County Durham: An Expert Guide on Where to Live
County Durham stretches from the upland landscapes of the North Pennines to a practical, well-connected coastline.
The county offers historic market towns, rural communities, and accessible transport links to Durham, Newcastle, Teesside, and parts of Yorkshire. For buyers relocating to the region, the variety of settings and housing types provides a range of options.
Clients beginning their search for County Durham property for sale often find that exploring the individual towns and villages helps clarify their priorities.
Below is a guide to locations that regularly feature in searches for County Durham property, together with insights that help buyers assess what each area can offer.
Brancepeth
Brancepeth is a small village approximately five miles from Durham City. It is known for its medieval castle, which forms a prominent landmark, and for its traditional cottages and rural position. The surrounding farmland and woodland create a quiet environment while still allowing straightforward access to the city.
Housing options include listed buildings, stone cottages, and period homes. Additionally, there are larger rural houses found on the edge of the village. Brancepeth Castle Golf Club sits on the outskirts, occupying part of the former castle estate.
The wider area includes walking routes towards Brandon, Crook, and the Wear Valley.
Local amenities are available in Brandon and Durham, where residents can access shops, schools, and leisure facilities. Buyers looking for village living near Durham often consider Brancepeth early in their search.
Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle is an established market town beside the River Tees. Its centre features a mix of independent shops, cafés, galleries, and services, and The Bowes Museum adds significant cultural interest. The castle ruins, overseen by English Heritage, contribute to the town’s long-recorded history.
Housing includes terraces, Victorian homes, conversions, and stone-built houses in nearby villages such as Startforth, Boldron, and Lartington. Buyers seeking period architecture will find a consistent range of traditional properties within and around the town.
Schooling options include Green Lane Primary School, Teesdale School and Sixth Form, and Barnard Castle School. The variety of educational provision supports the town’s popularity with families considering a move to the region.
Barnard Castle has direct access to Teesdale and the surrounding countryside. Also, road links connect easily to the A66, the A1, and the Yorkshire Dales. This combination of amenities, architecture, and landscape makes it a strong option for relocators.
Consett
Consett lies north west of Durham and offers a mixture of town services and access to open countryside.
The town centre has supermarkets, a leisure centre, and a variety of cafés and places to eat, particularly around Middle Street and the surrounding streets. Parks, walking routes, and established cycle paths connect the town to nearby villages and green spaces.
Consett and its surrounding areas feature a range of housing types, including both newer developments and more established homes.
Properties near Consett Golf Course and in neighbouring Blackhill and Shotley Bridge are often included in client searches due to their tree-lined streets, traditional buildings, and riverside footpaths. These areas offer a more settled residential feel while remaining close to the amenities of the town centre.
Durham is typically around twenty minutes away by car in light traffic. Newcastle and the Tyne Valley can also be accessed by road, with journey times varying by route and conditions.
Stanhope
Stanhope is a traditional market town located at the centre of Weardale. Its position within the North Pennines gives it a rural atmosphere while retaining essential services, including shops, GP and dental surgery, and a selection of places to eat around the market area.
The Durham Dales Centre and various local businesses create a small but well-supported community hub. Housing consists of stone cottages, terraces, and larger period homes, many of which have outlooks across the valley.
Buyers who prioritise access to the countryside often place Stanhope high on their shortlist due to the availability of walking routes, riverside paths, and nearby fellside tracks.
The Weardale Railway, which operates heritage services at certain times of the year, adds further interest to the town. Durham and Newcastle are typically around an hour’s drive away, making Stanhope suitable for those who work flexibly or prefer a rural base.
Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland is one of the largest towns in County Durham and has seen sustained regeneration activity around Auckland Castle and its associated cultural attractions.
The town provides supermarkets, healthcare facilities, sports amenities, restaurants, and a rail station with services to Darlington.
Housing ranges from traditional terraces and semi-detached homes to larger family houses and rural properties in nearby villages such as Etherley, Toronto, and Escomb.
The housing mix can appeal to different budgets and requirements. Local schools include King James I Academy, St Anne’s CofE Primary School, and Bishop Barrington Academy.
A key historic feature within the town’s deer park is Bishop Auckland Deer House, an eighteenth-century structure built as part of the wider Auckland Castle estate. It remains one of the area’s most recognisable architectural elements and illustrates the estate’s Georgian-era design.
Bishop Auckland has road connections to Durham, Darlington, Teesside, and Newcastle and sits close to the Durham Dales, providing day-to-day convenience alongside access to walking and outdoor activities across Weardale and the wider Pennine landscape.
Shotley Bridge
Shotley Bridge is a village situated beside the River Derwent. Many of its homes date from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, particularly along the older streets near the river. Stone-built houses and a compact village centre give the area a strong architectural identity.
The village has a primary school, several shops, and riverside walking routes. Blackhill Park, located nearby, provides additional open space and recreational paths. Shotley Bridge offers straightforward road access to Consett, Newcastle, and Gateshead.
Buyers who want period housing in a quieter location while remaining close to city employment centres often include Shotley Bridge in their considerations.
Seaham
Seaham is a coastal town featuring a harbour, marina, and extensive paths along the Durham Heritage Coast. The North Terrace contains a mixture of independent cafés, restaurants, and small shops, and the wider seafront area continues to develop as a leisure destination.
Housing in Seaham is varied, including traditional terraces, detached homes, coastal properties, and modern developments. Buyers often note the accessibility of commuting routes, with road access to Durham (approx. 20 minutes by car under normal conditions) and Newcastle (around 30 minutes, traffic dependent).
Surrounding villages such as Seaton, Dalton-le-Dale, and Cold Hesledon offer quieter residential alternatives while remaining close to Seaham’s coastline and amenities.
Your County Durham property search
County Durham offers a wide selection of environments, from historic market towns and coastal communities to rural villages set within the dales.
Understanding the characteristics of each area, alongside available housing styles, schools, and transport links, helps refine a property search and ensures that clients consider the locations most suited to their priorities.
Garrington’s consultants have extensive experience supporting clients relocating to County Durham. Whether seeking a rural property, a home within reach of Durham’s academic and cultural institutions, or a coastal location with good commuting options, our team draws on local knowledge to support clients through each stage of their property journey.
If you would like assistance in finding the right place to live in County Durham, we would be pleased to help. Please contact us to discuss your plans and the type of property you are seeking.
