New Homes in the North East

Welcome to the North East

Whether you’re exploring ancient castles, walking along windswept coastlines or visiting museums, your home in the North East is close to some of the most popular attractions in the country. From art galleries in Newcastle to historic architecture in Durham, top-flight football in Sunderland and traditional seaside fun in South Shields, you’ll never be short of inspiration in this vibrant region of England.

A quick history

As the landing site of the Vikings from Scandinavia in the 8th century AD, the North East is full of historic sites and cultural attractions. The largest city, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was first formed by the Normans in 1080, and became a thoroughfare for the English travelling to battle with the Scots further north. With so many people passing through, the city became quite prosperous, while wool manufacturing and shipbuilding also boosted the local economy during the Middle Ages.

With the introduction of better sanitation, police forces and railway lines, the North East became a more pleasant place to live. By the early twentieth century, coal mining was big business in Durham and employed a peak of 170,000 miners, but unemployment was still high in many towns and cities. The Tyne Bridge was built in 1928, and the Flying Scotsman started running the same year. Although Newcastle was bombed during the Second World War, today the city - and the region as a whole - is thriving. In 2016, Newcastle was named by the Guardian as the ‘happiest city in the UK’.

Businesses and industry

Historically the North East’s industry centred on salt, coal mining, and shipbuilding. Today local industry includes petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing, while cultural cities including Newcastle Gateshead have employment opportunities in the arts, digital and education, as well as tourism.

A number of big companies count the North East region as home. Nissan have a factory in Sunderland, while Arriva Public Transport are based in Sunderland. The Go-Ahead Group Public Transport, Greggs and Virgin Money all have their headquarters in Newcastle, and Vertu Motors are based in Gateshead. Newcastle is home to Newcastle University, Northumbria University and Newcastle College, while Sunderland University and the prestigious Durham University are also based in the North East.

Things to do in the area

From cities to beaches and museums to art galleries, you won’t be short of things to do and places to see in the North East. In Newcastle, major attractions include Seven Stories children’s museum, the historic Victoria Tunnel, the Quayside and Jesmond Dene Park. If you’re a football fan, St James’ Park is a must-visit, while Sunderland is home to the Stadium of Light.

Other attractions in the region include Kielder Observatory, Falconry Days, Andy Howeys Birds of Prey Centre and Gateshead Millennium Bridge, while history-buffs will want to visit Lindisfarne Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Alnwick Castle, and Cragside House and Gardens. Natural landscapes can be found at Farne Islands, The Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Longsands Beach, Warkworth Beach and Roker & Seaburn Beaches.

Travel and commuting

For travel by car, the A1(M) is the main thoroughfare in the North East, with A roads connecting the rest of the towns and cities in the local area. The region has a good rail network, with the East Coast Main Line connecting Newcastle, Durham and Darlington, and the Durham Coast Line connecting Sunderland and Middlesbrough. Trips to London from the North East are served by the Virgin Trains East Coast service, which takes less than 3 hours direct from Newcastle.

For travel between Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland, the Tyne and Wear Metro provides a quick and easy commuter route. There are two international airports in the local area - Newcastle Airport and Durham Tees Valley Airport - with both long and short-haul flights with major airlines. There is also ferry terminal at North Shields, which connects the North East to Holland.