City Centre:
During my first year, I lived right in the centre of town, on Grainger Street, and I can’t deny the perks of this. Everything I needed was right on the doorstep, with Eldon Square being less than 2 minutes away, and Uni being about 15 minutes, it really was the perfect location for convenience. It also certainly had its advantages when it came to nights out, as I would be at home already tucked up in bed, whilst my friends had to trek 25 minutes across town, back to their own student accommodation. Living in the city centre was a great way to get used to city living, and it now means that I know the city centre like the back of my hand.
Jesmond or Sandyford?
Of course, it all comes down to preference when deciding whether to live in Jesmond or Sandyford, and it has been a point of controversy amongst Newcastle students for decades. Jesmond gets a reputation for being loud, chaotic, and full of ‘rahs’, but in my opinion, this stereotype only makes up about 2% of its population. Whilst there can be a lot of house parties, there are also plenty of quieter areas, it just depends on which street you live on! In addition to this, there are lots of small businesses to support, such as Batch bakery, 1901, Cake Stories, and Pink Lane Bakery … basically, if you want your fill of baked goods, Jesmond is a safe bet!
Sandyford has less of a bad reputation than Jesmond amongst locals and seems to be mainly filled with third-years who have already done their rounds of Newcastle student housing, as opposed to more enthusiastic, bright-eyed second-years who tend to opt for Jesmond. Sandyford’s main selling points are its proximity to Uni, Aidan’s Kitchen, and Davey’s – because who doesn’t like a shorter walk to get to those 9ams and going for brunch?! Sandyford is a great option for more peaceful nights and is typically more budget-friendly when it comes to housing rents.
All in all, each area of Newcastle has its perks, and it’s almost inevitable that every student will try out living in a couple of different places during their studies. Plus, as long as you have some cool posters and fairy lights, you can make even the biggest of dives look nice!
Daisy Harrison
Though it is true that Heaton can offer no equivalent to Jesmond’s strip, it has its own appeal in cafes, boutiques and trendy independent businesses. Ouseburn, which is in close proximity to Heaton, can offer its own contribution to Newcastle nightlife with its array of bars and live music venues.
Another misconception is that Heaton is a further commute from the university and the town centre. Like lots of houses in Jesmond, some houses in Heaton are only half an hour's walk from campus. Metro connections are admittedly worse, but Jesmond station isn’t actually in close enough proximity to most student residences in order for it to be worthwhile in the commute to university.
Anyone who has lived in Jesmond without a car will know the frustration of trying to do a food shop. Jesmond centre offers a Tesco Express and a Little Waitrose, both of which are significantly more expensive than your average large supermarket as their pricing mimics that of a convenience store, which is not ideal for the typical student budget. Lots of students living in Jesmond, ironically, end up walking to the Morrisons on Heaton’s border to do their weekly food shops.
Admittedly a potential shortcoming of living in Heaton could be the smaller student community, and house parties or pres are often held in Jesmond so the socialization commute is something to be considered when making housing decisions. However, if you find the student population of Jesmond a bit overwhelming and want to shamelessly walk to the corner shop in your pyjamas, Heaton may be the perfect alternative for you.
Beatrix Ambery
