Tynemouth ‘blows other Newcastle suburbs out the water’ says The Sunday Times

In a feature of the best places across the UK, The Sunday Times found that Tynemouth "blows other Newcastle suburbs out the water".

It's part of The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2022 rankings which were published online today.

Climbing to the top of the class, Tynemouth was praised for its scenery, food and drink offerings and activities that happen nearby.

The town was also commended for its connectivity to Newcastle thanks to the Metro - "it isn't just pretty, it's useful too," the article reads.

However, what made Tynemouth stand out above its neighbours was its Blue Flag-winning beaches which are sought out by surfers, kayakers and open-water swimmers.

Helen Davies, The Times and Sunday Times Property Editor said: "Newcastle’s smart seaside suburb is a longstanding fixture of the Best Places to Live list, and once again, it’s too good to leave out.

"Whether you’re surfing off a Blue Flag beach, browsing among the 150 stalls in the undercover market or tucking into the freshest seafood at Riley’s Fish Shack, it’s impossible not to enjoy the laid-back lifestyle."

Across the country, Ilkley in West Yorkshire was named the best place to live, praised for its "its top schools, interesting shops, spectacular scenery and convenient rail links", as well as opportunities for younger people.

Elsewhere in the North East, Morpeth made the list of towns commended alongside Tynemouth.

Davies said: "The Sunday Times Best Places to Live list is necessarily subjective.

"Leave it just to statistics and you will never capture the spirit of a place.

"For that, you need to visit to take into account that ‘you have to be here’ feeling. Is the pub dog-friendly, for example? Can you live car-free? What are the schools and houses like? Is it multicultural and multigenerational, and can it offer a good way of life to lots of different sorts of people?

“Ten years ago, when we launched the inaugural list, London’s gravitational pull was strong, the WFH revolution had not yet reached our doorstep and high streets were stacked with chains.

"How times have changed — and how welcome that change is.

“This year we have discovered new best places to live, from resurgent city centres in the North, rejuvenated suburbs across the country, hidden villages in the Southwest, and a commutable Scottish island.

“We hope there is something to suit everyone.”