People from Newcastle: What's it like to live in Newcastle City? (read on)?

Question

We have 3 weeks to find a flat and move there from Edinburgh. Are rents high? We're looking for a 1 bedroomed flat around or close the centre. What are the best areas? What's the City like? Any information would be greatly appreciated!! Also, I will be looking for a job in banking, call centre or something like that...

Answer 1

Newcastle is a great place to visit, work or live in - despite what you might sometimes hear. Renting a place there is about the same or less than most English cities but prices are steadily rising all the time. The city centre is very modern, with lots of great shops, restaurants and other places to visit. You certainly won't get bored there.Geordies are also some of the most friendly and welcoming people around. The nightlife is also superb - there's something for everyone.

As far as work goes - you shouldn't have a problem. Northern Rock, Orange, 02, NHS Direct and many other firms have large call centres in or around Newcastle city centre. There are a lot of smaller places based around the Quayside area too. Banking should be fairly easy to get into as well, I would imagine.

Like any city in the UK, Newcastle has it's good bits and bad bits to live in. Jesmond (which is literally about 10 minutes walk north from the city centre) is a beautiful area, although rent is getting quite steep there. A bit further north, is Gosforth which is also very nice and possibly a bit more affordable. Heaton is also quite a decent place to live. It has a fairly mixed community. Friends of mine have just bought a 2 bedroomed house there for under 120k. I imagine city centre flats are quite expensive nowadays, but you might also think about trying area's like Longbenton and Forest Hall.

If there's anything else you would like to know about the area, please feel free to ask. I've lived in a few English cities in my time and Newcastle will always be my favourite.

Answer 2

Longbenton used to have a rough reputation, but in the last few years since they builders have taken over the estate and with the modernisation and development, its quite nice now.

In Longbenton, you are close to an infant school on the estate and a high school on the other side of the Metro line.

There are a few bus routes that runs through the estate to good locations, city centre, hospital, killingworth shopping centre etc. Also the Metro line runs through with the City Centre being only 10 minutes away.

As you have pointed out, there are now houses for sale on the estate. A lot were bought in the beginning to rent out, but are now selling on. I have always found Longbenton to be a quiet area and an ideally situated place to live.