Harrogate or York??!

[Absofrigginlootly]

DH is hopefully going to be working just south of Leeds and we will be relocating from the states back to the uk this summer,

Nothing finalized yet so it may all fall through but anyway we need to be researching and deciding on potential areas to live.

We are wanting a picturesque village just outside (maybe up to 10 miles) out of the city. With access to good primary and secondary schools. We have a sizable housing budget so that's probably not a concern either.

We are southerners so don't know the area well....

Northern MNers... would you vote for harrogate or York??

Do you know of any beautiful country villages in either area (I like the look of Sutton on the forest outside york for example)

Any advice MUCH appreciated... Thanks!

[Absofrigginlootly]

Perfect thankyou

[Walkerbean16]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/3136640-Should-we-move-to-York-Harrogate-Talk-to-me-about-it

here is a link to the thread Royston is talking about.

[Absofrigginlootly]

Roystonv ok wasn't sure of the tone of your post.. (some posters on here are unnecessarily short/rude) but that does indeed sound helpful so I will look for it.

Thanks everyone for the very helpful advice and suggestions - it is MUCH appreciated

[pottersotters]

I commuted Harrogate to Wakefield - it was fine! It was about an hour leaving at 7.

I think lots of people are thinking you’ll drive through leeds which would be hellish but as long as you are nearish a1 you’ll be grand.
Actually ilkley otley etc would be far worse.

My vote would be for York but I like something a little quirkier than Harrogate. Harrogate is gorgeous, but very polished. Knaresborough is cute but small.

However I know nothing about schools.

[Wonkydonkey44]

I prefer york to be honest , lots to see and do . We went to Harrogate the other weekend and it’s got loads of charity shops and def not as much going for it as york .
Also don’t dismiss Leeds , loads of nice areas of Leeds great shopping and socialising . Check out Leeds! X

[VanillaSugar]

Stamford Bridge floods.

[Roystonv]

Me again sorry not a telling off at all just thought previous thread might be helpful.

[Abouttime]

Don’t go to Church Fenton - HS2 is going straight through it and there are a lot of houses now for sale!

[GnotherGnu]

Try places like Stamford Bridge, Kirkham Abbey and Westow.

[honeyroar]

If you're looking for something along the lines of Bath then you'd probably like York more than Harrogate. I'd look at villages on the Leeds side perhaps.

[GuiltyPleasure]

Repeating other posters, but definitely a lot of picturesque villages close to the A64 like Appleton Roebuck, Colton, Bolton Percy, Askham Bryan, Askham Richard, Bilbrough. Also Companthorpe but it's is a bit too big & built up for me, but if you want a bit more facility wise & closer to York then Bishopthorpe is very nice.
Most of the primary schools are pretty good in the whole area. For secondary schools you wouldn't go wrong with Tadcaster Grammar or Fulford.
Also there are other villages off the A64 but half way between Leeds & York & near Tadcaster.. Towton, Ulleskelf, Church Fenton.
DH regularly commutes from the area to the South side of Leeds in rush hour traffic & it takes about an hour on a clear run

[Absofrigginlootly]

Someone complaining about the Huns xxxx again??

[BlondeB83]

The X is in protest to another thread

[BlondeB83]

York! But you will find it harder to find property there. X

[acquiesce]

Lived in both, York is by far my favourite - so much more to do!

[SuperBeagle]

York was my favourite place after visiting the UK in December. There's just something about it that nowhere else in the UK (that we saw) had.

[OVienna]

To be honest - there are so many lovely places around this area you really can't go far wrong. Lovely, lovely part of the world. Maybe consider renting first to see how you feel about distances?

DH grew up in Fulford, in laws now on central York. If you take that route be ready for the tourists. DH did some training at king James in Knaresbough - great town and lovely school. Ripon Grammar is indeed wonderful as us the town. My idea of a perfect afternoon is sipping something gently alcoholic in Betty's Harrogate. Sigh. We tried to relocate but the stars didn't align. Still spend lots of time in the Dales though.

[Abouttime]

I live north wakefield/south leeds and the commute to Harrogate is awful.
York isn’t much better unfortunately.
If he’s going at times other than rush hour it would be fine but peak times are really horrid.
My DH wants to move to both those areas and we both work in Leeds City centre. I refuse because of the commute.

Wetherby and surrounding areas would probably suit you.

[Absofrigginlootly]

Think there was a similar thread not long ago so try searching.

Sorry Miss

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I must use the search function
I must use the search function
I must use the search function

[Roystonv]

Think there was a similar thread not long ago so try searching.

[Baaaaaaaaaaaa]

Oh, and my DH commutes to Leeds centre - an hour and a half each way, every day. But he likes it

[Baaaaaaaaaaaa]

I have lived in York and now live in Harrogate (30+years - VERY old now ) . I much prefer to live in Harrogate but the traffic really is horrendous - Harrogate grammar is NOT ‘brilliant’. St Aidan’s and John Fisher are waaay better. York is a lovely place but the tourists, especially in summer, no thank you I’ll put up with Harrogate’s traffic instead.

Now, if you want somewhere with an outstanding school (in the top fifty last time I looked) then Ripon is the place for you. Ripon grammar school is outstanding in every respect. Just north of Harrogate but very close to the A1 and therefore a quicker commute. Nice shopping, proper market day, a wonderful cathedral and a quick car ride into the dales (also Lightwater Valley theme park not too far away for more great days out). A super little town with lots to recommend it. A very close by little village called Rainton is also thoroughly recommended - even easier access to the A1 and it has it’s own pub.

Try looking at Cowthorpe and Hunsingore too. Again brilliant access to the A1 but also midway between Harrogate and York so you get the best of both worlds.

[squarecorners]

Family has lived in Harrogate for years - I love it, would live there in a heartbeat if I could afford it.
I lived in York myself- hated it, impossible to get anything done without tripping over tourists and hen parties in fancy dress, it floods all the time and the traffic is permanently terrible. I used to refer to it as "history disneyland". Harrogate all the way.

[whatsthecomingoverthehill]

I think people are overplaying the commute issue. If you're nearish the A1 it will be fine, especially leaving early.

[TwoScottieDogs]

We live in Wheldrake which is south of York and handy for the A64. My husband works in Wakefield and it takes him 45/50 mins to do the commute.