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!

[LaurieMarlow]

I can't help with the commute stuff as I've never lived in either. But they're both very attractive. Harrogate would have the edge for me. It's gorgeous.

[Absofrigginlootly]

Is it nice juddy? I need to make a list from this thread and get googling!!!

[juddyrockingcloggs]

It's gorgeous! One of my favourite places!

[Walkerbean16]

definitely York, Harrogate is lovely but it's smaller and not as much to do. York is fab.

[IfNot]

Why do people always say Otley on these threads in the same breath as places like Thorner and Boston Spa?!
They're not the same same kind of places at all! Otley's dead working class (or it was until mumsnet decided it was naice 😂.)
It's always the same suggestions on these threads, as if these towns really need MORE wealthy commuters driving up the house prices..
Anyway. Anywhere North of Leeds to anywhere South of Leeds is madness. It really really is.
One of the little places in Calderdale? Holmfirth way? Near the peak district, lovely countryside.

[MereDintofPandiculation]

Depends a bit on what you mean by "just S of Leeds". Do you mean "south Leeds" (eg Rothwell, Morley) or do you mean S of Leeds eg Wakefield, Dewsbury?

[IDefinitelyWould]

The traffic around harrogate drives me mad. I would vote for Appleton roebuck, small village outside of York, excellent driving links (5 mins from A64) and a nice friendly village school. Feeder school for tadcaster grammar school.

[Absofrigginlootly]

as if these towns really need MORE wealthy commuters driving up the house prices..

Sorry We will be hopefully living full time and investing in the area for many years though... it's not like we're buying a second home in a rural Cornish village and only staying in it for 3 weeks a year!

[Absofrigginlootly]

The was missed off the end there

[Absofrigginlootly]

More like this area....

or do you mean S of Leeds eg Wakefield, Dewsbury?

[ForgivenessIsDivine]

If your DH is a workaholic I wouldn't be keen to add to his commute... South Leeds to Harrogate is likely to be over an hour..

[minniemoll]

I've lived in both, Harrogate is lovely but traffic is horrendous as there's no bypass, so everyone crawls through the town centre.

York I never really liked as a place to live, there are far too many tourists to make daily life anything other than a battle for most of the year. It's pretty, but it feels like living in a museum - I often felt like an extra in a theme park....

The villages to the south of Harrogate are nice, or try Wetherby or Ilkley/Otley for a bigger town within easy reach of Harrogate.

[MereDintofPandiculation]

And when you say "up to 10 miles out of the city" do you mean out of Leeds? Or do you mean out of Harrogate/York? (although Harrogate is a town not a city).

10 miles out of the centre of Leeds would take you to Burley-in-Wharfedale and possibly Otley out of those mentioned so far. Otley is a small market town, quite attractive and busy. Burley is in a chain of villages along the Wharfe into Ilkley which are almost merging into each other, a situation which is only going to get worse given the house building targets. Addingham just the other side of Ilkley is a rather village/small town, but I wouldn't want to commute to S Leeds from there.

[Rosieposy4]

How old are your kids and are you doing state or fee paying for schools?
That would be a huge influence especially if you are going for one of the villages rather than either town itself
I think folk are being a bit silly over the commute if he doesn’t mind driving. I commute in to Harrogate from about 30 miles away ( SE) and it only takes about 45 minutes and I go a lot later than your DH will be travelling. He can take the A1M then the M1 to south leeds, the ring road would be madness.
The Wike near Leeds ( there several in Yorkshire)is a lovely village, as are East Keswick, Boston Spa, Kirby Wharfe.

[lilypoppet]

I lived in a lovely village in the vale of York called Poppleton which had a train that went direct to Leeds.

[Amoregentlemanlikemanner]

Still baffled by that commute full stop.
Wakefield to York. Every day. I’d die.

Wouldn’t wish it on my OH unless I actively wanted to avoid seeing him.

[Lou256]

Hi OP,

Have you thought about Ilkley?

Fantastic place to raise kids whatever their age. Countryside on your doorstep but quick rail access into Leeds for city fix!

The commute to south Leeds is do able if your husband is used to commuting leaves early/home late and lots of people do it!

I def wouldn’t rule it out.

Good luck!

[FeckTheMagicDragon]

I happily lived in Harrogate for 10 years. If you loved Bath, Harrogate will suit. It’s not as flashy (no Roman Spas or Jane Austin) and the traffic through the stray is slow at peak times) but it is a lovely safe town to live in. Probably quieter than Bath though. The drive is about an hour to south Leeds depending on where and what route your DH takes. We lived on Valley Drive which was great for a walk into town and near valley Gardens. York is equally lovely and busier, more to do as well.

[YorkshireFatRascal]

If your husband is going to working in the Wakefield/Deswbury area then you really need to be looking at villages that are accessible from the A1. I used to live south of Wakefield and my partner commuted to Wetherby - average journey time 45 mins. I think you would need to add another 30 mins to get into Harrogate. We now live between Wetherby and Harrogate and I can drive to central Leeds in 45 mins in rush hour. Harrogate is lovely but traffic can be hellish at any time. Wetherby, Boston Spa and surrounding villages may be worth looking at.

I love York, just back from an afternoon there, but hen and stag parties can be annoying. If you want to be closer to York look at villages such as Askam Bryan which are close to the A64 which should make for a doable commute.

[Absofrigginlootly]

I meant we wanted to live up to about 10 miles from whichever town/city we end up near. So that we get the best of both worlds (quiet countryside and village school for DD, short travel to shops/restaurants/culture)....

Planning for state school

DD is 3. No siblings yet

[bringmelaughter]

The villages between York and tadcaster would be well worth a look. The askhams, Bilbrough, Colton, etc are full of people who commute to Leeds but still with easy access to york. Good village communities and fantastic, well rated schools.

[hannahintheworks]

Harrogate - it is such a lovely place. York is too big for me as another poster has said, more like a city. Harrogate is quaint and a nice size too.

[mrmakerwastespaper]

Harrogate traffic

Harrogate Show traffic

If you’re trying to get across Harrogate after 4:30 then forget it. Queues in and out and across town.

And it really does depend on where you mean when you say just south of Leeds. Are you taking Elland Rd way or actually out of Leeds? What about looking at somewhere like Ilkley or Otley?

[hannahintheworks]

Especially if you like bath - spa towns are always lovely in my experience :)

[mrmakerwastespaper]

But Harrogate is a really lovely town. Lived there for most of my life. Schools are great, shopping is good. Lots and lots of open space and loads to do.