North East England

With beautiful beaches, lakes and mountains just a short drive from most towns and cities, a move to the North East is a step towards a fantastic work life balance, more freedom to unwind and more time for family life.

Whether hiking through the Northumberland National Park as red kites soar overhead or enjoying a family picnic at Derwent Walk Country Park, Gateshead, you’ll soon feel a million miles away from the workplace.

Cyclists will be in heaven with Britain’s most popular long-distance route, the C2C, on their doorstep. The 174-mile coast-to-coast route takes in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as well as stunning Border scenery.

"With beautiful beaches, lakes and mountains just a short drive from most towns and cities, a move to the North East is a step towards a fantastic work life balance."

For mountain biking, Kielder Water & Forest Park has some of the best single track trails in the UK. Or why not test your talents on ‘The Loop’ within the 2,000 hectares of Hamsterley Forest in County Durham?

With so much glorious coastline, you’ll find an abundance of water sports too. The North East can provide some of the best quality waves in the country, with Tynemouth a particular magnet for surfers. For excellent sailing and windsurfing, head for Bamburgh Castle and Beadnell Bay in Northumberland or Saltburn in Tees Valley.

Divers can head for the Marine Reserve off the Northumberland coast at St Abbs and Eyemouth, which is ranked amongst the top dive sites in Europe.

The North East is a tranquil place for enjoying fishing lakes and rivers such as Jubilee Lakes, near Darlington, Tees Valley, voted one of the top small stillwaters in the country.

Golf is also a popular pastime with over 100 courses including the renowned championship standard Slaley Hall in  Northumberland.

Thrill seekers can try their hand at the Chris Birkbeck International Rally School in Saltburn, Tees Valley or bungee jump off Middlesbrough’s Transporter Bridge.

With world class music venues catering to every taste, a thriving comedy scene and more theatres per person than anywhere in the UK, your social life will be busy for months ahead.

Be part of the sea of hands at NewcastleGateshead’s Evolution Festival each Spring, which attracts names like Duffy and Dizzee Rascal or head for Middlesbrough Music Live, a hugely successful festival which takes over the city in June.

Many venues across the North East present a diverse offering, such as The Forum in Darlington, Tees Valley which stages reggae, opera, blues and comedy all under the same roof. Not to be missed are the amazing acoustics at The Sage Gateshead, home to Northern Sinfonia and Folkworks.

"With big capacity venues, international music festivals and a vibrant nightlife, your social life will be busy for months ahead."

Big capacity venues like the Metro Radio Arena and City Hall in Newcastle attract huge stars, as does the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, which has played host to Take That, Kasabian and Oasis.

Durham’s two-week International Brass Festival in July is another highlight while outdoor Summer concerts at historic landmarks are perfect for a champagne picnic. Look out for events at The National Trust’s Gibside in Durham or English Heritage’s Gisborough Priory.

In Tees Valley, The Stockton International Riverside Festival transforms the streets of Stockton into an arena for astounding shows and spectacular events and in Northumberland, the Alnwick International Music Festival is the largest independent festival in the country.

With theatre, The Sunderland Empire is known as ‘the West End of the North’ while The Customs House in South Shields is South Tyneside’s premier arts centre and great for family shows. Durham’s Gala Theatre on the banks of the Wear is a stunning modern building where you can enjoy music, plays, panto, comedy and dance.

A much-loved landmark, The Theatre Royal in Newcastle has over 380 performances every year from Shakespeare to West End hits, there’s plenty to choose from.

When it comes to nightlife, you’ll find everything from laid-back wine bars and trendsetting design-led venues to traditional watering holes and fun theme pubs.

There are clubs aplenty for all music tastes such as intimate jazz and salsa venues as well as large scale super clubs attracting Internationally renowned DJs.

With so many venues, both large and small, the North East gives you entertainment every day of the week.

From fine dining and family gastro pubs to traditional Inns and Bohemian cafes, the North East caters to all tastes.

Whether you prefer local specialties like Craster smoked haddock and Northumbrian cheeses or exotic flavours from Europe, Asia or South America, there’s a restaurant for you.

For exquisite fine dining, the White Room at five-star Seaham Hall Hotel, Durham has three AA rosettes and has been named one of the top 20 restaurants outside London.

"North East England has a mouth-watering choice of restaurants and pubs, each with new and delicious menus of high quality local produce."

In Newcastle, Terry Laybourne’s Jesmond Dene Hotel has three AA rosettes and is famed for its delicious afternoon teas while sister restaurant Café 21 on the NewcastleGateshead Quayside offers classic bistro dishes and heartwarming comfort food.

In Tees Valley, Everly's is a continental style Cafe Restaurant on the picturesque Yarm High Street using locally sourced food to create a modern British menu.

Rockliffe Hall, in Darlington, is 5-star luxury, with the facilities, people and service making it one of the finest new resort destinations in the North East England. Their fine dining restaurant 'Kenny Atkinson at the Orangery' features the Michelin star chef who appeared on the Great British Menu TV programme.

