Nice areas to live in North East England?

Question

We're thinking of moving somewhere between Durham and Newcastle, we want a rural/village location, very low crime and very good school catchment areas.

As long as we're 30 minutes or so from Newcastle or Durham we're not too worried about where exactly.

What villages will be nicest and best to bring up kids?

Depending what we get for our current house we may have up to £300000 to spend on a nice house, with 4 beds and a decent sized garden.

The most important aspects are: low crime, good schools and good community.

Answer 1

Hexham would be my suggestion, although I don’t know the property market that well. I wouldn’t bother with South Shields, unless you’re going to look at Cleadon or East Boldon to the South which are more rural and ‘middle class’, indeed Cleadon boasts former residents, Charles Dickens and Oliver Cromwell! At least that’s what Wikipedia tells me.

If you want something in the city, I’d suggest looking at South Gosforth. Then again, there are some rather nice parts of Sunderland. One advantage of living south of the Tyne is that you won’t have to contend with the Tyne Tunnel too often.

Answer 2

I live in Prudhoe which is a great town. It is situated in between Newcastle and Hexham on the river and has good transport links. Prudhoe is a bit more town like than you may want though but you will be able to get a decent house for 300000. Stocksfield, Wylam and Ovingham are surrounding Prudhoe on each side (the forth is just fields). They are more village like but the housing is costs are higher. The schools are good. I am 16 and love where I live. Oh yeah. And there is a lovely Norman castle on our doorstep. Wylam was George Stevenson's birthplace.

http://www.prudhoe.org/

http://www.wylamontyne.co.uk/

http://www.stocksfield.org/

http://communities.northumberland.gov.uk...

http://www.ovinghamgoosefair.org.uk/

http://www.ridingmill.org/

Email me for more info.

xX

Answer 3

Sunny South shields!!

Answer 4

Annfield Plain has everything you want its in between Newcastle and Durham its a villiage.Low crime,school in villiage and another school 5 minutes up the road.

hope it helps