Moving to Durham: A Guide to Living in the City

Durham is one of the North East's most desirable places to live: a compact UNESCO World Heritage city built around a cathedral and castle, wrapped in the wooded loops of the River Wear, with a Russell Group university at its heart and the coast, the Dales and Newcastle all within easy reach. If you are thinking of moving here, this guide covers the city's neighbourhoods, the practical questions of house prices, schools and getting around, and what day-to-day life is really like.

The neighbourhoods

Durham is small, so most areas are within a short hop of the centre. The historic peninsula and city centre put you among the cobbled Bailey and Saddler Street, though homes there are scarce and sought-after. Gilesgate, just east, is a popular residential area with a good spread of housing and its own shops. Neville's Cross and Shincliffe to the south and south-east are among the most prestigious addresses, leafy and quiet, and record some of the lowest crime figures in the region. To the north, Framwellgate Moor, Pity Me and Newton Hall offer more affordable family housing and larger estates, handy for the A167 and the hospital.

House prices

Property in Durham spans a wide range. More accessible areas such as Pity Me and Newton Hall sit at the lower end, while premium DH1 postcodes around Gilesgate, Neville's Cross and Shincliffe command considerably more, with detached family homes reaching well into the higher brackets. As a university city there is also a substantial rental market, particularly around the centre and the student neighbourhoods, which is worth bearing in mind whether you are buying to live or considering the local lettings scene. Always check current listings, as prices move.

Schools and families

Families are well served, with a network of primary schools and several well-regarded state secondaries including Durham Johnston, Framwellgate School and St Leonard's Catholic School, alongside the independent Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation. Our guide to schools in Durham covers the options and how council admissions work, and there is plenty for younger children too, from nurseries to parks and the family attractions in our things to do in Durham guide.

Getting around

Durham is highly walkable, and the compact centre is largely pedestrianised, served by a park-and-ride to keep cars out of the core, as covered in our Durham Park and Ride guide. The East Coast Main Line puts London under three hours away and Edinburgh closer still, with Newcastle just a few minutes by train, while the A1(M) runs right past the city for drivers. For everyday journeys, buses link the neighbourhoods to the centre, and our getting around Durham guide has the detail.

Life in the city

What makes Durham special is the mix: a genuinely beautiful, historic setting with the buzz and cultural life a university brings, yet small enough to feel like a community. There are riverside walks on the doorstep, an independent food and drink scene, markets, festivals like the Miners' Gala and Lumiere, and the countryside and coast a short drive away. It suits professionals, families and downsizers alike, and once you have settled in, our directory and guides are a good way to find your feet.

---

New to Durham, or know the city well? Get in touch with tips we should add for newcomers.