In market towns, all around the North east, regular farmers’ markets provide a great opportunity to sample tasty local treats. Alnwick Market and Hexham Farmer’s Market have been voted among the top 12 in the UK by the Times Online website. 

With so many charming villages and historic market towns, you’re sure to stumble upon a cosy cafe or tea room where you can relax with a slice of homemade cake and enjoy the famous North East hospitality.

With three major football clubs plus world-class golf, cricket and rugby teams, the North East is a hotbed for spectator sports and events.

With over 55,000 runners, The Great North Run is the most iconic half marathon on the planet with an incredible atmosphere.

But of course it’s football that keeps so many enthralled on a weekly basis.

Newcastle United fans are arguably the most passionate in the country, which creates an atmosphere at St James’ Park that can only be described as electrifying. Sunderland play at the Stadium of Light while the Riverside Stadium is an impressive modern landmark of the Middlesbrough skyline. The Quakers, Darlington Football Club, play at The Northern Echo Darlington Arena and Hartlepool United play at Victoria Park.

"With over 55,000 runners, The Great North Run is the most iconic half marathon on the planet."

Fans of cricket can enjoy the first-rate International facilities at Durham County Cricket Club’s Riverside ground in Chester-le-Street. The club has already hosted several high profile England matches with many more to follow, including the England v Australia Ashes Test Match in 2013. With a beautiful backdrop that includes historic Lumley Castle, The Riverside attracts visitors from around the world.

Newcastle’s rugby team, The Falcons, has a long-standing loyal band of supporters at its Kingston Park ground, while spectators at Gateshead Stadium have witnessed countless world records being smashed at high profile athletics events such as the Aviva British Grand Prix.

The North East is also home to over 100 golf clubs, including two highly regarded championship courses at De Vere Slaley Hall, Northumberland, which hosts flagship events like the PGA Seniors Championships. Another prestigious course is The Wynyard Golf Club which hosted the Seve Trophy in 2005, is set in 200 acres of immaculate parkland with sweeping fairways and panoramic views across the Tees Valley.

The Metrocentre, Gateshead is one of Europe’s largest shopping centres with 330 stores and free parking, while in Sunderland The Bridges Shopping Centre has over 100 shops.

Newcastle’s Eldon Square attracts 25m shoppers a year with department store Fenwick a popular destination. Generations of shoppers know its famed window display marks the start of Christmas.

The North East also has its share of thriving Market Towns. Hexham in Northumberland was voted England’s Favourite Market Town by Country Life magazine while Barnard Castle in Durham is an antiques haven.

"The Metrocentre, Gateshead is one of Europe’s largest shopping centres with 330 stores."

And for all things retro and vintage, those in the know head for High Bridge.

A mile from Newcastle’s centre is Jesmond, which boasts specialist boutiques you won’t find on the High Street. Clayton Road is famed for designer clothes such as The Loft and Edo, while The Antiques Village on Fern Avenue and quality pre-loved fashion store Rummage on Jesmond Road are well worth a visit.

In Northumberland you’ll discover narrow cobbled alleys in Alnwick with hidden gems like sprawling second hand book store Barter Books. Farm shops and farmer’s markets are also in abundance. According to Times Online, the markets at Alnwick and Hexham in Northumberland are among the top 12 in the UK.

Other highlights include Yarm High Street, Tees Valley, which was voted best in the UK by BBC Breakfast viewers and historic Durham City with its largely traffic free shopping areas. Within a short walk, you can enjoy street performers, a Victorian market and lively modern cafe bars at the Walkergate development, proving old and new can sit happily together.

Within our state schools, 72.3% of pupils achieved five good grades across all subject areas compared to a national average of 69.7%.

North Tyneside Council is the best performing authority in the North East for GCSE’s with Gateshead in second place, while Sunderland has the top A-level results followed by Newcastle and Northumberland.

In Durham, half of its 36 secondary schools are in the top 10% nationally for value added scores, which measure pupils’ progress from age 11 to 16.

Schools and colleges in Tees Valley reported record exam results in 2009, such as Egglescliffe School in Eaglescliffe which had a 100% pass rate for the second year running, with 57.9% at grades A and B up from 50.1% in 2008.

"72.3% of pupils in the North East achieved five good grades across all subject areas compared to a national average of 69.7%."

When it comes to exam results, St Robert of Newminster School in Washington was the best state school for GCSE’s in 2009 while Emmanuel College in Gateshead was top for A-levels.

Significant sums are being invested in North East state schools too. For instance, £180m of Building Schools for the Future (BSF) funding will provide state-of-the-art facilities at 12 Stockton schools.

The North East’s independent schools also have a strong track record of producing confident and well-rounded individuals, many of whom have gone on to great things.

A high number are clustered around the Newcastle suburbs of Jesmond and Gosforth, with other renowned private schools in Tynemouth, Durham and the Tees Valley areas of Yarm and Stockton-on-Tees. Most are co-educational with the exception of Newcastle School for Boys.

