Harrogate or Chester?

[snowytrees]

Myself, DH and one DC (age 8) are looking to relocate to possibly Chester or Harrogate. We love both areas and looking for some advice on which would be best. Looking for good schools, shops, restaurants, etc, plenty to do, leafy green areas, good access to travel links. We are looking at min 2 bed house with garden in nice area. Budget wise we are hoping to reduce our mortgage to a minimum, so ideally don't want to go over about £300k, less would be even better. I believe in Chester we would be likely to get more house for our money. Can anyone help with comparisons of the two areas and what would suit our needs? Thanks

Both lovely. Both give you easy access to amazing scenery (Snowdonia, llyn peninsula or north York’s moors, York’s coast, not far to Lake District from either). Tough choice!

Thanks @Igottastartthinkingbee, yes very tough choice!

Chester- I’m well travelled and yet it’s my favourite city in the world.

I'm a vote for Chester but I live here so very bias opinion!

Eeeh, tough one. Harrogate because I'm a Tyke, Chester because it's lovely and close to Snowdonia. Both expensive though, and can be snobbish.

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/find-a-school-in-england

That’s where you can compare schools. Both offer shops and restaurants, don’t they?

We know both well and both are lovely places to live. I prefer Harrogate though. Chester is a bit of a nightmare to get to, the motorways around are always clogged up.

Harrogate.

Know both and it wins hand down. It's proximity to Leeds and York is great and trains to both. Surrounding area is beautiful and the town has lovely gardens, Turkish baths and restaurants which are brilliant.

Are you religious?

Or prepared to find God?

I had a god once, lost it in a house move.

Thanks all it's so hard I think we need to spend some more time in both places. We were slightly favouring Harrogate but I think house prices are higher than in Chester. Will take a look at the schools thanks, good point.

Harrogate house prices are certainly high but schools are very good and it’s very green.

Harrogate house prices are certainly high but schools are very good and it’s very green.

It is a faith based secondary system. 2/5 high schools are faith based admission. The other 3 are geographic postcodes with the most popular Harrogate Grammar being small but there is a rural passport from some villages.

Do you need to work?

Despite being from Yorkshire (and loving it!) I would actually choose Chester from those 2 options

In my experience Chester is a bit more diverse, traffic not as bad and has more (and a greater range) of shops.

Thanks. We do need to work, but can be flexible as we can work for ourselves if need be.

I'm in Chester, OP. You can get a 2-3 bedroom house in a nice area on your budget.

What are you thinking re. schools? There are a mixture of comps, grammars and independents within commuting distance here.

Chester! Beautiful city, with so much to do. The schools are amazing, and just a few miles, up the road, you have the Clwydian hills. Loggerheads, in particular, is stunning

Chester, I just love it there.

Chester for sure. We live about 20 mins drive away and have access to green space , good schools and shops and connections to Wales and Manchester and Liverpool airports

Loved visiting Chester in the summer one of the best places I’ve been. Lots more to do there than in Harrogate, way better shopping (but you are comparing a town with a city).

Moved out of Harrogate last year (got way more for our money further north). Loved living there for ten years but the town is changing it’s not the place it once was in many respects so if you are going to go house hunting look very closely at the area and the traffic for getting out to work. I’d be very selective about where I’d live in Harrogate (probably south side only - which is where we used to rent).

I thought this was a baby name thread!

I had the best pork pie ever in Chester. Melt in your mouth deliciousness. Really lovely.

Definitely Chester

@MalarkeyMouse baby name thread 😂

I love pies so it's looking like Chester has the edge here!