Anyone know South Leeds?

[newname12]

Looking at a possible relocation.

Never been to Leeds, currently in London so used to buses, trains, walking etc.

Good secondary schools? Transport links?

I would be working near the White Rose Centre.

I was looking at Morley/Tingley areas. Are they OK? Anywhere to avoid or to focus on?

Thank you!

[thisisbloodyridiculous]

Depends on your budget - it's not the nicest part of Leeds

[ApologiesToInsectLife]

There are nicer places in Leeds tbh. You'd be better looking in North Leeds.

[BusyBea]

I agree South Leeds doesn't have the greatest of areas. What kind of budget do you have? North Leeds is lovely if you can afford it, and it's still not a long commute to the White Rose.

[newname12]

Really? Back to the drawing board, thanks!

We should have up to 400k, possibly up to 500k if our house sells at top price- yes I know, we were lucky to buy in a grotty area of london that has gone lentilist in the last 10 years.

When you say commute, do you mean driving, train, bus? I need for the dc to be able to get from their secondary to my work most nights so I can take them to their hobbies.

I'm in that londoner mindset that commuting north of the city to the south and vice versa is a nightmare!

[AlbusPercival]

I wouldnt commute across Leeds, not as unfeasible as commuting across London, but would be difficult for kids to do to go to activities.

I would look at villages further south or east if you can.

i lived in Garforth for a while and really liked it

[indecisiveingrid]

You could have a huge house in those areas with that kind of budget e.g-

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-39107721.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-40858788.html

I wouldn't rule out south Leeds completely, it does have good transport links & good schools. The white rose is currently being developed to include a 11 screen cinema & restaurant development. I would just avoid Beeston, Belle Isle & Middleton.

Have you considered Wakefield?

[StinkyMcgrinky]

I was going to suggest looking at Wakefield. The M1/M621 provides fairly quick links up to Leeds, especially if you're not venturing into the centre. I work in Leeds city centre and many of my colleagues live in Wakefield and make it from front door to office in a reasonable time. Some very good schools in Wakefield as well. Sandal is lovely but south Wakefield so further away from Leeds, Lofthouse, Wrenthorpe, Outwood have some lovely areas as do Normanton and Altofts which are slightly further away up the m62 but still commutable.

[Skittlesss]

Wakefield is not a bad area. I live about 20mins from Leeds and you could get a mansion for that budget round here

[daydream86]

Rothwell and woodlesford are a nice middle ground too between Leeds and Walefield, very good for motorway links, 5 mins to the M1/ M621 and M62 but not bothered by any of the the sight or noise of any of them! nice little town centre with a few of shops. nice park, leisure
centre. 15 min drive into Leeds outside of rush hour. Much nicer then Morley. best thing we ever did, moving here

[whatsthatcomingoverthehill]

If you need the kids to be able to get to your work after school that's going to be very limiting.

[Micah]

Thank you!

So if I look at Rothwell, Woodlesford, Wakefield, Outwood. What about Batley and Dewsbury, or out to Pudsey?

Would in toward the centre be any good? We're used to city living so while a nice big detached sounds lovely, we'd be happy with a town house or a terrace.

Schools I have seen Batley Girls, Morley Academy, and Outwood Grange seem to be the "outstanding" ones.

Whatsthat- do you mean public transport for teenagers isn't great? Here they all move around under their own steam, is it more lifts from parents in that sort of area? I've only lived very rurally where teenagers needed a horse to get around, or city where you just hop on the bus. No idea about suburbia.

This is really helpful, thank you. I

[newname12]

Ooh name change fail, sorry!

[thisisbloodyridiculous]

Batley can be nice and for your budget you could get a pretty amazing house!

[StinkyMcgrinky]

If you would prefer a nice family area that isn't far from the city Chapel Allerton, Cookridge and Horsford would be worth a look. All have good public transport links into the city and aren't too far out. But the commute down to White Rose would be a bit longer. What are your working hours?? I work 9-4 so hot rush hour and it takes me about 70minutes door to door (I'm a distance away in Holmfirth) but if I start work later e.g. 10.30 I can get there in 35/40mins!

Scisset, Skelmanthorpe, Denby Dale etc... Will all give you plenty for your money with nice country living and close-ish to the M1 to travel up. Probably further than you are initially looking for but definitely do-able!

