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Home , Alnmouth, Durham Castle, Tyneside, Whitley Bay

LIFE IN THE NORTH-EAST REGION OVERVIEW

The North East of is a great place to live and work For generations it has been known for its historic coastlines, cities, and countryside and in recent times it has also emerged as a leading cultural and culinary destination. One third of the region is designated as a National Park or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and this natural environment is complemented by a rich history, with two World Heritage Sites and a wealth of , historic houses and gardens. Its stunning coastline, with many wide golden beaches, gives way to expanses of forest trails, lakes, moors and hills; all within a short drive from the region’s main towns and cities. The region is linked by a first-rate transport network, with well-developed UK-wide road, rail transport connections and Newcastle International Airport. Newcastle, and Durham is famous for its prestigious university and breathtaking countryside. Durham City is just a short 15-minute train journey from Newcastle Central station, but its historic sites and outstanding views stand in stark contrast to the metropolitan sprawl of Newcastle and Gateshead.

United by seven bridges across a spectacular river, Newcastle city on the north bank of the , and Gateshead on the south bank, form a thriving area. With a variety of different areas to explore, you’ll be amazed at how much is on offer; from art and culture to vibrant nightlife, award- winning dining and excellent shopping including the Metro Centre - a large shopping and leisure complex.

2 1 TRAVEL LINKS

Air Travel Newcastle Airport is the second busiest airport in with 14 passenger airlines regularly flying passengers to over 50 destinations worldwide, including popular destinations such as London Heathrow, Amsterdam, Dublin, Krakow, Barcelona,Helsinki, Dubai and Dusseldorf. Travel to and from the airport to and Durham is simple, with trains running regularly from neighbouring counties to Newcastle and a regular metro service from to Newcastle Airport. Tees Valley Airport is located just outside of Darlington, around 35 minutes by car away from Durham City. With direct flights internally and to Amsterdam, passengers can reach a wide variety of destinations by changing at Amsterdam Schiphol or London Heathrow. Rail Travel Newcastle Train Station has good links to most rail stations around the UK, with services regularly to London, including high-speed services to get to London in around 2 and a half hours. Commuters travelling North can expect to reach in around 1.5 hours. Rail cards can be purchased to reduce prices by up to a third and are open to a large proportion of the population.

Tyne & Wear Metro The Tyne & Wear Metro (referred to locally simply as ‘The Metro’) is a rapid transit system in North-East England serving , Gateshead, South , and . It spans 48 miles and has two lines with a total of 60 stations, nine of which are underground. Single Zone season tickets can be purchased for around £11 per week or All Zone tickets can be had for around £22 per week. Tickets can also be purchased on a pay as you go basis.

3 THINGS TO DO

Heritage The North-East is home to a whole raft of historical sites and landmarks, from Durham built in 1072 to the wonderful Castle which featured heavily in the Harry Potter films. The Segedunum Fort marking the start of Hadrian’s Wall in is worth a visit for those interested in the Roman Empire, and Beamish Museum is a delightful blast from the past. Edinburgh is also within day-trip distance of the North-East, being only 2.5 hours by car or 1.5 hours by train, and encapsulates thousands of years of history in its architecture and landscapes. Culture Durham residents who want to things local may visit the Gala Theatre in Durham or attend one of the numerous events that holds. Those who don’t mind travelling further afield will spend a lot of their time in Newcastle and , where numerous film festivals, music festivals, musicals and plays can be found year- round. The BALTIC Centre in Gateshead showcases some of the best contemporary art from around the globe, housed in a stunning former flour mill built in 1950. Fans of classical and experimental music flock to the hard-to-miss Sage Gateshead, which also holds music lessons and workshops. Fans of comedy and the theatre may also want to take the train to Edinburgh for the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August.

Nightlife Newcastle-upon-Tyne is famed for its nightlife, so much so that Tripadvisor lists it as the 3rd best city in Europe for nightlife. There is an abundance of bars along Newcastle’s picturesque Quayside, with more dotted around the various central areas of Collingwood Street, Neville Street and around Newcastle Central Station. Foodies may want to visit Newcastle’s Michelin star restaurant House of Tides, or one of the numerous other fine-dining restaurants in Newcastle’s town centre. Durham has a bustling nightlife scene, with a wide range of cocktail bars, gin clubs, traditional pubs, fine restaurants and quirky bars on offer. Bars of note include The Boat Club, Ebony Champagne Bar, and the quirky Tin of Sardines. Restaurants to visit include Zen for pan-asian food and The Cellar Door for fine British cuisine with excellent views.

