Moving to Newcastle

[zuby84]

Hey guys,

I've just got a new job through starting in August based around Newcastle and will be moving down from Glasgow.

For 8 months I am going to be in Morpeth and for 4 months I am going to be in Hexham. Whilst this is not ideal as I wanted to be in Newcastle city itself; does anyone know what kind of commute times we are talking about from Newcastle to Hexham and Morpeth if I decide to stay in Newcastle itself? Googlemaps tells me 30mins each way roughly, but what about the traffic?

Also with the above in mind; what would be the best location to get a flat in?

Cheers

[SeanyD]

Welcome Zuby.

Absolutely right, Hexham and Morpeth both about half an hour from Newcastle city centre. Hexham being west along the A69, Morpeth being north up the A1. A1 gets a bit slow especially during rush hours, but you'd miss the worst of it (between Newcastle and Washington). Both nice enough areas to work.

If you're after a city centre flat, Quayside is very nice but can be expensive, Jesmond is nice enough if you dont mind being around students. Both easily walkable to the city centre, and both offer decent selection of bars/restaurants etc.

Edited by SeanyD on Tuesday 21st April 14:45

[shoggoth1]

I don't think traffic would be much of an issue, you would be going against the flow as it were. You'll be leaving town as everyone else is trying to get in and vice-versa (and, as Sean states, you're not going near the bad bit anyway).

[OlberJ]

Good choice chief. Am sure you'll much prefer the East coast weather to our old constant Glasgow drizzle.

As mentioned already, as long as you're going the "wrong" way then the traffic's not bad on A1 or A69.

Forget where you're going to be living, what do you drive?

[zuby84]

Cheers guys, doesn't sound too bad then as long as I'm going the "wrong way"; but is getting onto the A66 or A1 a hassle during rush hour Newcastle city centre traffic? Will I be driving around for yonks before I actually get onto these big roads if I live centrally? If that's the case then maybe I should get a place right next to one of the dual carriageways? Decisons decisons....

Olberj, I drive a S320 (07) and a 190 toyota celica (03) just now; was really considering getting something a bit nippier if I got the placement in the city itself, but looks like I'll have to get something with good fuel economy now with my daily commute looming.

Cheers

[OlberJ]

LPG is your friend.

Have a fun car with plenty of poke and a decent sized engine but keep the running costs down.

That's what i planned for my ST202. V6 engine and an LPG tank.

Afraid i can't help on the Newcastle exact areas, i'm a Durham lad atm, but the places suggested above are nice places to stay, sister used to live in Jesmond and i know someone in the quayside and he loves it.

[kremlingazette]

I live Morpeth and used to travel daily to whickham, its only 16 miles and if you left home about 720am you could get a reasonably straight run in to work.

The A1 isnt brilliant but its not as bad as some parts of the UK.

Morpeth is a nice place to live, busy getting a rebuild to the town centre,bigger M&S, Next etc I like Hexham but prefer Morpeth.

Good selection of bars & restaurants, good schools if you have bambinos.

Good choice...

[SeanyD]

zuby84 said:

Will I be driving around for yonks before I actually get onto these big roads if I live centrally?

Depending where you choose its usually not too bad - during rush hour expect around 15 minutes from city centre to either the A1 or A69 - only caveat I would point out is there's MAJOR roadworks planned for the A1 around July time, and the knock on effect is likely to be huge. Although its during school holidays, which will ease the burden a bit, it could still be a nightmare for most major routes in the area.

Edited to say just seen you're starting August, so should miss most of the above - doh

Edited by SeanyD on Wednesday 22 April 09:06

[Pwig]

Newcastle is one of the easiest cities I know of for getting in and out of. From the centre to the edge in about 10 mins if the traffic is clear!

[minimoog]

Pwig said:

Newcastle is one of the easiest cities I know of for getting in and out of. From the centre to the edge in about 10 mins if the traffic is clear!

As 15-mile commutes go, those two are pish easy.

Should be plenty of semi-suicidal buy-to-letters clamouring to rent you a Quayside flat if you so desire, otherwise the usual suspect is Jesmond as mentioned.

