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.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E1215&maxPrice=550000&includeSSTC=false

This house is in the nicest area and well placed for station but nothing around there in your price bracket at the moment. Look for Raikes Road. Grassington Rd. Some really good and substantial Victorian terraces there.
Everyone is trying to get their kids into Ermysteads or Skipton Girls High as far as Secondary goes. The outstanding Primary schools are all good.

Thank you @nursy1.

Skipton is a schlep to Leeds IMO.

@Loopytiles. That's my worry

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-54347442.html

For your mystery house I offer you this.
Bingley not as posh as Ilkley but has nice pubs/ restaurants and an adequate little shopping Centre with a coop and various independent shops. Swimming baths, library, usual stuff. Schools are good.
It’s a trek back up a hill to the house though.

@nursy1 - were we separated at birth??
I love that you’re so invested in this too - I’m actually checkinh this thread during the break in my yoga class 😂

Wow that house is amazing... I need to check bingley out!

Ah maybe. Luisa. I’ve just come back from my yoga class this morning too.
I’m a bit over invested myself in property in this area. Just moved ourselves back up here 3 years ago after many years in the Home Counties. An ex colleague has moved up to a job in Bradford area, so have been helping her. As I said, my daughter moved up from London to Ilkley and is currently house hunting. I’m pretty familiar with this area. We have loved moving back. Feel at home again ❤️

Wow that house is amazing... I need to check bingley out!

@siwel123A Bingley isn't really moving to Leeds. Its a right schlep of a commute.

....ahahaha we’re definitely twins!

So lovely you’ve found your piece of paradise, and that your daughter has moved close to you. My parents are in Siena and I so wish they were closer....it’s good to have your mama close by 💕

I think you need to charge siwel commission 😂

My view is kind of coloured because I spent four years commuting OUT of Leeds to various places mainly including Saltaire, Skipton and Bradford (audit grad job).

I hated all of those commutes, they all took near enough an hour in slow moving traffic and in winter it was super grim, felt like you never saw the sun in Saltaire.

Bingley is a mixed little town with the nicest properties on the outskirts. The secondary schools are both really good. Bingley Music Festival is quite a big deal every year. Held on banks of river Aire. High Flying Birds this year. I’m going that day
The walks along the canal are lovely, easy to walk into Saltaire, Gordon Terrace along the tow path. There is also St Ives Country Park very close by. Easy access to Yorkshire Dales.
Best for food IMO is the White Horse gastro pub but the Fisherman along the tow path and the Brown Cow nice too. Lots independent coffee shops and interesting stuff down the little lanes off the High Street.

Siwel. Drinks on you if you go with one of my recommendations. 😂🍷

Ah ok. The shorter the commute the better tbh. But bingley sounds lovely.

Trains from Bingley are frequent. furano I wouldn’t dream ever of driving in to Leeds unless it was for something on the outskirts on my side of town.

Fair enough @nursy. What's your tipple of choice

Commute is about 20 minutes by train and frequent buses up hill to outskirts.

We can share a nice bottle wine in Piccolinos Ilkley. ( sunny day permitting).

Maybe 2 bottles

This is where my ex colleague and I spent many a day pouring over estate agents details, whilst she regretfully decided she couldn’t afford Ilkley. She chose Bingley in the end.

2 bottles you wouldn’t pick wisely siwell. It’s a serious business this house hunting.

My daughter is leaning towards Skipton ( they rent in Ilkley at the moment) as she would like a family house they can stay in. Budget 350K doesn’t buy that in Ilkley

Ah yes may have to console myself to not affording ilkley.

I wouldn't live in either. I'd live in Kirklees or Calderdale in an area with a branch station and commute into Leeds, or somewhere like Cheshire and commute into Manchester.

That is what most people with families do that work in either city. Nearest to Leeds City centre I've known someone live with a family is probably Otley.

You need to sorta stop thinking in London terms of how to choose somewhere to live, as very few professional families live within the parameters of the actual city councils where they work in the North. The boundaries of Northern cities can be fairly small and the housing can often be urban ex-industrial in many areas with a lot of social problems.

I suggest widening your net and doing a fair bit of research and investigation. Try and find out where others in these potential new jobs live. It will give you an idea of what is possible.

Commute is about 20 minutes by train and frequent buses up hill to outskirts.

Fair enough but i'd find a walk>bus>train commute hugely annoying and like the freedom of getting a cheap and quick taxi home after a theater show, or a meal out or whatever in Leeds.

Nearest to Leeds City centre I've known someone live with a family is probably Otley.

You need to sorta stop thinking in London terms of how to choose somewhere to live, as very few professional families live within the parameters of the actual city councils where they work in the North.

Um, yeah, that is just not true. Roundhay and Oakwood are FULL of professional families!