A of England is attracting interest from across the country as property prices soar.
With its pretty little beach and quayside buzzing with new bars and restaurants, North Shields is a
And as developers and the local council invest in the town, property investors and home buyers are taking serious note, with the town making it to a top ten list of “property hotspots” .
The town took ninth place on the rundown – with prices rising by 6.9% in 2024 – despite the average home value experiencing a more muted price growth of 1.4% across Great Britain.
In North Shields the average asking price rose from £231,533 in 2023 to £247,479 in 2024. And there are still bargains to be had – with properties listed from a guide price of just £38,000 on Rightmove for a two bedroom maisonette.
Express.co.uk ventured to the up and coming coastal location to chat to those who live and work in the area to get their thoughts on its rise.
:
Marcello Di Mascio, 54, owns an ice cream shop in North Shields (Image: Daily Express)
Property prices have soared in the little town of North Shields (Image: Daily Express)
Marcello Di Mascio, 54, owns an ice cream shop on the front near the area’s small but pretty stretch of beach and lives in nearby Cullercoats. Mr Di Mascio, who is single and has no children, has ran an ice cream van for 16 years and now has a bespoke kiosk.
He said: “I just think people have discovered that it’s a nice area. A lot of people from down south think Newcastle is a dump. But they have been buying up here and are pushing the prices up. It’s close to the city and close to the sea, so you get the best of both worlds. You have also got the countryside within half an hour.”
The business owner says that the transport links are good, with a Metro station in North Shields that links to Newcastle city centre in just 10 minutes. The ability to work from home seems to be making a difference, says Mr Dr Mascio, with staff no longer tied to their offices.
He said: “A lot of people used to go to London to work – and now you don’t have to be in London. Why be there? I’ve definitely noticed more of a variety of people. There are more people from outside – either on holiday or living here. It’s gone all posh and more gentrified.”
Housewife Pauline Thompson, 63, is married to Philip, 53, a joiner, and is a frequent visitor to North Shields. She is walking her dog Betty, two, a Cockapoo, when we chat to her. She lives in nearby Wallsend and has three grown children and nine grandchildren.
Mrs Thompson said: “It’s so relaxing and calm. I have come here in rain, in storms, with sand blowing in my face – but I love it. I have seen lots and lots of change – it’s amazing. There has been a lot of investment. And in the warmer weather it’s heaving.”
More than £20m of public and private sector investment has gone into North Shields Fish Quay which is where a lot of the buzz – such as new bars and restaurants – is centred around. There are also an abundance of swish new apartments springing up.
Don’t miss… [REVEAL] [REPORT]
Housewife Pauline Thompson, 63, is a frequent visitor to North Shields. (Image: Daily Express)
Retired engineer Peter Carr, 72, is a fan of the area – and he says it’s even getting attention from international tourists as there’s a nearby stop for cruise liners. He is walking his female Romanian rescue dog Lana, two, when we chat.
Mr Carr, who is a divorced father of two and grandfather of two, living in nearby Monkseaton, said: “I like the front and I like the Fish Quay – it’s quite lively at night time and there’s always something going on. Lots of dancing and singing. It has really changed in recent years and become more gentrified. I often meet Norwegians who ask where they should go.”
But not everyone thinks that the town is improving.
Amongst its critics are Thomas Conway, 37, a fishmonger who works at Seaview Fisheries at the Fish Quay. He lives in Meadow Well, North Shields, with his girlfriend Rhodelyn Cortez, 34, a carer.
He said: “Most of the businesses have shut down – the tapas bar has closed.”
Mr Conway says that the council invested in a new walkway but closed a road off whilst works were underway and businesses struggled.
He said: “People were driving into Tynemouth. Three years ago this area was thriving.”
And, he says, given the chance he’d “buy in the Philippines” rather than investing in North Shields.
Gurjeet Singh, 44, is a florist and has run New Bella Rosa Flowers on the main shopping road (Image: Daily Express)
The Fish Quay is an essential part of the town’s appeal (Image: Daily Express)
Up on the town’s high street – Bedford Street – there’s an altogether different feel, with shops closing down and a more run down feel.
Gurjeet Singh, 44, is a florist and has run New Bella Rosa Flowers on the main shopping road for ten years. He lives in North Shields with his wife Tannu Kaur, 35, and their three children, but says he hasn’t witnessed a property boom.
Mr Singh said: “I had a house here that I bought in 2008 for £115,000 – I sold it in 2019 for the same price.”
The business owner says he has not witnessed a change in his customers either – with the majority of people having always lived in the area.
He said: “I haven’t really noticed a difference in visitors or people buying houses here.”
However Mr Singh is a fan of his hometown adding that he “likes everything” including the “peace and quiet”.
His regular customer Elsie Robinson, 81, has lived in the town for 12 years after relocating from Newcastle.The retired charity shop worker, who has seven children and 24 grandchildren, said: “I think it’s the people – they are more friendly.”
Painter and decorator Michael Turnbull, 53, has a rather different prognosis of his home town.
The divorced dad of three said: “I don’t think it’s an area that is improving – we have got nothing now.”
Mr Turnbull talks of shop closures, drug and alcohol issues, unemployment and problems with antisocial behaviour. He also says that there is a clear divide between the quay area and the centre of town – with pints costing over £5 on the front but just £3 on the high street.
He said: “It’s full of drug addicts up here.” Mr Turnbull added: “It needs a cash injection from the government.”
Andrew Boast, a property expert and founder of SAM Conveyancing, gave his view on the soaring property prices saying the town is benefiting from significant regeneration efforts and its coastal appeal.
He said: “The transformation of the Fish Quay has made the area more desirable, attracting both homebuyers and investors looking for an affordable alternative to nearby Tynemouth while still enjoying the benefits of seaside living – a much-desired location that is an increasingly hard property market to get into.
“On top of the area’s improved transport links, North Shield’s mix of period homes and modern developments has further boosted demand, cementing North Shields as a rising property hotspot.”
However he did have a word of warning to those looking to jump on the bandwagon.
He added: “Ultimately, while rising prices can indicate a good investment opportunity, buyers should also consider long-term factors such as employment prospects, future development, and whether demand in these areas is likely to remain strong.
“The best investments are not just about short-term gains but about choosing locations with sustainable growth potential, and not every town or city will end up like London.”