Discussion
My daughter - currently domiciled in rural Oxfordshire - is considering taking a job in Newcastle.
I know.
The employer is in the Fawdon area, in the northern suburbs. Naturally, she'll want to be avoiding the Wildlings and all other warring factions of the North, so what areas should she be looking at?
Which suburbs should she target, and which should she avoid? As much for good access to her place of work by car/public transport as the pleasant (or otherwise) nature of the locals.
Or would she better targeting villages just outside the city's main sprawl?
I know.
The employer is in the Fawdon area, in the northern suburbs. Naturally, she'll want to be avoiding the Wildlings and all other warring factions of the North, so what areas should she be looking at?
Which suburbs should she target, and which should she avoid? As much for good access to her place of work by car/public transport as the pleasant (or otherwise) nature of the locals.
Or would she better targeting villages just outside the city's main sprawl?
I was at Newcastle University 25 years ago and the areas were just as P4cks describes then, seems like nothing much has changed.
I lived in Jesmond and Gosforth, the future Mrs JKH chose to save on rent and lived in Fenham (known as 'nam). I hated taking my car when I went round to see her.
I lived in Jesmond and Gosforth, the future Mrs JKH chose to save on rent and lived in Fenham (known as 'nam). I hated taking my car when I went round to see her.
Edited by jkh112 on Saturday 14th May 14:44
Immediately on the doorstep of fawdon are..
Kingston park, pleasant enough, average houses, average prices
Great North Park, ultra modern, nicer houses, nicer prices
Gosforth, older larger houses, more traditional
Fawdon, slightly downmarket houses, not as nice an area as above
All in my opinion only
Kingston park, pleasant enough, average houses, average prices
Great North Park, ultra modern, nicer houses, nicer prices
Gosforth, older larger houses, more traditional
Fawdon, slightly downmarket houses, not as nice an area as above
All in my opinion only
looking slightly further afield ponteland is quite nice (it has a waitrose)
I have been in newcastle for 5 years - lived in gosforth - didnt much like it, I think its over rated, although being near the Town Moor was quite nice,
we then moved to Benton, which was more convenient for my commute on the A19, Currently in Forest hall, which again is quite handy for my commute - I travel down to Teesside and up to northumberland during the week, but the A19 corridor works better for me (avoids the horrible traffic on the A1 West of the city.
I have been in newcastle for 5 years - lived in gosforth - didnt much like it, I think its over rated, although being near the Town Moor was quite nice,
we then moved to Benton, which was more convenient for my commute on the A19, Currently in Forest hall, which again is quite handy for my commute - I travel down to Teesside and up to northumberland during the week, but the A19 corridor works better for me (avoids the horrible traffic on the A1 West of the city.
But Fawdon is west of the town.
You were travelling along the eastern A19.
All depends upon her financial situation, west end is populated by staff from the hospital and a lot of asians with a few good asian food shops.
Gosforth deemed posh.
Newbiggin Hall area is, I suggest, a no.
Further afield Tynemouth was always nice (cos I lived there)
Whitley Bay also popular but pricy
Jesmond east of Newcastle full of students
Jesmond Road had a lot of decent restaurants and bars.
Benton & Heaton also east full of posh students
Newcastle is a lot busier than when I was there, I worked in Newcastle for 15 years and lived in the North East for 50.
You were travelling along the eastern A19.
All depends upon her financial situation, west end is populated by staff from the hospital and a lot of asians with a few good asian food shops.
Gosforth deemed posh.
Newbiggin Hall area is, I suggest, a no.
Further afield Tynemouth was always nice (cos I lived there)
Whitley Bay also popular but pricy
Jesmond east of Newcastle full of students
Jesmond Road had a lot of decent restaurants and bars.
Benton & Heaton also east full of posh students
Newcastle is a lot busier than when I was there, I worked in Newcastle for 15 years and lived in the North East for 50.
p4cks said:
Jesmond is nice, and expensive.
Gosforth is nice, and expensive.
Byker is a dump, and cheap.
Longbenton is average, and average.
Sunderland is awful, and cheap.
Tynemouth is nice, and expensive.
North Shields is OK, and average.
South Shields is OK, and average.
Heaton? Chillingham road has a great vibe. ^ You can't really avoid students in Newcastle Gosforth is nice, and expensive.
Byker is a dump, and cheap.
Longbenton is average, and average.
Sunderland is awful, and cheap.
Tynemouth is nice, and expensive.
North Shields is OK, and average.
South Shields is OK, and average.
Job at Nestle by any chance?
If she intends to use public transport for work or getting into Newcastle for a night out etc, it would be hard to argue against Gosforth or Kingston Park. Kingston park is a quiet family type area. Gosforth a bit more diverse, quite decent and more of a town in it's own right. Gosforth can be expensive but it covers quite a big area. There are cheap(ish) areas nearer South Gosforth Metro (near freeman hospital etc) as well as to the North. Anything within walking distance of S.Gosforth metro or Regent centre metro would make a lot of sense. Anything east of there requires a change of metro to get out towards Fawdon which would be a pain if she ends up using the metro daily. Jesmond is nice enough but very student centric though Ilford Road area might be a reasonable compromise.
If she intends to use public transport for work or getting into Newcastle for a night out etc, it would be hard to argue against Gosforth or Kingston Park. Kingston park is a quiet family type area. Gosforth a bit more diverse, quite decent and more of a town in it's own right. Gosforth can be expensive but it covers quite a big area. There are cheap(ish) areas nearer South Gosforth Metro (near freeman hospital etc) as well as to the North. Anything within walking distance of S.Gosforth metro or Regent centre metro would make a lot of sense. Anything east of there requires a change of metro to get out towards Fawdon which would be a pain if she ends up using the metro daily. Jesmond is nice enough but very student centric though Ilford Road area might be a reasonable compromise.
