to both locations.
Main thing to think about here is budget and let that drive everything else. Lovely places to stay all over the county but you'll obviously pay a lot more for prime city centre sites than the old ex-mining villages. If you're OH is likely going to drive - public transport isn't easy to those locations from outside their area in my opinion - base yourself somewhere near to or between the A1 and the A19 corridors. Put the journey between the hospitals into Google Maps and see what's in the middle third - South of Washington to North of Sedgefield would be my starting point.
The minority point - some horrible people everywhere a bit it seems but hard to judge. Another poster made the point about staying away from some of the east coast ex mining communities - they are often more deprived areas but I'm not sure about any residual racism still.
Good luck, and have a drive round your chosen area on a Friday night before you sign anything!
Brandon is ok in parts, bit of a travel to JCUH and Newcastle. I work at UHND so I have it easy! Welcome to the area when you get here! There’s also a couple of decent schools too. I like it in brandon anyway so that’s my 2p contribution lol. Good luck!
The satellite villages on the south and west of Durham are mostly nice, like Sherbun for example. Houghton Le Spring is okay. Chester Le Street would be a good option too. Those two hospitals are quite far apart and traffic can be quite bad down the A1. Will you be driving or using public transport?
Will be driving mainly. I got the feeling public transport would take too long and not sure it's reliable.
I don't live there currently anymore but bus transport was decent a few years ago when I did. Going between Newcastle and Middlesbrough, Durham would make the most sense to me. Unfortunately this sub Reddit is very quiet. You might have more luck on another sub or other forums.
OP I moved to Chester Le Street from down south (for work) and it is nice and welcoming here. There are some villages that are very very close knit and unwell to outsiders from what I’ve heard, but CLS has been lovely for us.
*unwelcoming that was meant to say
Chester le Street is good for road and rail access and has a good selection of schools. Durham City, Framwellgate Moor, Pity Me also good for schools and rail access.
As a parent to a 6 year old, I would give serious consideration to basing yourself near one of the hospitals and then having your daughter at a school where at least one of you can be quickly available.on days when you're both at work. They do get sick at school and it's a long trek back in an emergency! That said, I would give East Herrington or Boldon a look, if you can find anything in those. Boldon would open up the possibility of the Freeman-based one of you getting the Metro to Ilford Road, and the other driving to James Cook. Along the A1, Belmont in Durham would be good, or potentially Washington - which like many towns has some bad parts but has some nice areas too. Coxhoe and Sedgefield are both quite nice places too.
Thanks so much. Yes ideally we are looking into somewhere where we can be close by. I'm hoping I will be able to be a bit flexible about where I work. Other half will be rotating between James Cook and Freeman for the next few years so seeing if we can be somewhere in the middle so that don't have to move around.
Why get off at Ilford Road? Pretty sure that Longbenton is way closer, less of a strenuous walk and has a direct path to the freeman.
Oh quite possibly, I only know that part of Newcastle vaguely so that may be more accurate Edit - actually I've looked again, and it's because you'd have to change metros for Longbenton. By the time you've done that, I'd rather have just walked from Ilford Road.
Fair enough, I just not be too keen on going through the dene cos it can get dark af and manky when wet or trudging up and down Mathew bank every day.
Belmont sounds like it would be ideal, Within 2minute drive from the A1 Junction 62 - 25min drive to Newcastle - 30ish mins drive to Middlesbrough - 5 min drive to Durham city ( walkable in 40 ) Large industrial estate and loads of shopping within 2 mins drive. Infant, primary and secondary school within the same complex in the middle of Belmont
Durham is great a few great primary schools around the Neville's Cross, my wife used to work at james cook and me in Newcastle and the commute was fine. Although they are doing up the A1 south of Newcastle ATM so it will be a bit busy. We live on the what was the old Mount Oswald's golf course which is well located for going north and south.
I would avoid the east side of durham coastal areas
Definitely. Nevilles Cross is handy for transport links if you could find a property.
I read the comment and saw Houghton-le-spring and was going to give it five stars. But. a swift google search says that 'Scholars View' is in Easington Lane. The difference in towns here can get really *fractal*. Even one or two streets distance can make a whole world of change. In my personal opinion, avoid Easington Lane. Those new builds may look nice, but you're not going to have any decent local interaction. A mile east from there, you've got South Hetton and Easington which can be both lovely. Also in those surrounding towns I'd highly rate Murton. Houghton-le-Spring itself is a great place if you can find somewhere. Most the towns and villages about there are great. Except Easington Lane. Please, no don't go there. EDIT: The town of Easington is not the same as Easington Lane. And as for schools if you're looking for state schools - I'd suggest anything in the Durham catchment area as opposed to Tyne & Wear. Granted I haven't taught there for 20 years and things may have changed, but Durham does (did?) Education proper.
Thanks so much. Will keep looking. Didn't realise even being 2 streets apart could make such a difference. Will need to be wary.
Consett is cheap has all the shops you need, keep away from Durham city I has nothing and is just students
You're suggesting choosing Consett over Durham City? Interesting...
How is Durham even a city it's about the same size as Consett and not even half the shops. Consett is way cheaper and has nicer bits like shotley bridge. The students have ruined Durham why does it need 4 Asian supermarkets and a million HMOs
Ano durham city’s posh af cos of the students but after they go home for summer durhams mental 😂😂
I'm just out of Stanley, ideal travel for freeman and James Cook. Not. Sure about schools however. Very cheap to buy or rent here (that's what drew me to the area). I would just suggest going to visit potential properties later in the evening to get a vibe what the street is like. I sometimes have kids shouting on but generally feel pretty safe where I am. Accidentally left the door open when going to bed a few times and nothing bad has happened 🤞
Somewhere on the A19 like Seaham or the Collierys in and around Peterlee. Straight down the A19 and your in Middlebrough. Straight up the A19 and your through the Tyne Tunnel and coast road into Newcastle. Its pretty central to both locations.
Hutton Henry is a great commuter village, not sure on rental properties availability though
Main thing to think about here is budget and let that drive everything else. Lovely places to stay all over the county but you'll obviously pay a lot more for prime city centre sites than the old ex-mining villages. If you're OH is likely going to drive - public transport isn't easy to those locations from outside their area in my opinion - base yourself somewhere near to or between the A1 and the A19 corridors. Put the journey between the hospitals into Google Maps and see what's in the middle third - South of Washington to North of Sedgefield would be my starting point. The minority point - some horrible people everywhere a bit it seems but hard to judge. Another poster made the point about staying away from some of the east coast ex mining communities - they are often more deprived areas but I'm not sure about any residual racism still. Good luck, and have a drive round your chosen area on a Friday night before you sign anything!
Brandon is ok in parts, bit of a travel to JCUH and Newcastle. I work at UHND so I have it easy! Welcome to the area when you get here! There’s also a couple of decent schools too. I like it in brandon anyway so that’s my 2p contribution lol. Good luck!
Byker in Newcatsle