Gosforth forms one of Newcastle’s northern suburbs. Its green spaces and personal character have helped to make it one of the city’s most popular residential areas and a growing favourite among young professionals.
Spanning the Great North Road and just two miles from the very centre of Newcastle, Gosforth’s Metro stations, frequent bus services and excellent road links also make it perfect for commuting around the wider Tyne and Wear area or beyond.
Global travel is also accessible thanks to the nearby international airport.
But such advantages don’t come cheap. The average house price in Gosforth sits at a current £336,000, making it an expensive alternative to the Newcastle itself. You can check the latest figures here.
Learn about the wider Tyne and Wear area with our dedicated guide.
Living in Gosforth: what to expect
Gosforth has a distinct almost rural feel that sets it apart from Newcastle. The Great North Road bisects the area but the suburb is typically divided into North and South Gosforth.
The central area and south tend to be the most popular among homebuyers and are dominated by leafy streets lined with stately Victorian and Edwardian homes. Further out, you’ll find comfortable post-war housing set around parks.
The suburb’s heart lies on the High Street, which is packed with shops ranging from chain stores to independents. For food and drink, follow the High Street south for a selection of pubs, bars and restaurants.
A major draw for families is the number of schools in the immediate area. Parents can choose from 14 primary and six secondary schools in and around Gosforth, as well as the two independent schools Newcastle School for Boys and Westfield School.
Where to start your property search
Along the streets west and east of the Great North Road you’ll find rows of Edwardian and Victorian houses with original period features, including stained glass, ceiling roses, sash windows and carved gables. On-street parking is the norm, but some of the pricier properties come with driveways and garages.
Elmfield Road is one to watch if you’re after a grand house. Expect to pay around £1m for a large six- or seven-bedroom family home with a substantial rear garden and off-street parking here.
For attractive, substantial terraces, take a look along Regent Road, Hawthorn Road and Woodbine Avenue. Here you will find pretty Victorian terraces that combine grandeur and charm.
For period homes with more modest price tags, look around the triangle of terraced streets between Christon Road and Church Avenue. Several of these roads, such as Harley Terrace, have been blocked to create quiet cul-de-sacs.
This spot is particularly appealing for families with Gosforth Central Middle School just a five-minute stroll away.
If you’re looking for a flat or apartment, Gosforth offers several substantial blocks built in the mid-1960s and 1970s. Try Rothley Close in Central Gosforth or Monkridge Court in South Gosforth.
For more of the urban buzz, Knightsbridge Court, close to M&S and Regent Centre Metro station, may suit you better. Alternatively, Collingwood Mews off Salter Lane offers easy access to South Gosforth Metro station, St Nicholas Hospital and the High Street.
Inter-war properties are other common fixtures on the Gosforth market. Head to North Avenue and Kenton Road for classic 1930s family homes with large established gardens. Alternatively, search the roads near the Metro depot that make up the Garden Village. Built in the early 1900s, these semi-detached properties typically come with three bedrooms, good-sized gardens and driveways.
For modern builds, The Melbury development at Newcastle Great Park is a good first port of call. Barmoor Drive, for example, is close to the A1 and Newcastle International Airport and includes everything from grand six-bedroom, three-storey houses to more modest homes tucked in between mews-style closes.
Getting around Gosforth
Travel times vary considerably across Gosforth depending on your starting point. South Gosforth is well connected to Newcastle city centre and the ferry terminals, but North Gosforth is closer to the airport and routes north and west.
By rail: Tyne and Wear has its own local light railway system, Metro. Metro stations are located at Wansbeck Road, Regent Centre and South Gosforth and operate frequent services to Newcastle city centre and Gateshead. Links to the airport, ferry ports and Sunderland are also available.
Fast services from Newcastle to London Kings Cross take around three-hours, whereas Edinburgh can be reached in 90 minutes.
By car: The Great North Road runs between Gosforth and Newcastle and joins the A1 and A696 to the north. Carlisle is 60 miles west of Gosforth along the A69 and Edinburgh is 110 miles to the north via the A1.
By air: Newcastle International is less than six miles north-west of High Street and Durham Tees Valley Airport is 40 miles south.
By sea: The Port of Tyne is 10 miles from High Street and operates regular services to Amsterdam.
Things to do in Gosforth
Cultural: The Jubilee Theatre in St Nicholas Hospital, Salters Road, is a prime example of a proscenium arch theatre. It has a resident company, First Act, which puts on productions and workshops for youngsters and adults.
Outdoors: At the heart of the suburb is Gosforth Central Park, a popular area among families. It has playgrounds, tennis courts, a basketball court and a bowling green. Small woodland trails provide ideal walks for dog walkers.
Gosforth Park Nature Reserve, an area next to Newcastle Racecourse, includes a wide lake. It’s a private patch of land but accessible to members and on open days. Wildlife spotters can get an eyeful of badgers, foxes, red squirrels, roe deer, otters, buzzards, kestrels, waterfowl, owls and rare insects.
Sport: Cricket fans will be familiar with South Northumberland Cricket Club, which has a hugely successful premier league side, junior boys and girls sections and women’s cricket sides. The club’s grounds, between Gosforth High Street and Moor Road North, are also the home of Newcastle Cricket Centre, which has excellent international standard indoor cricket facilities.
Newcastle Racecourse, in High Gosforth Park, has hosted horse racing since 1881. It is a Grade 1 National Hunt track and hosts 62 racing fixtures every year
Shopping: Gosforth has its own shopping centre on High Street. Shops include a Boots pharmacy and a Sainsbury’s supermarket, but a greater variety of stores can be found by wandering down High Street. Clothes shops, independent businesses, banks and accessory stores are most easily found in South Gosforth.
One of the longest-running independent shops is Thorpes of Gosforth. It’s been in the area for 70 years and is now run by a third generation. This hardware store sells anything from paint, seeds, house signs and general ironmongery, and offers services such as key cutting and knife sharpening.
For major stores, you’ll need to head to Intu Metrocentre. It’s just off the A1 and is Europe’s largest shopping and leisure centre. It is packed with popular stores as well as an IMAX cinema and more than 60 restaurants and cafés.
Food and drink: Greggs may seem an unusual choice, but a visit to the chain bakery in Gosforth is a nod to history. John Gregg began delivering eggs and yeast to local families by bike in the 1930s and the first Greggs bakery was opened on Gosforth High Street in 1951.
Pints and classic pub grub are easy to come by in Gosforth. Choose from pubs such as the Falcon’s Nest and the Brandling Arms for traditional British dishes and hearty Sunday roasts served alongside craft beer.
Alternatively, pick from one of the many chain restaurants in the area. Loch Fyne, the specialist seafood restaurant, has a stunning venue in the converted United Reformed Church on West Avenue. If you prefer to eat at an independent business, drop in to Olivia’s café, which serves freshly baked artisan breads and meals made from locally sourced ingredients.
Hidden Gosforth
The UK’s oldest and largest gin festival takes place in Gosforth every summer. Held at Newcastle Racecourse, it showcases new gins and new gin brands, as well as hosting several cocktail masterclasses.
5 reasons to live in Gosforth
Well-connected by rail, road, air and sea
Vibrant High Street with plenty of shops, bars and restaurants
Plenty of substantial family homes
Excellent location for schools
Within easy reach of green spaces
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