[whatsthatcomingoverthehill]

Public transport is going to be more limited because white rose isn't in the centre so it is much more pot luck as to whether a bus goes the way you want. E.g. from Batley girls there seems to be a pretty direct bus but from Outwood Grange would take two buses. The frequency of different bus routes is very variable too. Do you really need to be ferrying them to activites though?

[SouthLeedsResident]

Right, I have lived in Tingley and now live in Morley.

We relocated here 10 years ago and originally looked at North Leeds and then we actually drove down the ring road to get onto the M62, what a nightmare and that was on a weekend, never mind rush hour.

If you are working near to the White Rose I would suggest that even on a weekend you try and drive down the ring road and envisage your daily commute.

We chose Tingley because of Westerton Primary school which has been outstanding for years and still is. We only moved to Morley to get within catchment for Morley Academy, again outstanding, which my oldest child now attends. We could not be more happy with the school.

There is a real snobbery with North Leeds people looking down on South Leeds. I am not from this area originally but for some reason people have very entrenched ideas. Personally I have no view on North Leeds in terms of where to live only that the ring road would massively increase your commute.

We chose Tingley/Morley because of the M62, M1 access and Morley train station. Dh wanted to be home in time for dinner with the children and not snarled up in traffic every day.

Transport wise, from Morley there are buses to take you into Leeds plus the train from Morley train station that also goes into Leeds so teens can get round under their own steam. Buses also run from Morley to White Rose and to junction 27 of M62 which is Batley where there is a shopping complex with a cinema and Ikea.

I agree avoid places like Beeston/Belle Isle/Middleton but on your budget you could afford 2 houses where I live!

Any more questions just ask.

[newname12]

Thank you!

Morley Academy was on my radar, so thanks for the recommendation. I have to say I like the look of the housing in Morley much more than nearby areas, and the transport does seem better.

I am up next week so am going to have a drive round. I don't really want a long commute or a lot of driving, and it would be nice if the Dc could have some independence. I used to hate that I had to rely on my mum to leave the house when we lived rurally. I've lived city centre ever since I left home at 18!

[whatsthatcomingoverthehill]

I like buying houses with other people's money . This could be a stunning house.

I don't know south Leeds that well (as SouthLeedsResident says, there is a fair bit of snobbery if you are in North Leeds like I am...) but Gildersome has seemed quite nice when I've been through. Just a bit further away from decent transport links I guess.

[KateBeckett]

Tingley is lovely.

[SouthLeedsResident]

Whats that is a beautiful house and opposite a lovely park. We use the tennis courts on there.

Kate love the name, I agree Tingley is lovely but because I lived on the estate near to Westerton primary when I needed a bigger house the prices were ridiculous compared to other areas. Hence the move to Morley. Much more house for your money and Morley Academy.

New I don't know if you like new or older houses. I live on the "bird estate" (loads of bird names like Magpie and Peacock) and Ds1 walks to Morley Academy. The A653 is 70mph so as a ring road goes, getting to White Rose from here would be very easy.

The 6th form for Morley Academy is Elliott Hudson College which is just past The White Rose. As it is part of the whole Gorse Academies and Sir John Townsley who was knighted for his contribution to education (isn't it all about who you know) it has links with the University of Cambridge as well as Leeds etc.

[coppergrey]

If it helps, there's a direct and regular bus service from North Leeds to White Rose. Driving across the city during rush hour wouldn't be ideal but in terms of your teenagers getting out and about, Chapel Allerton/Moortown/Roundhay are very well connected to the city. And Roundhay school is outstanding... plus you'd get a gorgeous house here for your budget!

[whois]

Roundhay.

Driving from there to white rose is fine.

Kids have no need to come to your work - they can do activities locally to their school. Great public transport from round hay to city centre for independence.

[krazipan]

I like Woodlesford and Rothwell. Garforth is nice as well and Garforth Academy is outstanding according to ofsted. If you are working near White Rose I wouldn't live in North Leeds. It takes me an hour most mornings from Woodlesford to just the other side of the city centre (approx 6.5 miles).

[BoydCrowdersTeeth]

I have a friend on the street SouthLeedsResident linked to.

I personally have lived in Beeston, in a little street pretty much opposite The White Rose Centre - technically Beeston but didn't feel like it IYSWIM.

I live in Mirfield now bc couldn't afford Leeds when DC4 came along.