Moving to West Yorkshire

[Move2WY]

Hi. Posting here for traffic.

Please can you help me find a place to live. Needs to be 45 minutes drive max to Wakefield. But not Wakefield.

I have a 19 month old and another due in June so a town with playgroup and soft play is ideal.

We don't want to move to a city and worry a village is too isolating as we will not know anyone. We love Harrogate.

Will be renting to begin with and budget is up to 1k a month.

I have seen mirfield but unsure about high street. Anywhere out there similar to Harrogate? Thanks x

Just beware of Penistone, we've been here over a year now and i don't think we've had more than five day where the wind hasn't been strong enough to knock you off your feet . And the primary schools are ofsted good and outstanding but are very over subscribed, we didn't manage to get places in either of them for the DC. Infact we only found one school with places west of the M1 in the villages/towns along the A628.
I'm not loving it yet, so I'd say renting is the way forward wherever you decide. There is usually a decent selection in Penistone and you'll get 4 beds for under a £1000 no problems.

I live in wakefield and never heard of Lindley (but I'm not from here originally). If you want a bit posh then Woolley/Cawthorne is worth a look. Check secondary school situation though. We are well provided for school wise in South wakefield but not sure of the situation further afield. I commute to leeds by train. The motorways can be an arse on a regular basis so if that's an issue then don't go too far afield!

Just seen your children are small so you probably don't need to worry about secondary school just yet!

Lindley is in Huddersfield Stripeyhoglets.

I'm also in Lindley (I wonder if I know any of you )

I love living here but it's getting busier as they are whacking up new badly built houses left right and centre. Also think you'd struggle to get to Wakefield in 45 mins from this side of Huddersfield

Yes Penistone is windy, yes the schools are oversubscribed, but I love the area. The problem is that they are building more and more houses, but not increasing school places. The catchment area for Penistone Grammar (which is by far and away the best secondary school in the LA) is shrinking due to the number of new houses being built nearer the school and people who bought in places like Silkstone and Silkstone Common are panicking that their children won't get into the school.

No I'm not personally describing it as "the Knightsbridge of the North" but honestly that's it was described on one of those free magazines that get pushed through the door. My Mum showed it me (being a fellow Lindley dweller) and we did actually take the piss and say we wondered where the high end designer shops were hiding. But honestly that is what it said.

There seems to be a few of us "lindliests" for want of a better word. Maybe we should form a "clique"? I do like living here though. It's got everything to offer - excellent schools, fantastic people, comparatively cheap housing yet close to major cities, stunning scenery - I can see Emley moor mast and castle Hill from one room and Saddleworth Moors from the back.

I can see Emley Moor mast from my bedroom

Ackworth is lovely, north featherstone too. Some other areas that are quite nice I would say are Oulton and Woodlesford. I'm Castleford area which is good for convenience with Wakefield/ Leeds nearby, right next to motorway, Xscape etc etc but certainly wouldn't compare it to Harrogate!!

If you decide to look in the Ackworth area have a look at Badsworth too. If looking in Pontefract one of the nicest areas I'd say is near the racecourse/college.

Some nice areas around here but as Amziix said certainly wouldn't compare it to Harrogate.

I used to live in the Harrogate area, and now live in Halifax, the Harrogate area is lovely, but very expensive. I would move over there if we could afford it, would love to live closer to my parents.

If I were you I would try and reconsider the Wakefield area, and avoid the m62 as its a nightmare! Huddersfield centre isn't particularly nice, the usual shops but nothing special.

There are lots of lovely areas but 45 minute commute is difficult as the traffic in rush hour is very busy round here.

I used to commute from Halifax to Huddersfield and that was bad enough, with no motorways involved!

bunbaker you're "local"!

I can see Emley moor too :-)

Hi Mairy when I went to school in Lindley (many years ago) there were just normal shops like butchers, bakers and hardware. When I go back now there are trendy shops and cafes . One of the pubs I used to frequent is a tapas bar so it is "posh" to me. Can I join the clique MrsGrady. I still visit often as family there .

I live in Mirfield! It's a lovely town but definitely not a Harrogate. I'm surprised at all the Huddersfield hate though, I love it there.. It's really come along nicely in the last 10 years.

Talking of Huddersfield, has anyone seen the station cat that has been in the news recently?

I can walk to Emley Moor.

I feel a Lindley meet up comng on, especially if OP moves here - there could be a welcoming committee!!!
Yes bun I've seen the cat in the press ( and n person), he's recently been promoted I understand.

Felix is very cute! I need to go and see him at the station, should be easier to spot in a hi vis jacket

Can I join the Lindley clique ?

Huddersfield railway station is great. A station cat and not one but two good pubs - what more could you ask for?
(Ooh, and fast trains to Leeds and Manchester, if you want decent shops...)

I'm in Mirfield, originally from Huddersfield (Lindley/Mount area).

Everywhere is getting more built up. I would be wary of choosing Lindley now as so many new developments are springing up I would be concerned about getting a school place.

Am happy at the moment with where we are as it's so convenient to get anywhere. The train station is about 15 min walk from my house- direct trains to London (Grand Central) take 2 hours 15mins. Can't beat that. Also very easy to get to M62 - M1 just a little longer drive away.

Some areas of Mirfield are nicer than others. Avoid Lower Hopton - recently having flooding issues. Upper Hopton is much nicer - far less developed too. Or the other direction towards Hartshead village is nice too. Along with Roberttown.

There are good primary schools, and two high schools. With a very good selective state grammar a short bus trip away (Heckmondwike Grammar - excellent results).

blibblibs - I felt the same: you feel battered after a while. It's bloody freezing too. And so, so wet. And dark! Whenever I used to drive into Sheffield to work, I was amazed at how light it was once you got to Hoylandswaine - sunrise is about 20 minutes later because of the valley. I have honestly never lived anywhere that made me so profoundly and utterly miserable on every single count.

I think one major thing is that there is a massive difference between, say, areas of Huddersfield which are fairly city-like and villages which are just NOT. If you are a country person, OP, then Cawthorne is OK, and what about Wentworth? If, however, you like living in a place where you can get a flat white and where there aren't people walking around with shotguns and wellies, Huddersfield may be more your scene.

Thank you so much for this. I have a big list to get through. We're moving from London so expect some culture shock. I'm from east Yorkshire originally but husband is born and bred down here. We love quiet life near greens with good biking routes or walking etc. But being on our own with no friends or family in the area I don't want to feel.isolated with 2 under 2 hence me wanting somewhere with a decent high street and good for families.

So, if we did reconsider Wakefield can anyone recommend good areas there?