Morpeth and Hexham both pleasant towns though, the former probably the better (and no Egger factory blighting the view).

[Pwig]

I'm moving out of the quayside next month. I've done the whole batchelor pad thing now

[zuby84]

That's sounding good, I prefer the quayside flats as opposed to the older Jesmond properties. But what is Quayside like to live in; are there lots of empty properties around and are these new buildings going into disrepair as is the case with a lot of these "new executive apartments" throughout the country? there's no traffic bottlenecks in the Quayside is there?

Cheers

[minimoog]

There seem to be plenty of new build flats to rent at the western end of the quayside (bottom of Forth Banks), but tbh there's eff-all going on down there, and even the bars etc are another few hundred metres east. No atmosphere in other words. On the other hand, it's only a 10 min stroll up into town and some good bars round the station, and good chinese and indian restaurants are on the doorstep. No real traffic bottleneck at that end as you just nip along the riverside road and you'll be on the A1 in less than 10mins. The further east along the quay you go the stickier it gets but still nothing compared to some places.

If you want a more villagey vibe it probably has to be the more mature suburbs.

Edit: should add that the flats at the other end of the quay, whilst taking a bit longer to drive to, are near the Ouseburn area which has some good bars of the slightly scuzzier/hipper/studenty variety. If that appeals.

Edited by minimoog on Wednesday 22 April 16:59

[derestrictor]

Ah, the A69: used to employ it for stability trials in The Schmidts' old 100CD {manual} in those days, you could maintain 120-135 all the way from the Hexham on ramp, right across to the West Rd and get back to digs in time for burnt fish fingers, carciogenic mushrooms, green slime masquerading as pea, a celebratory swig of 'Double Max' and a doobie. Apparently.

[shoggoth1]

Also, down the Quayside - especially if near the Baltic Apartments - you'll have various 'Escorts' close to hand to while away those lonely evenings when you don't fancy the pub. A few seem to operate from there (this is by no means a cheap option going by the prices on their respective web sites and that they can afford to live there in the first place).

[derestrictor]

(Good boy, btw.)

[OlberJ]

As long as your within shotting distance of the long bar, doesn't matter where you live.

The fanny in there is always tremendous. Revolution is wall to wall talent but a touch snobby.

[zuby84]

Hey,

I'm going down to visit this coming weekend and maybe arrange some flat viewings. I'm really considering getting a place on the suburbs (Fenham, Kenton etc..) ie West and close to the A1/A69 - I've been told by other people it will take 30mins to get out from the quayside from the morning. Are these decent places to live? I've been told Fenham has a good and bad area, which is which?

just to put a spanner in the works; I'm looking at a 996tt or F360 so need to have a driveway/garage for insurance purposes. I doubt there would be many of these around in the Quayside.

Cheers

[SeanyD]

Fenham and Kenton are both a mixed bag to be honest, choose carefully, and both border on some not so nice areas.

Fenham, look around Gretna Road areas, or posh end just off central motorway and town moor, stay away from the top end (West Road areas towards city centre, General Hospital area)

Kenton, generally a bit safer, look around Kenton Bank Foot / Kingston Park (my home), stay away from Cowgate and Blakelaw areas.

Edited to say a Porsche or Ferrari will stand out in these areas. Also dont rule out quayside, many come with secure private/underground parking.

Edited by SeanyD on Wednesday 27th May 18:24

[Cabinet Enforcer]

zuby84 said:

Hey,

I'm going down to visit this coming weekend and maybe arrange some flat viewings. I'm really considering getting a place on the suburbs (Fenham, Kenton etc..) ie West and close to the A1/A69 - I've been told by other people it will take 30mins to get out from the quayside from the morning. Are these decent places to live? I've been told Fenham has a good and bad area, which is which?

just to put a spanner in the works; I'm looking at a 996tt or F360 so need to have a driveway/garage for insurance purposes. I doubt there would be many of these around in the Quayside.

Cheers

What about the Ponteland area? Short but roads to both Hexham and Morpeth. Short taxi ride to the Airport Metro station for access into town. Insurance will we a lot cheaper out there too.