4 THINGS TO DO

Nature Those with an interest in nature will enjoy the multitude of walks in and around Durham and Northumberland, and the breathtaking coastlines are not to be missed. Northumberland National Park is the most remote from large urban areas, least visited and least populated of the 11 national parks in England and Wales, and is ideal for those who prefer to get away from it all for some peace and solitude. Only around 2 hours away by car, the is also within day-trip distance of the North-East, and features some of the most stunning landscapes in the country, with hundreds of trails available for walkers of all skill and experience ranges. Sport & Adventure Newcastle upon Tyne and the surrounding area boasts a wide range of sports clubs, including rowing, judo, swimming, water polo, netball, cycling, boxing, football, rock climbing and fencing. With its proximity to , the Lake District and the Peak District, and the opportunities within the North-East itself, the area is famed for its adventure sports. For rock climbers, Northumberland has 184 predominantly sandstone crags, including Kyloe, Shaftoe and Bowden Doors, each with over 300 climbs, and excellent transport links to the Lake District and southern Scotland for even more variety. The North-East has great canoeing and kayaking areas, and its long sandy beaches make it a popular destination for kitesurfing and sailing. Head out to the Farne Islands to dive with the grey seals, or go inland to experience Kielder Water and Forest Park - Northern Europe’s largest artificial lake - for sailing and waterskiing.

5 PLACES TO LIVE

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne is the most populous city in the North-East and the eighth most populous in the UK. Popular places to live in Newcastle are the City Centre, the Quayside, and , which are all within walking or Metro distance of Newcastle Central Station. Those looking to live a bit further out of the centre might consider , Whitley Bay or Gateshead on the South bank of the River Tyne. Employees living in Newcastle can expect a 40 minute commute by car or a 1 hour commute by train to . Durham Employees who prefer to live further south sometimes look to Durham for accommodation. Durham has all the amenities of a small city without the problems of living in a large city such as Newcastle. Desirable areas include Durham City, Nevilles Cross, Rushyford, Shincliffe and High Shincliffe. Some reputable estate agents in the area are Robinson’s and Wood’s, and Frampton Roebuck for rentals.

Northumberland People looking for a quieter lifestlye may want to consider living in Northumberland. Northumberland has no large towns or cities, with only 15,000 people calling its largest settlement, Morpeth, home. Alnwick is also a popular choice for people looking to move to Northumberland due to its strong community feel. is another popular choice, having recently been named as one of the happiest places to live in Britain.

6 ALNWICK

Culture Alnwick is one of the top tourist destinations in the North of England and is the location of perhaps one of the most recognisable castles in the world. is not only one of the largest inhabited castles in England, but was also the location of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. The castle’s beautiful gardens are also well worth a visit, and the Poison Gardens should not be missed. The Poison Gardens were opened in 2005 and feature over 100 species of deadly plants. Barter Books is another Alnwick treasure, welcoming over 350,000 visitors per year as one of the largest second hand bookshops in Europe. The shop is also famed for being the site of the re-discovery and subsequent popularisation of the ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ series of posters. Schools Within Alnwick town there are three primary schools and one high school, and all have been rated as either good or outstanding in recent Ofsted inspections. There is a multitude of smaller rural schools in the wider Alnwick area, so wherever you may choose to live, you won’t be too far from a school.

Transport Alnwick is served by Alnmouth Rail Station with a regular bus service from Alnwick town centre to the station, for national public transport travel. Buses also regularly run to Newcastle town centre, and if travelling by car, Alnwick is located just off the A1.

Shops & Restaurants Alnwick town centre is filled with locally-owned independent shops, covering all of your needs from clothing, electronics and sports to butchers, cheesemongers and even a wool shop. Alnwick Marketplace holds a market every Saturday all year round from 9am-4pm and on Thursdays from April to December, with a farmers market on the last Friday of every month. Alnwick also has a great range of cafes, restaurants and pubs, including the Rocking Horse Cafe & Gallery, The Running Fox, Thai Vibe, The Horseshoes Inn and The Tavern Steakhouse.

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