Harrogate or York??!

[Absofrigginlootly]

DH is hopefully going to be working just south of Leeds and we will be relocating from the states back to the uk this summer,

Nothing finalized yet so it may all fall through but anyway we need to be researching and deciding on potential areas to live.

We are wanting a picturesque village just outside (maybe up to 10 miles) out of the city. With access to good primary and secondary schools. We have a sizable housing budget so that's probably not a concern either.

We are southerners so don't know the area well....

Northern MNers... would you vote for harrogate or York??

Do you know of any beautiful country villages in either area (I like the look of Sutton on the forest outside york for example)

Any advice MUCH appreciated... Thanks!

[Absofrigginlootly]

Also, posting here for traffic. Wasn't sure where was a more suitable board before the pedants turn up with "where's the AIBU?"

[lazyarse123]

I would say York no reason particularly they are both lovely places with a lot going for them. Not much help sorry.

[ilovesooty]

If I worked just south of Leeds I wouldn't consider living in Harrogate. I'd think twice about York unless I loved near the station and could go to work on the train. on the train.

[LegallyBrunet]

Tadcaster is really nice. It's in between Leeds and York with good bus connections to both.

[Absofrigginlootly]

Is that because of traffic? DH is happy to drive for up to an hour and he usually starts work so early that rush hour isn't a problem on the way in for example (maybe on the way home).

We definitely want to live near one of those and he will put up with the commute.... we lived just south of Leeds for 6 months in our early 20s and it is just not the area for us I'm afraid

[nellly]

Between south leeds and Harrogate is likely to be over an hour in traffic, getting through/round leeds will cause problems. Garforth, Boston Spa, weatherby and otley are all nice small towns with surrounding villages too

[MrsGrindah]

You do know both Harrogate and York are north of Leeds? Not being sarky just checking you understood you’d be moving further out from your husbands work.
Both are lovely but housing is hideously expensive and the centres , especially York can get very busy and touristy and attract hen and stag parties on weekends

[ilovesooty]

On the way home on either of those two journeys I think I'd lose the will to live.

I have frequently driven between just south of Leeds and Seacroft which is on the York Road (12 mile journey) and it has taken me not far short of an hour to get home sometimes.

[LegallyBrunet]

I'm not sure about traffic because it's a family member who lives there, I've always just found it a really lovely place. I just mentioned the buses because you didn't mention whether or not you drove. The schools are good (they have several primaries and Tadcaster Grammar which is the secondary) and it's a real community.

[MrsGrindah]

Also, don’t assume you’ll get in at the naice schools

[Absofrigginlootly]

Yes I know they are north of Leeds

Yes we both drive and will both have cars. I'm a SAHM though so no commute

[blackeyes72]

I don't think that is a realistic commute.

[Absofrigginlootly]

DH was told by everyone more senior to him who knows the area to live in one of those places as that is where they live/have lived....??

[ilovesooty]

I don't think they are realistic commutes either.

[Absofrigginlootly]

*more senior at work I should say

[hooliodancer]

Harrogate. I absolutely love it. York is gorgeous of course, but it is much bigger and feels like a city.

If I was moving back up north I would go the whole hog and live in Wensleydale though.

[MrsGrindah]

Have you looked at Otley, Ilkley, Skipton, Wetherby , Boston Spa, Poppleton? Also if you want somewhere nice and well to do there are some lovely suburbs of Leeds.. Alwoodley is one of the nicest

[DetectiveDog]

I don’t live there myself but know the area a little bit - what about places more east of Leeds? I know someone in Monk Fryston and it looks nice round there.

[Absofrigginlootly]

Google maps shows the driving time of 55 minutes for both york and harrogate to where my DH might be working.... is the traffic really that bad then??

[Igottastartthinkingbee]

Look at all the stops along the train line between Leeds and Ilkley. Can’t go wrong really.

[Igottastartthinkingbee]

Harrogate and York are both lovely but not 10mins out of Leeds!

[OVienna]

Wensleydale to LEEDS? Everyday? You've got to be kidding. No.

[OVienna]

Ilkley -good plan.

[Absofrigginlootly]

Mrsgrindah thanks for those suggestions.

Leeds is not the city for me. I used to work there.

We've lived ALL over the uk and the only city I have loved living is Bath. We are countryside types at heart.... but want to live close to a town 'like Bath' for food/culture/shopping options and beautiful scenery/architecture.

After living in trumpsville USA for nearly 3 years I need some attractive architecture and culture! And quaint English villages

[Cliveybaby]

Will be a very long drive to Harrogate!
Have you looked at the villages south of York? Bishopthorpe is very nice, but further out there's Rufforth etc, or bigger like Tadcaster and Selby.