Newcastle upon Tyne is a true jewel in the North, and the city that has come to define an entire quarter of England. This sprawling and variegated northern powerhouse is the northern-most city in England, a river-straddling metropolitan borough with centuries of culture and commerce behind its vibrant present-day form.
Naturally, it’s one of the more popular places for prospective new homeowners to go looking. Of course, the many factors that make Newcastle so appealing to so many might not be immediately obvious to you – in which case, let the following take you through the ins and outs of this excellent Northern powerhouse, and where specifically might draw your eye as a potential place to set down roots.
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The Appeal of City Centre Living
There’s no better place to start than Newcastle’s yet-thriving city centre. Newcastle has seen significant development in the past century, and continues to build on its already-prolific Gothic architecture to offer a generation-spanning, maximalist hotbed of amenities and cultural spots. The nightlife is particularly remarkable for its thriving independent music scene, from small community-led venues to tastemaker gig spots and beyond.
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Exploring Suburban Areas
While city-centre living may appeal to young professionals, it is the suburban areas which will attract the vast majority of folks looking at new homes in the region. For families seeking a quieter lifestyle, with green spaces and community-friendly environments immediately at hand, suburbs like Heaton and Gosforth are the best first places to look – offering as they do a perfect balance of tranquility and convenience.
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Affordable New Builds in Up-and-Coming Areas
These suburbs are established areas, though, and with the reputation they hold can attract higher house prices as a result. If you have a little less in the property-buying kitty, then you may be on the lookout for more affordable new-build property opportunities in areas on the rise.
With this in mind, areas on the outskirts of the city are the best place to look, and a hotbed for rapid development thanks to high levels of demand. Ouseburn has already ‘come up’ to some extent, but is still developing as an area – making it an excellent ready-made option for someone hoping to arrive to some culture.
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Family-Friendly Locations
If you have a family in tow, and are looking to slot right in to a neighbourhood that will meet your needs across the board, you could do worse than Jesmond – which is known for its family-friendly atmosphere, and which benefits from excellent schools as well as bountiful local amenities.
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Public Transport Links: How Accessibility Affects Your Choice
As with any house-buying decision, you decision as to where to live in Newcastle needs to account for your travel needs. You may drive, but public transport remains a considerable factor in the accessibility of amenities, and the connectivity of family to schools, hospitals or even the workplace. The Tyne and Wear tram system is extensive and easy to use, touching all of the locations mentioned above; Newcastle’s bus service is also prodigious, and a useful asset to have near your eventual new-build.