Why move to Houghton-le-Spring?
Houghton le Spring sits on the outskirts of Sunderland in County Durham. It was once an active coal-mining town but it’s now a convenient home for commuters. Houghton le Spring’s affordability, new housing estates and good road connections have made it a favourite among first-time buyers and young families.
Transport and Travel
A network of excellent ‘A’ roads makes it very easy to connect to Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham and Middlesbrough and both Washington and Chester-le-Street are only a 10-minute drive away. The area is served very well by a local bus network.
Newcastle airport, offering domestic and international flights, is easily accessible via the A1(M).
Parks and Recreation
Penshaw Monument atop Penshaw Hill is visible on the horizon for miles. The 70-foot-high folly was built in memory of the first Earl of Durham and is a replica of the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens. Climb the spiral staircase to the roof for spectacular views. Just opposite is Herrington Country Park, which is one of the largest parks in the area. It has many marked trails and various events, including open-air concerts in the summer, take place all year round.
Hetton Lyons park sits on a former colliery site just on the outskirts of Hetton centre. The park featuring a sporting lake, fishing lakes, football pitches, orienteering course, play park and is also part of the national cycling network. There are dedicated cycle tracks and trails within the park, and it is a part of the W2W cycling trail.
Elba Park was once the site of a coke works. Thanks to regeneration work, it’s now rich in wildlife and hosts events and educational activities all year round. For fresh sea air, make the short drive to the coast of County Durham. Its cliff-top paths are perfect for long walks and the steep wooded valleys are great for spotting wildlife.
Houghton Feast, with its origins in the 12th century, is an ancient festival held every October in the town. The festival lasts ten days and typically features a fairground, carnival, fireworks.
Schools
There are numerous schools and educational establishments for children of all ages in the area.
Restaurants and Shopping
The main shopping areas are clustered around the town centre, where you will find a selection of take-aways, local shops, corner shops and a few high-street chains. Once a month you can also visit the Rainton Meadows Craft and Food Market, which has stalls selling artisan food, clothing, local ales and gifts.
The short drive to Washington or Sunderland will offer popular favourites and Durham and Newcastle are also excellent shopping destinations. There is a good selection of country-style pubs on offer in and around the town in the nearby villages.
Housing Market
Houghton-le-Spring offers a good choice of accommodation for all buyers from those with modest budgets to large, executive family homes. Close to the town centre there are many two-bedroom terraces and along one of the town’s oldest streets, you can find Victorian properties with many period features. For a comfortable family home, there are many 1950’s semis, again with some period features and generous gardens.
For a modern family home, there are many new developments dotted around the area, some in semi-rural locations.
