Favourite town in Yorkshire?

[RafaelAndJane]

Okay, blatantly stolen this thread idea from the best village in Yorkshire thread. However, I'm fantasizing about my new (single) life and I'd really like recommendations.

My ideal wish list would be:

A lovely town with plenty of shops and pubs
Very touristy (because I'd like to house swap for holidays)

Ideally within an hour's drive of Manchester
Good rail links or connections to places like Leeds, Manchester, York, etc.
Lots of pretty options for dog walks
Friendly and welcoming community
A WI and/or options for groups like book clubs, classes, etc.
Dog friendly pubs.

I'm 48, (will be) single, no children, one dog. I freelance so I'll need good broadband.

I only need a teeny tiny 1 bedroom place, but it needs to be picturesque so it's appealing to house swappers going on holiday. Budget £170k.

Help me feed my fantasy please! Does such an oasis exist??

Holmfirth

Wetherby ticks pretty much every box apart from maybe the touristy one, but I imagine would still be attractive for house swaps as it’s in such a good location

Rovrem or Donneh, obv.

Just kidding.

I love Whitby, but that might be too far.

Harrogate is nice I think?

Maiden beat me to it with Holmfirth.

I really like Filey, but it would probably be too far from Manchester for your purposes, OP.

Wetherby?

Holmfirth, Marsden, Meltham, Penistone

But actually, really, Holmfirth

Skipton!

Neither Filey or Wetherby are at all handy for Manchester.

Todmorden
Hebden Bridge, but check flood risk

Skipton ticks all those boxes. We have lived here for over 10 years and love it.

Not Yorkshire, but very close, the Hope Valley in the Peak District has a direct train line into Manc Piccadilly via Hathersage, Hope, Edale, Marple and ticks many of your boxes OP.

Richmond. Probably more than an hour to Manchester though!

Malham in the Dales or Middleham - both lovely, but probably not cosmopolitan enough for you

Thirsk/Sowerby has everything on your list except the hours drive to Manchester. It will be more I think.
Good rail links to Manchester though.

look at the peak district. sheffield, or the villages just out of and into peak district. would suit your requirements i think.

Holmfirth. Skipton, Harrogate etc are lovely but ££££ and not as accessible for Manchester. Holmfirth all day long.

Otley
Traditional market town on the doorstep of the dales.
Good links to Leeds, Harrogate and York.
Stunning scenery, nestled at the foot of the Chevin.
Great places to eat, more clubs than you can shake a stick at.
Last but definitely not least more pubs per head of population than any other town in the country.

Saltaire. Best place EVER.

Skipton. I love it.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-69913387.html

Nice apartment here.
I live in Thirsk so I am biased, I love it.

Holmfirth. Skipton, Harrogate etc are lovely but ££££ and not as accessible for Manchester

You can get to Manchester in pretty much an hour from Skipton

Holmfirth. Skipton, Harrogate etc are lovely but ££££ and not as accessible for Manchester. Holmfirth all day long.

Edale, Hathersage and Hope would be good - some of the most popular in the peak district but they may be villages, rather than towns, but probably tick all your boxes except perhaps the shops, but that depends what you want.

I don't know how far you have to go to a large supermarket or chain clothes shops - Sheffield or Manchester probably.

Holmfirth used to be popular due to Last of the Summer Wine, but I don't know if that's still the case - is it still on, or repeated??

Have a look at the towns/large villages on the Pennine Way going through that area - many are good walking country in their own right, so will be attractive to holidaying hikers.

Gahh glitchy mumsnet!!

Ripon (££££ but lovely)

Kirby Moorside (proper Yorkshire market town and lovely)

Villages which have lots going on and pubs....

Lealholm

Glaisdale

Oh yes, Otley and Saltaire good choices - I probably prefer Saltaire and you've probably got a better chance of getting to Manchester within an hour from there, but it depends what time of day you are going and how much you need it to be an hour.