Leaving London

[siwel123]

Hi all, don't shoot I know there's life outside of London .
Me, my wife and 2 kids currently live in London and the wife has finally agreed to start looking at other places to live but as were both civil servants we have a limited range of places to choose from.

The options we've been given are Leeds or Manchester. AIBU to ask which would you choose and Why? And also what areas would you live in. We would have a 500k budget for the house so any suggestions appreciated.

@MoonroseKingdom. Thank you so much, roundhay and chapel allerton do sound lovely.

I would urge you to have a look at Ilkley ( other houses are available besides ones I posted).
It has a theatre/ music venue, cinema, usual shops ( Mint Velvet, Fatface, the usual high St Chains besides lots independents. Gorgeous restaurants including Michelin starred Boxtree and the famous Betty’s Cafe Tea Rooms. Open Air Lido. The very picturesque River Wharfe
and the riverside gardens with playgrounds/ walks/ cafes. My daughter and DH moved there from Clapham so they could afford to buy. Much less of a culture shock if you are coming from the London area but with walks from the doorstep.
Why would you live in the Home Counties?

Ilkley is a very lovely, but small town and it is a bit of a trek from Leeds.

The train only takes half an hour, but I bet the commuter services are just as crowded as the rush hour tubes.

It wouldn't be my first choice if I wanted to feel I was living in a city, although it would be a good choice if you wanted naice small town with countryside on the doorstep.

Incidentally, a nice walk is accros the moor from Ilkley to Saltaire and catch the train back (I usually do it the other way round, but either would be good). Salts Mill in Saltaire is a lovely place, with galleries, independent shops and lovely cafes etc.

Oh, and Ilkley has a Booths, which is like a posh Waitrose.

Ooh booths. You now you've made it when you shop in booths.

Ilkley does sound lovely. But I will keep other areas in mind

@siwel123 - did you want a garden? And is it period/characterful you’re looking for, or new build and modern?
Also I s likely a yes or no - 28mins journey time - trains every 20 mins or so in rush hour. And is Skipton too long a commute to Leeds - 43 mins - trains every 15 mins in rush hour?

A good sized garden would be nice @Luisa27.

Ilkley is a Yes, as a possible place.
My wife has vetoed Skipton

Also not bothered. Period or modern I'm not fussed

I'd also definitely recommend looking at Ilkley/Menston/Burley/Guiseley - you can walk out the back of your house straight onto fields and up onto the moors, but are only 20-28 mins (depending where on the line you are) to Leeds. I've lived in various bits of Leeds, including Chapel Allerton, and also near Ilkley and if you are after a nice garden/nearby countryside then Ilkley/surrounding really does come out top.
Really friendly areas with big sense of community.
I'm living in South-west London now and while it's exciting and fun, I still prefer Yorkshire!

Ilkley is a PITA to get into Leeds from and with 550k there is no need to buy there, the OP can afford to live in the nicer parts of Leeds proper.

Ah ok @Furano - yes see what you mean
I’m known as the ‘house whisperer’ by all my friends and fam - house hunting/ renovation is my massive guilty pleasure - yes I am a freak 😂
But I suppose I should grudgingly admit defeat here 😥....I don’t know the area or siwel and DW - so I’m basically talking shite 😂😂

A beautiful house in Baildon which backs on to the moor I used to commute from here in to Leeds. You can drive a couple of minutes down to Saltaire and get the train from there, or also free parking at Shipley station which is 5 minutes away and it's 15 minutes direct train in to Leeds. My DP also used to drive in to Leeds for work which takes about 45 mins.

Moorfield House, Heaton Close, Baildon, Shipley, BD17 5PL
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-72936269.html

Eldwick? This is so pretty. Not sure if it's closer to Bingley station. Look how lovely it is though!

Saltaire Road, Bingley, West Yorkshire
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-59488504.html

The Baildon house is lovely and a couple nice pubs/ bars in Baildon. My Auntie is in local choir there. Lots going on in the community. State schools can be more hit and miss around there however.

I forgot about schools! The local CofE primary school is great but I have a little one so not sure about secondary. I know a few friends older kids are going to St Mary's in Guiseley which is meant to be very good but it's a catholic school.

Baildon as a village is wonderful though. So much going on and a great community. Hopefully someone else knows about secondary school options close by?

Oooh lovely Basildon house! 👌Schools look dodgy though...one good thing about Ilkley is that there are outstanding primary schools - and looks like it’s in the catchment area for 3 decent grammars. Depends if schools are a top priority....

I'd live in Ilkley if I could afford it for sure! And eat cake from Betty's all day every day.

This is nice. In catchment for Ilkley grammar and also close to an outstanding primary.

Great Pasture, Burley in Wharfedale
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-65194153.html

I'd pick a city in the Midlands over any city in the north.

But, if the choice has to be Leeds, Liverpool or Manchester, then I'd pick Leeds. Definitely not Manchester.

Speakout, I assume you are joking. So, you have been to "The North" Hoo hoo you crack me up. Having lived in London for 5 years, give me the North any day

IIRC she's Scottish! I suspect that might have been a comment on some of the dimmer world ends outside the M25 perspectives.

Leeds. City’s Centre. Some suggestions which might give you a great weekend.
Dominos Jazz Club
Everyman Cinema (with rooftop bar)
Gustos restaurant was very good the other week on Greek Street - very noisy/ lively bar opposite and people who looked much cooler than us.
Stockdales Restaurant with bread and dripping nibbles for a true northern canapé. 😂🍷

Ooh they sound great, we do like a good film and a tipple .

Skipton is great and you get a bit more house for your money due to the longer commute. It’s my local town.
Schools are good if you position yourself carefully. The sort of houses in your bracket are a bit of a stride to the station which is lovely in the sunshine now but horrible on a sleety day in Nov. However taxis round here are absurdly cheap compared to London!

Duifficult choice. My relative moved from London to work in Leeds (but lives in Harrogate - Harrogate is not cheap) and the children go to a Leeds school. I lived in Manchester just at university and sometimes go up there for work things. Manchester is probably bigger with mkore things on, more variety, may be noisier, more bars and that kind of thing but probably biggest selection of schools including Manchester Grammar (private school) which always does pretty well. Manchester might be a bit less posh in general terms although both areas have areas posher than others I suppose in both towns.

If I were you I would base it around opportunities for the children and schools.

I've worked in both Leeds and Manchester and would take Leeds everytime.