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

Move2Y - Apologies, I wasn't suggesting Grenoside to you but to blibblibs. We've been having a kind of sub-conversation about a place I really hated living, where she is also not happy. I do think it would be too long (time-wise) for you to commute from there to Wakefield. (Though I used to commute Sheffield to York three times a week and it really does depend on the window of traffic that you hit).

As an aside, I know lots of people that commute from the naice parts of south Sheffield (Ecclesall, Nether Edge etc) to Wakefield every day, but do it on the train.
It's only 20 mins to cycle to the station and then 25mins on the fast train. Wouldn't even consider doing that commute in s car though.

Sounds like you've got a great shortlist there OP. Newmillerdam and Holmfirth in particular are great.

Holmfirth is lovely.
Menston is lovely
Ilkley is lovely

Thanks shovetheholly, we both actually work in Sheffield but didn't really fancy city living and school places were a bit problematic so ended up here. We wouldn't travel backwards so to speak to get DC to school so I'm not sure what the answer is.

Sorry for the derail move2wy but if you have a futher advice shove I'd appreciate a pm

I'm near menston and Ilkley. No way on earth would I consider commuting to Wakefield! I've friends in crigglestone and Barnsley who are happy with where they live. It's not Harrogate though (not much is to be honest, that's why it's so expensive there!)

Look at Walton as well as Sandal and Newmillerdam. Walton has a nice village feel and a good school. Playgroup in the village hall, nice park and is popular with young families. I would recommend the local NCT branch for making friends with people with kids as well. Good luck in your search.

"Menston is lovely
Ilkley is lovely"

And nowhere near within a 45 minute commute to Wakefield. I used to commute from Guiseley to Wakefield, but that was in the late 80s. I wouldn't do it ow. The traffic has increased tenfold since then.

Rothwell? Brighouse/Rastrick? Halifax? If you don't mind your address sounding like a brass band all these are potentials.
I grew up in Rothwell.

"Brighouse/Rastrick? Halifax?"

Due to the sheer volume of traffic the M62/M1 interchange has to deal with during the rush hour I think you are being a tad overoptimistic about a 45 minute commute to Wakefield.

Look at Walton as well as Sandal and Newmillerdam.

I'd forgot about Walton! Nice place, lovely countryside, near Walton Hall hotel for a cuppa by the lake, close to Wakefield but not too close, Also only ten minutes in the car from Newmillardam, for a walk and a cuppa.

I live on the Agbrigg side of Sandal and I love it. I'm not from Yorkshire (don't tell anyone, I haven't been found out yet!) and I've really fallen for Wakefield. Been here 4 years, just had my first baby and can confirm the NCT branch is lovely and very active here. The centre of Wakefield is changing, there's loads of independent businesses which I prefer to the commercialised centre of Leeds, you have the Hepworth on your doorstep, there's a cracking food festival and music festival every year and you are very well connected motorway and transport wise. In Sandal you have lovely scenery, especially around the castle and Pugneys and Newmillerdam are great for walks. Pubs are good too, mosre gastropub like in Sandal but there's some good ones in the centre with live music if that's your thing. The council gyms here are very affordable and accessible with a wide range of classes and there is a parkrun in the centre on a weekend too. I would seriously reconsider, south of the centre (newmillerdam, sandal) would be best but I live on the Agbrigg side of Sandal and it's great along with being more affordable and there isn't a 'city' feel either. Good schools in the Sandal area too.

I didn't know about the food festival. I must keep an eye out for that. We have been to the Huddersfield one a few times.

It will be the Rhubarb Festival bunbaker

What about Boston Spa? Might be expensive though.

I was born and brought up in Lindley, Huddersfied. Never really thought of it as a village or a desirable place to live, although we lived in the posh part back then. But I have lived in rural Worcestershire for the the last 30yrs which is worlds apart.
I miss the raw beauty of the Pennines, it is still Gods own county to me, and I still classify myself as a Yorkshire lass.
You will love the people 'up North' they are so honest and friendly. Beware the humour and bluntness, they say the first thing that comes into their head rather than the second, a habit I still find hard to break.
I am definitely going to pay the area a visit this year.
Not a great deal of help to you but happy house hunting. You will love the area wherever you settle.