Home to a stunning beach, swathes of independent shops, and a range of cultural activities, it's no secret that Whitley Bay is one of the best places to live in the North East.
And it seems that secret is well and truly out after The Sunday Times named the North Tyneside town as the best place to live in the North of England on its annual Best Places to Live 2023, which last year featured neighbouring Tynemouth and Northumberland's county town Morpeth. Both of those have dropped out of this year's list, but our region still has three entries, after Ouseburn and Wooler were also selected.
Judges praised overall winner Whitley Bay for its beautiful coastline and the thoughtful regeneration that they say has helped the seaside town start to catch up with its neighbour Tynemouth after a few years in the doldrums, which has featured regularly in previous editions of the Best Places to Live guide.
Read more: 'I live in Whitley Bay - here are 12 reasons why I think it's the best place in the world'
Helen Davies, the editor of Best Places to Live 2023, said: "When times are tough, where we live matters more than ever. Attractive surroundings, good neighbours and a comfortable home are the best defences when the stresses of modern life seem overwhelming.
"This guide is a celebration of towns, cities and villages that are each a fantastic place to live in 2023 from Orkney to Felixstowe, the Chew Valley to Manchester city centre. Whether you’re downsizing, trading up or getting onto the property ladder, there will be somewhere to suit you."
Of Whitley Bay, The Times wrote: "After years in the doldrums, Whitley Bay is catching up fast with its exalted neighbour Tynemouth. The houses are cheaper, the connections to Newcastle just as good and the beach, with its famous lighthouse, every bit as beautiful.
"The most impressive thing here has been the transformation of Park View into one of the best independent shopping streets in the country, with its artisan bakery, brunch spots and microbrewery, as well as more traditional outlets such as the shoe-repairer and the butcher."
Last year's best places to live in the North East, Tynemouth and Morpeth, were nowhere to be seen on the 2023 list. However, they were replaced by two more areas in our region.
The first was Ouseburn, which has previously been named one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world by TimeOut and the coolest in Britain by the Telegraph. Judges considered it an ideal area for young professionals for several reasons.
Of Ouseburn, The Times wrote: "From decaying industrial district to one of the country’s coolest urban neighbourhoods, Ouseburn has undergone a spectacular transformation. It has retained its industrial charm, but is now packed with brunch spots, microbreweries and fitness classes, making it ideal for young professionals seeking a relaxed but lively lifestyle close to the city centre.
The third and final North East entry to the list was Wooler in Northumberland, where one of the biggest tourism investments in rural Northumberland ever made opens its doors this very weekend. And that was mentioned as a reason for upping sticks to Wooler, dubbed the "ultimate post-pandemic dream."
The Times wrote: "The new Ad Gefrin Anglo Saxon Museum is putting a spring in the step of this vibrant town, which is already home to a friendly, artistic community. For many, life here is the ultimate post-pandemic dream: living in the middle of nowhere but still being able to pop out to buy artisan cheese or attend a poetry reading."
The overall winner of the Best Places to Live 2023 was Wadhurst in East Sussex, which was praised by judges for its "good schools, convenient transport connections, an amazingly well-stocked high street and stunning scenery". They said that it offers "pretty much everything needed for modern life in miniature".
To read the full list of the Best Place to Live, visit The Times.
Where do you think is the best place to live in the North East? Let us know!
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