Longridge Towers School near Berwick, Northumberland is the North East’s biggest boarding school and many schools take ‘flexible boarders’ such as Mowden Hall near Stocksfield, Northumberland.

Figures for 2009 rank Newcastle Central High School for Girls as the best performing school for GCSE’s while Dame Allan’s Girls School in Newcastle is top for A-Levels.

The North East also boasts five universities - Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside – as well as 25 further education colleges covering every possible vocation from TV production to marine engineering.

Teesside is the first modern university to win University of the Year in the prestigious Times Higher Education Awards. It was also top for Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative.

Durham consistently ranks among the top universities in the world and is investing £200m on the campus while Newcastle is a hub for world-class research with one of the country’s best medical schools.

Families moving to the North East can be reassured that our healthcare provision is outstanding, with several NHS services rated the best in England.

Every single acute hospital in the North East, as well as the ambulance service is rated either 'excellent' or 'good' for quality of services, giving by far the highest score in England. These impressive figures come from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent health and social care regulator for England.

Its latest annual ratings also show three exceptional NHS organisations in the North East receiving double 'excellent' scores for both quality of services and use of resources. These were Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

"Families moving to the North East can be reassured that our healthcare provision is outstanding, with several NHS services rated the best in England."

What’s more, patients in the North East have a shorter wait than most. In fact NHS North East is the only region to hit both Government targets for treatment times.

For those thinking of starting a family, the North East has 16 excellent maternity units and the Healthcare Commission revealed in 2008 that the area provides the best maternity care in England.

In Durham and Darlington, a free 111 number is being piloted from Spring 2010, providing a single point of access for patients needing non-emergency healthcare. The new 24/7 service is being launched by NHS County Durham and Darlington before being rolled out nationally.

But what do the patients and staff themselves think? At a regional NHS event in 2007 over 120 people were asked their opinions and 84% said they were satisfied with health services in the area. This gives the North East the highest rating in England.

Whether you’re looking to rent or buy, there is a wide range of housing available in the North East, with some of the lowest commuting times in the country.

The compact nature of the region ensures that choosing a home in the country does not mean missing out on city culture and that an urban home is only a few minutes from open countryside and quiet beaches.

There is much diversity too from traditional Victorian terraces and city flats to Manhattan style loft apartments and pretty farmhouses – as well as one of the largest modern housing developments in Europe at Ingleby Barwick, Tees Valley

"The compact nature of the region ensures that choosing a home in the country does not mean missing out on city culture."

Every area has its hotspots and the North East is no different. The most sought after parts of Tyneside are Jesmond and Gosforth in Newcastle, Tynemouth at the coast, Low Fell in Gateshead, Boldon in South Tyneside and Sunderland’s Ashbrooke area. Ponteland and Darras Hall, near Newcastle Airport have the lion’s share of £1m-plus mansions.

Durham City is the jewel in Durham’s crown with high prices to match, but housing is more affordable in the surrounding areas. The county also has an abundance of plots for self-builders.

In Northumberland, Stocksfield, Morpeth and Hexham in the Tyne Valley are prime areas for rural living but with an easy commute while Alnwick in Northumberland was voted best place to live in the UK by Country Life magazine. Pretty Northumberland coastal villages such as Amble, Craster, Bamburgh and Newton-by-the-Sea are popular.

Within Stockton-on-Tees, the pretty market town of Yarm and its surrounding villages are highly desirable while the modern mansions of Wynyard Park are where the wealthy executives of Tees Valley settle. Marton and Nunthorpe are Middlesbrough’s top spots along with Eaglescliffe and Egglescliffe village.

With two major International airports as well as excellent road, rail and sea links, the North East is well connected for commuting and travelling.

From Newcastle, London can be reached by rail in under three hours, York is less than an hour away while Edinburgh and Leeds are an hour-and-a-half by train.

Driving to the North East is a breeze too. The A1 provides fast access both north and south while the A66 and A69 connect directly to the M6 making it easy to reach the Midlands.

"In North East England you can live in open countryside and still be at work within half an hour."

And how does a two-hour drive to the Lake District for a weekend away sound?

On Tyneside the Metro underground system operated by Nexus has 60 stations and has been rated one of the country’s most efficient modes of transport. It connects the coast to Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland, which makes living by the sea and commuting to work a realistic possibility. It’s also handy for taking the family to the beach in Summer or travelling to Newcastle International airport.

Durham Tees Valley Airport, which is located between Durham and Middlesbrough, offers flights across the UK and Europe.Budget airlines like Ryanair, Easyjet and Jet2 fly from both Newcastle and. Many domestic flights are operated by Eastern Airways to Scotland and by Air South West to Cornwall while major players like British Airways, Emirates, which has daily flights to Dubai and Air France offer a gateway to the rest of the world. The

The Port of Tyne with its ferry terminal at North Shields is just a 20-minute drive from Newcastle and has a Metro station. Here you can take a mini break in Amsterdam courtesy of DFDS Seaways or perhaps explore the Fjords with one of the many cruise companies offering trips to Scandinavia and the Baltics.