Relocating to North Yorkshire

[Tulipgardenmusic]

Hi Mumsnetters!

Just looking for support and reassurance. We are about to make a move north with our kids - its an exciting time but equally terrifying to move somewhere where we don't know anyone! Is there anyone on here who lives in or near Ripon to hit me with some good stuff about what its like to live there with family?

We've lived in Berkshire near Reading for ten years and had our three children here who are all primary school age (9,7 and 4). For several years we've been talking about moving somewhere with more green space within reach of a cultural city like York and lockdowns just made us more sure about it. Although I have been mainly the one driving a move I am now feeling pretty scared about uprooting our lives and starting again.

We've chosen Ripon as we loved it when we visited and my husband is familiar with the Dales and I became obsessed at watching programmes about the Dales during lockdown! Being within reach of Harrogate and York also has its appeal and being on the edge of the Dales will be wonderful. My husband works from home and I will be eventually looking for work part time in the area

A lovely area and one I would think of were I returning to the UK
Loved all three towns, lived a while up that way, but too long ago for any real help

Off to rightmove!

You lucky sausage! The North is the best and Ripon is beautiful. Just go out exploring.

I love Ripon. I could happily live there

I adore Ripon and think it's a great place to raise a family. The schools are lovely and there's such a nice atmosphere. My only child is a baby, but I've worked in several of the schools and think it's a great area. Feel free to PM me or message here and I'll try and answer any questions!

Worst thing is poor public transport links as no train station, but there's a good fast and frequent bus service to Harrogate and Leeds.

I've lived in Yorkshire for many years, currently in the Dales.

Ripon is nice, but I'd strongly recommend renting up here before buying. Visiting somewhere isn't the same as living there, and there are lots of places you could consider living.

Ripon might be a bit disappointing on the cultural front tbh, and has poor public transport links. If you want access to culture, being on a train line into Leeds would be useful. Have you considered Knaresborough?

I like Ripon and it’s a beautiful part of the country. Plus you have Booths you lucky duck. When we visit Fountains Abbey I always call in Booths.

I'm a couple of towns along!
Ripon is nice but yes poor transport.
Lots of other towns not far away with much better transport links!

I'm not super near Ripon - I'm a few miles north of York - and it is a lovely area, but I'm slightly wondering what you mean by a 'cultural city like York'. York has masses of history and it's very pretty and charming. But I wouldn't say there's masses of cultural events. Theatre, opera, exhibitions - you probably want to go elsewhere most of the time. It depends on what you're keen on, obviously, but I mention because I've got a friend here who really notices the lack of what she was used to when she was closer to bigger cities.

@SarahAndQuack

I'm not super near Ripon - I'm a few miles north of York - and it is a lovely area, but I'm slightly wondering what you mean by a 'cultural city like York'. York has masses of history and it's very pretty and charming. But I wouldn't say there's masses of cultural events. Theatre, opera, exhibitions - you probably want to go elsewhere most of the time. It depends on what you're keen on, obviously, but I mention because I've got a friend here who really notices the lack of what she was used to when she was closer to bigger cities.

I'd agree with this. York is lovely (I lived there for a fair while) but definitely doesn't have the cultural offering you might be used to if you are within spitting distance of London.

For the theatre, ballet, opera, galleries etc you want access to Leeds as it's better by a long way. York has a really good food scene though. Harrogate is 'naice' but again, doesn't have the cultural offering of a bigger city.

This is why I think renting would be a good idea and exploring the area - when you visit you see the touristy stuff, but that doesn't tell you what it's like to live somewhere.

BOOTHS x10⁰0000

I went in for the first time a few weeks ago and almost did a Stistine Chapel shriek

We used to live in Ripon and go back frequently. There's a definite community feel and plenty going on if you look for it, and good schools.Depends what you're looking for. And it's a beautiful area.

Lack of trains is a minus but you can pick up the East coast main line at Thirsk or local lines in Harrogate.

I'd go back in a heartbeat but circumstances say otherwise.

@Gatekeeper

BOOTHS x10⁰0000

I went in for the first time a few weeks ago and almost did a Stistine Chapel shriek

I dread to think how you'd react in Keelham Farm Shop!

We lived in North Yorkshire for 4 years on RAF Leeming. Northallerton is a lovely town. You're right between the Yorkshire Dales and North Yorkshire Moors. We moved from Oxford so a similar move.

If there's anything you want to know specifically, ask away!

Harrogate is a beautiful (but expensive) town. Betty's Tea Rooms are worth a visit either in Northallerton or Harrogate. Also, Aysgarth Falls, Goathland, Whitby, Scarborough etc.

It's a beautiful part of the world but it was a culture shock moving from Oxford to Gatenby (where the RAF base is).

Ah 😁

It's lovely up north. Good choice.

Is there a booths in Ripon ??

We have one in Cumbria where I am but didn't know there was one all the way over there!!!

@Bumpsadaisie

Is there a booths in Ripon ??

We have one in Cumbria where I am but didn't know there was one all the way over there!!!

Indeed there is. Me and dh are going to spend the day there for me birthday

Thanks for all your advice ladies! Booths sounds super nice! I'm partial to a trip to Waitrose so if this is the northern equivalent I am there.

We are within an hours trip on the train to london here but even though we like theatre/concerts and exhibitions I could count on 1 hand the number of times I've been to london to do that kind of thing in the 10 years we have lived here (I hear you all gasp). Combination of forever having a child under three and no baby sitters close enough and not having much extra cash. I lived in London for 7 years prior to moving to Berkshire but as a professional musician starting out ironically could rarely afford to appreciate it from the other side!

So although I like a bit of culture if its an occasional hike to Leeds that will do me (i know opera north is there) and the steam railway museum in York my 4 year old son will love. The north is beautiful and we are finding it is getting busier and busier here - quite a change in 10 years.

Ripon is lovely. Do be aware it has a selective grammar school system (fantastic grammar school). Also be aware Ripon is well known for its sudden appearance of sink holes with houses half disappearing into them. Ripon has a good bus service into Leeds via Harrogate. Ripon also has a weekly market and some nice independent shops. They do have a Booths supermarket and a lovely independent cinema, the Curzon.

I think the choice you need to make is do you want the culture (that would be Leeds then). Or do you want the Dales (stick a pin in the map and go for it, every village and town is beautiful.

I lived in Harrogate for over 30 years and have recently moved further into the Dales. It’s a grand place to be.

I dread to think how you'd react in Keelham Farm Shop!

Booths is FAR superior to Waitrose

Others best me to it, I came to say make sure you have access to leeds and rent first to get a fel for places.

Waitrose is like a hole in the ground filled with rotten scraps compared to Booths, Keelham, or many of our other amazing places to buy food.

even though we like theatre/concerts and exhibitions I could count on 1 hand the number of times I've been to london to do that kind of thing in the 10 years we have lived here (I hear you all gasp). Combination of forever having a child under three and no baby sitters close enough and not having much extra cash

This won't be the case forever, so if culture is important to you I would make sure you factor that into location choice. I live in the southern Dales, but can be in Leeds in around an hour (door to door) by a mix of cycling and train, so it is doable.

I took this photo of Ripon Booths when we visited this summer.

Thanks for this thread, OP. We’re also considering Ripon so very helpful advice.

@Doubleraspberry

I took this photo of Ripon Booths when we visited this summer.

Thanks for this thread, OP. We’re also considering Ripon so very helpful advice.

Ooh. Is that a TWO STOREY Booths??