Moving to Harrogate/ York?

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Husband has been offered work up there and we are debating if we should move or not.

We currently live in an expensive part of the midlands. House prices are ridiculous and we live in a small 3 bedroom house with no chance of up sizing here for many years.

We have 3dc age 3,10,12. It’s the 12dd I feel bad for taking her out of her new secondary school. We live in a nice “posh” area, we have friends, the kids are happy etc.

The thought of moving makes me feel sick. I won’t know a single person. No idea what’s there for children etc.

Would like a nice area to live in, an old house with traditional features unlike the new house we currently live in.

Where do you recommend moving too?

Best schools for primary and secondary? Pre schools? Transport?

I don’t know what’s for the best ☹️

We think we would have more money as living costs would be cheaper?

I live in "the golden triangle"... you can get more house for your money than in the Rightmove link you posted OP.

It's a brilliant place to live and have a family but you will need to fork out for the house.

I’m not sure about that specific little bit of Harrogate OP but you’re headed out to some gorgeous countryside just there. It looks far away enough away from the less desirable parts of Harrogate (Bilton and Jenny Field Drive - apologies to anyone living there! It just wasn’t as nice as we expected Harrogate to be when we were looking 3 years ago). But you’re nowhere near walking distance to anything much there. Not sure about bus routes.

Beckwithshaw, North Rigton and Ripley are all nice outlying areas but probably mega bucks. I’d look at Wetherby too if that is ok with your DHs commute.

Just outside the main area is where York is most expensive, unfortunately. As I said on a previous thread, my daughter lives in a (rented) tiny two bedroom terraced house on Fishergate (near the river but walking distance of the town centre) and those places are worth nearly £300,000.

There may be new builds out towards Haxby that are cheaper though, a bus ride into the centre. Public transport is good, but gets worse the further out you go, Sherriff Hutton and the further villages are incredibly expensive, although beautiful. They are due to demolish the Queen Elizabeth Barracks out at Strensall sometime soon and that will be new housing which may be more affordable.

I love the Knox area. It's on the edge of Bilton, which is generally considered unfashionable, and isn't great for getting the train to York. It would probably be in the catchment for Killinghall (a local village), Richard Taylor School (I think you have to go to church though) and Bilton Grange. Nearest secondary is Harrogate High which is small and improving - had a lovely feel to it when we looked round. If you are church goers, St Aidan's is a lovely school and takes on church attendance rather than catchment, even if you are not, it might be worth trying for an in-year place. Knox is right on th edge of Harrogate, so lots of nice countryside around and not too far from a lovely cyclepath that takes you to Ripley (a beautiful historic village) and Starbeck (other side of Harrogate - and with a train station for York). Your money would go further there than on the South side, which is really expensive because of commuting to Leeds and proximity to Harrogate Grammar (catchment comprehensive, not actual grammar school).

York is a fantastic place to live OP. But it isn't that cheap, it is cheap compared to London but it is known as the golden triangle.

Have a look at Fulford catchment in York. Excellent secondary school and accessible to the centre asking a lovely River walk. One of York's "posh" areas.

But watch for flooding and students!

Would like a nice area to live in, an old house with traditional features unlike the new house we currently live in.

£600,000-£700,000 in Harrogate

I live in Heslington and love the city but its really studenty. I'd love to live in Knaresborough, we go there for days out with church. It's beautiful.

I have family in Strensall and they really rate it. Good schools, play groups, etc. Train line runs through it but no station but I think the next village going outwards has a station?

That's a lovely house, a good 30 minute walk in to town, on a bus route but that is much hampered by the sheer volume of traffic on the roads.
Things to watch out for when thinking of moving to Harrogate are the plans for a bypass ( hopefully it won't happen) going through that very part of the countryside. Also enormous numbers of new houses being built around Killinghall as well as other parts of the area which will put more strain on already stretched infrastructure. Try getting a gp appointment and you will understand and forget about dentists.
Lot's of it is pretty and 'nice' but it is on the way down sadly.
York is better, but traffic is horrific there too.

I love that some Southerners think it will be some sort of regression moving to Harrogate, York or Leeds and then discover they are underdressed and under cultured. Try Chapel Allerton, Roundhay, Bramhope, Adel Horsforth in Leeds too.

Or further out Thorner, Saxton, Bardsey, Otley. The train to York goes via Garforth in Leeds but Aberford close by and that's quite old.

Thats a 2 bed house with a loft conversion. It is in a bit of a no mans land area.

Try Chapel Allerton, Roundhay, Bramhope, Adel Horsforth in Leeds too.

Working in York much nicer and better priced areas than those to live

They typically have a shortage of primary school. places. Horsfoth is a long trek to York traffic wise.

I think north Harrogate is the less nice side. Check on here though.
vis.oobrien.com/booth/

Ah, I just did, it’s more Jennyfield N and then and bit W that’s not so nice.

Woodfield is actually the only socially deprived part of Harrogate. People always quote Jennyfield which has social housing and is visible, whereas Woodfield is hidden. Jennyfield also has a mass of new housing going up and older private housing and is a massively changing area.

Compared to a similar area in Leeds Woodfield is delightful.

@hiddenworlds I live in Leeds and commute to York. It's easy. It may be the op can find a house that's slightly more affordable but with better shops and restaurants ( in Leeds and I say this because my foodie work colleagues have to travel through to Leeds to eat out).

I live in Knaresborough and I commute to Leeds for work and the husband to Bradford. I lived Harrogate for a few years but moved to Knaresborough for the small town feel and community. We love it here and the kids are happy at school. Great schools in Knaresborough.

Knaresborough also has great access to the A1!! And is in between Harrogate and York!

What is Knaresborough like? Schools and things? X

Harrogate is an amazing place to live! I have to move away and am still homesick. Honestly, it is such a special town and the surrounding countryside is beautiful. Ridiculously expensive though.

Knaresborough is lovely too although very different in feel. It’s a small town with a market square, the main town parts are lovely although it does have some crappy bits (the high street). It has a ruined castle (with talking ravens), stunning views and a river with riverside cafes, live music and boating. It’s 10 minutes from Harrogate on the train and about half an hour from
York.

I'd avoid Bilton, Jennyfields and starbeck. I've lived in both Harrogate and now in knaresborough.