Talk to me about Harrogate, Yorkshire - is it a nice place to live?

[LarkinSky]

We’re returning to the UK next July after 13 years living overseas - me, DH, and our two DDs (6 and 10).

We’re looking at Harrogate. We did a recce this summer and it looks gorgeous, even in the rain , schools and all. But I don’t know anybody from there and would love to hear honest views about it.

We both have portable careers and can remote work for the international organisations we’re employed by, so we can choose anywhere, pretty much. Our family are in the north-west and midlands.

We’re coming back to put down roots for our kids, who are British in name but never lived in the UK. DH and I both from the north although spent several years in London.

Any advice, thoughts, insight into Harrogate gratefully received!

It often tops those "Best place to live in the UK" articles. My niece lives there and loves it. Culture, schools, amenities etc. are all great.

We lived there for 10 years. Nice, peaceful, good schools, low crime rate and a nice night out.

It's changing-empty shops, teenagers looming, kids kicking ball in memorial garden amongst the flowers opposite Betty's, people yelling in Asda carpark. Still lovely....but changing!

I went for Christmas and was quite underwhelmed. The city centre was not as 'naice' as it had been made out to be.
My BF's sister lives there and likes it though.

Oh yes. I grew up near there and my dad lives there now. It's lovely, quite a bit to do aka restaurants walks etc.

Do beware that some can be a bit stuck up though

It's one of those places that didn't quite live up to it's reputation for me . Was seriously underwhelmed by it.

It’s so helpful to hear all this, thanks for sharing. A bit of a mixed bag!

It’s such a hard decision for us to make and I’ve felt a bit overwhelmed by the choice - we can pretty much choose anywhere in the UK as long as it’s connected to London / other cities - want a lively town close to countryside, with good schools and good quality of life. Harrogate ticks a lot of boxes but it’s still jumping into the unknown and we won’t really know until we actually move there...

I live between Leeds and Harrogate and tbh I'm not a massive fan of Harrogate centre. Some of the surrounding areas are lovely. Have you thought about maybe York instead?

Why don't you have a look at areas in Northumberland OP. That has some beautiful towns and villages with wonderful scenery

York felt a bit big - more city than town - although I do like it very much and would love to be close to it. I don’t know Northumbria at all... One of our main reasons for returning the UK is to give our DC a sense of place, belonging, somewhere to put roots down. It’ll likely be the place we spend the rest of our lives. But we don’t really have any chance to try before we buy!

I live in a nearby town and like Harrogate a lot. There are a lot of lovely surrounding villages that are worth considering too. I do like the town centre though Leeds is much better for shopping. Harrogate has lots of nice cafes, bars and restaurants and always feels very safe to me. The hospital is really good too, whenever DC have needed referrals I always try to get sent to Harrogate rather than Leeds as it seems less stretched. I’m a teacher and have colleagues who have taught in Harrogate and they said that some of the local secondary schools weren’t great as the top end of students went to private and selective schools, so the state schools weren’t as amazing as you’d expect given the area. Worth bearing in mind as you have school aged children!

I live in Harrogate and think it is a fantastic place to bring children up. I have to disagree with a pp about the schools- most of the secondary schools have a great reputation and are seen as the best in the area. The primary schools are mostly great too.
The town centre is lovely- if you live a walkable distance away it is perfect. If I want to go proper shopping I go on the train to Leeds (30 minutes).
The people I have met here are lovely- not met too many snobby people although I know they are out there!

I lived there for 3 years and wasn't a fan. It's good for culture, food, and nights out but traffic was a nightmare and some bits are much more run down than you would expect. House prices are inflated compared to other nearby towns.

I found people less amicable than other parts of Yorkshire, and there seemed to be a divide between the haves and have-nots larger than elsewhere. I much preferred living in York.

My Dad has lived there for 20 years after moving from Cornwall. Comes highly recommended generally.

We hope to find amicable people as we’ll all need to make friends when we move! Anyone find there are quite a lot of newcomers to the area, maybe from other parts of the UK?

@RupertTheBear that’s good to hear about the schools - one will be going into year 7, and we’re looking at Harrogate Grammar School. Our youngest will go into year 3 so it’ll be whichever primary school has an in-year place. It’ll be a big change for both from their life abroad and going to international schools - they’re mostly concerned about wearing a school uniform!

@Frlrlrubert so good to hear all this too. Did you have any favourite areas? Traffic sounds heavy but hopefully we’ll mainly work at home / fortnightly trips to London. If we change jobs and find something wise in a neighbouring city, the commute there (Leeds, York, Manchester) is worth bearing in mind too I guess.

@Banana770 are there any particular schools you’d recommend we look more closely at (for better or worse!)

I live nearby and I think it's nice. I don't think the town centre has all that much to shout about, but areas like valley gardens are lovely. It's close to getting into the Dales if you're into walking. I don't know, but suspect that there are quite a lot of people who have moved up from London/SE and I don't think it is particularly insular (but I think people's experience is always likely to vary a fair bit).

I would also maybe look at Ilkley. Smaller obviously, but very good secondary school, still got the train into Leeds etc.

I travel there frequently to see friends. Nice, expensive, traffic is a nightmare.

Was disappointed the first time I went there, having imagined a picturesque little town. There are many nicer places in that area I think.

I work in Harrogate but couldn't live there, the traffic is an absolute nightmare. There's loads of restaurants and bars, shopping is rubbish and the fabulous fruit & veg shop closed last year. The Turkish baths and valley gardens are brilliant though.

I'd live in York in a heartbeat. Much better public transport and very bike friendly plus you're on the Edinburgh - London main line.

Have you looked at Wetherby? Smaller town but more picturesque. Still good links to nearby cities and closer to M1 for travel.

It's nice but weirdly soulless somehow. And there's a big hidden drugs problem with teenagers from my experience working in mental health services.

Have you considered Skipton?

Family in the North and the Midlands and a weekly commute to London, but you are looking at North Yorkshire?

The UK is your oyster. There are cheaper places with a similar vibe, and slightly higher priced places which are much more convenient (eg the little towns around Cambridge) or even other Georgian Spa towns which are similarly priced AND more convenient (eg Buxton).

I was raised within 10 miles of Harrogate and am fiercely protective but given the whole of the UK it is not where I'd choose (and there's a bitter wind in the winter).