SHutchinson said:
The answer all depends on what type of person she is. Does she want a nice detached house with big garage and sprawling lawns or would she prefer being in the heart of the city? The North East has it all, Fawdon is an easy commute from pretty much everywhere too.
What he said.Plus, what can she afford?
Don't forget some rather pleasant and different city centre developments. Flats and houses in and around the Quayside. Not sure what St Peter's Baisin - homes round a Marina (Boats not old wrecked car as it would have been 30 years ago) used to be quite good round there but I've not been down there for something like fifteen years.
Areas to avoid:
Fawdon isn't great.
Blakelaw/Cowgate are s
tholes.Byker, Walker Wallsend,not nice.
North Shields. Great in parts, the East of the town. A frontier town in the West.
Basically avoid the West end of Newcastle.
Areas you could look at.
Sandyford. Studenty but handy for town.
Heaton, a bit further out, as above, students. Chilly Rd is great. Hendrix busked there allegedly.
Fenham. Parts are really nice. Good for town.
Whitley Bay is a bit run down but there are some great areas to consider like Briardene, and the A,B,C roads as estate agents call one area. Also Red House. Don't overlook the Marden Estate, nice family 1960's semis close to shops, the beach and a nature reserve in an old quarry. Look at Monoseston too. Some cracking houses especially round Churchill playing fields.
It all depends on what she's prepared to pay, and how long she wants to travel.
Further out, you can't go wrong with Morpeth. A market town north of Newcastle. I had to go there on the train the other week. I was expecting a trek. It was a 20 minute journey in rush hour on an uncrowded train from Newcastle. It's got good access via the A1 to the north of Newcastle and it's just a nice country town.
Corbridge and Hexham along the Tyne Valley are probably a bit far out, but many do commute from there. They are pleasant country towns.
Ponteland is worth a look. The "posh" bit, Darras Hall is basically a massive expensive estate. It should be on the "A Bit Council" thread as its wall to wall footballer and WAGs. I exaggerate but I grew up in Pont and a lot of the nice middle class detached homes have been knocked down and replaced with vulgar portico fronted new builds.
Don't rule Ponteland out. It is a very nice place with some decent homes. Not all of them silly money either.
The best has to be Tynemouth. Expensive, and popular for a reason. Blue flag beaches, a castle and ruined priory. Great pubs and restaurants. An incredibly popular trendy weekend market at the station - antiques, cupcakes and s
t. Superb public transport. Metro to Fawdon is dead easy. As is Metro to town or the airport. You've got great busses, a lot of choice for local supermarkets, a retail park and cinema close at hand. There's a recently restored Victorian park. Cricket and rugby clubs, tennis, sailing, and easy access to the A1 A19 Tyne Tynnel and a ferry link to Amsterdam.I love Tynemouth. That's why I live there.
Edited by wildcat45 on Wednesday 18th May 18:06
Tynemouth is great.
A mate of mine (local lad) settled down with his missus, who's from London. Her parents had never visited the North East and were absolutely convinced that it was the home of Wildlings and Trainspotting and whatever else. First time they came to visit, they left their car (I forget what it was, but it was Shed territory - nothing that would attract attention) in Hartlepool and got the train into Newcastle. For fear of vandalism and / or theft.
Nuts. Absolutely nuts.
Darras Hall and Ponteland are fairly swish, if you have the money. The accents around there would make her feel right at home, too.
A mate of mine (local lad) settled down with his missus, who's from London. Her parents had never visited the North East and were absolutely convinced that it was the home of Wildlings and Trainspotting and whatever else. First time they came to visit, they left their car (I forget what it was, but it was Shed territory - nothing that would attract attention) in Hartlepool and got the train into Newcastle. For fear of vandalism and / or theft.
Nuts. Absolutely nuts.
Darras Hall and Ponteland are fairly swish, if you have the money. The accents around there would make her feel right at home, too.
Boring_Chris said:
Tynemouth is great.
A mate of mine (local lad) settled down with his missus, who's from London. Her parents had never visited the North East and were absolutely convinced that it was the home of Wildlings and Trainspotting and whatever else. First time they came to visit, they left their car (I forget what it was, but it was Shed territory - nothing that would attract attention) in Hartlepool and got the train into Newcastle. For fear of vandalism and / or theft.
Nuts. Absolutely nuts.
Darras Hall and Ponteland are fairly swish, if you have the money. The accents around there would make her feel right at home, too.
Classic!A mate of mine (local lad) settled down with his missus, who's from London. Her parents had never visited the North East and were absolutely convinced that it was the home of Wildlings and Trainspotting and whatever else. First time they came to visit, they left their car (I forget what it was, but it was Shed territory - nothing that would attract attention) in Hartlepool and got the train into Newcastle. For fear of vandalism and / or theft.
Nuts. Absolutely nuts.
Darras Hall and Ponteland are fairly swish, if you have the money. The accents around there would make her feel right at home, too.
A relative of my wife's visited the North East for the first time a few months ago. Stayed with us in Low Fell. We took a trip up to Holy Island and then drove back down the coastal route. I suggested we hug the coast all the way down to Tynemouth and then head back inland through the centre of Newcastle. Her question; "is that safe?". I assume she was expecting a car jacking by a local tribe or maybe a rogue highway man to bring us to a halt.
Gassing Station | North East | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff