Please help- Where to move to in Wakefield/Leeds?

[WadiShab]

Firstly, apologies as I know this question has been asked so many times.

My partner and I are making a run for it and leaving London. We have a baby on the way. We are going to rent first for a minimum one year before deciding where to buy.

We really want to rent in an area preferably within Wakefield but with an quick easy commute into Leeds City centre by public transport, within 30/40mins ideally.

Good nursery options for when I ho back to work.

A decent high street with supermarkets and amenities restaurants and cafés.

Community feel, mum and baby groups, park etc with preferably a decent leisure centre or one within a commutable distance.

I don't have a car so Uber accessible if required.

Not much on that list really, 🙈🙈 😂😂

I appreciate I may not be able to tick every box but the main ones would be good.

Trying to narrow down the search.

Thank you all in advance 🙂

Hi - have a look at rothwell / new forest village . Half way between Leeds and Wakefield - the south Leeds stadium complex is close has a sports centre also close to parks . Lots going on.

Methley is a lovely village ..quite near Rothwell and 15 mins from Leeds. Oulton is nice too next dooe to both but think both have leeds postcode, Wrenthorpe is great in Wakefiled fab village with everything you need and very near motorways as in Kirkhamgate both lovely areas,

Thank you so much I will check these out.

Thanks I will take a look at these.

Hyde park and headingly both lovely to bring kids up in

By young vibe do you mean kids with ASBOs? Armley has a leisure centre, that's about all it's got going for it. Meant to be 'up and coming' for the last 20years. Hasn't happened yet.

yes I agree on classism. you can't have been there recently if ASBOs are coming to mind.

Roundhay, Horsforth, West park, Headingley, Tingley, Morley.

We live in Weetwood which is very close to Headingley/Far Headingley. It's lovely. Great primary schools, lots of good shops, cafes restaurants. You can walk to Leeds City centre in 30 to 40 minutes but there are buses that go every few minutes. There are leisure centres nearby. Three large parks that you can walk to (Meanwood Park/The Hollies, Becketts Park and Golden Acre). I do have a car but prefer walking. We specifically chose this area because we don't like driving. We can walk to school, the shops, restaurants, work in the city centre etc. Lots of families here.

What is your rent budget OP? Leeds has shot up incredibly quickly in private rents even some rough areas are charging £700 pumps and more.

West Park is lovely, Adel, Roundhay. Weatherby and Thorner.

These are expensive areas though. Budget to buy needed?

PCM*

I grew up in Pontefract which is under Wakefield Council and it is getting really lovely now!

I live in Hyde park. It's full of drunk students, graffiti, piles of glass and late night parties. I wouldn't recommend it. Handy for town though 😁

good for young scene then!

Horbury is Leeds side of Wakefield, nice villagey feel, plenty of green space. Close to the motorway, decent bus service into Wakefield. Outwood is on the Leeds / Wakefield bus route so easy to get to either. They both have community groups.

Woolley and Notton are nice but are south of Wakefield and more difficult for transport. Newmillerdam is lovely but I don't know the public transport there.

Ubers seem fine across the district or the local cab company has an app I think too. There is a leisure center in Wakefield town center and at least one in Pontefract. There are also buses from Wakefield out to J32 (shops and Xscape) which take about 30 mins.

Pontefract. So much more for your money than Leeds, new lovely council leisure centre with pool, schools are decent, green spaces. No Uber but cheap and reliable local taxis. Lots of local groups to get involved in. Loads of new cafe bars in town. Direct trains to Leeds and Wakefield.

Rothwell in south leeds/ boarder of wakefield would be a good shout. Lovely community feel, nice park and ok high street.

I really miss living there.

Morley suits all your needs

Farsley. Massively overlooked. Up and coming but not yet too pricey. Half of the places mentioned here I wouldn't touch with a bargepole - my job involves knowing where few people (including the people who live there) would want to live in this area.

Farsley is 30 minutes by bus from Leeds centre, 12 minutes or so by car or taxi. Lovely local scene with a village vibe but not remote.

Look at St John's in Wakefield. It's 5 - 10 minutes walk from Westgate station, with frequent trains to Leeds, or you can get the 110 bus. Either will be within your 30 - 40 minutes. It's also an easy 5 - 10 minutes walk from Wakefield city centre, which has some nice independent cafés and restaurants, and it's on the edge of Wrenthorpe Park, Balne Lane Meadows and Wrenthorpe and Alverthorpe Meadows which are acres of managed meadows and a little wood. St John's Primary School seems OK or there's the Grammar School Foundation or Silcoates if you want to go private. It's not far from Pinderfields Hospital, which has a maternity unit. As for supermarkets, there's a huge Sainsburys and a new-ish Aldi close by.

Wakefield property prices are lower than Leeds.

I would look at the North side of Wakefield / South leeds areas to cut down your commuting time.

Outwood - halfway between Leeds and Wakefield, nice suburb with amenities and a train station, about 30 mins to Leeds by bus.

Morley - market town in south Leeds, great local amenities and pubs/bars. Has a leisure centre. 10 minutes into Leeds by train. Very family-friendly area.

Sandal in wakefield or Walton.
Sandal has a station on line to leeds/sheffield/Doncaster.
No high street though.
Walton is a village - village feel. Further to the station.
Decent schools in the area.

Osset and Horbury seem to have a town centre but no trains.

Leeds costs alot more than wakefield. The Rothwell/Garforth/Oulton/Methley areas I think are decent and easier to get to Wakefield from that side of Leeds. Nice walks in country parks there as well.

Having access to a train station on a line into leeds is the best was to guarantee a commute time. The roads and therefore buses can take alot longer during rush hour and traffic is an issue in Leeds at rush hour.