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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Leaving London

314 replies

siwel123 · 19/05/2018 23:21

Hi all, don't shoot I know there's life outside of London Grin.
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.

OP posts:
JobHunting4 · 20/05/2018 06:52

I vote Leeds, but then a strongly dislike London, so you may disagree with me

BarbaraofSevillle · 20/05/2018 06:53

Examples of what you can get for £500k in Horsforth. You might find you can get away with spending quite a bit less.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-64902799.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-63989392.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-61978024.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-65003566.html

NurseryFightClub · 20/05/2018 07:20

Ex Londoner now living in the countryside and commuting to Manchester.
-My commute is awful, don't live out of the tram network in Manchester as Northern rail can't provide decent.
-what do you love about London, because I don't think Manchester is a mini London, the shopping doesn't compare. The aquarium, snow dome are all forty mins out of Manchester by the Trafford Centre.
The centre of Manchester is full of rough sleepers, and in certain areas there is a prolific drug issue. Theresa may promised to help them last summer, but not heard anything since...

Lex234 · 20/05/2018 07:58

Manchester isnt really so bad Confused

If you decide to look at Manchester, South Manchester tends to be considered the "posh" bit. Lymm, Thelwall, Wilmslow, Bowden etc are all on the outskirts and are lovely; but you will get less house for your money. Urmston and Flixton are nice areas. If you want to think outside the box a bit, and look at North Manchester there are parts that are beautiful-Bamford and Norden, Shaw, Milnrow. Heaton Park and Prestwich have some nice areas. A bit further out into the countryside, you could look at Todmorden or Hebden Bridge in West Yorks easily commutable by train or car. You will get much more for your money if you do that.

Parts of Manchester are grim, but it is a good place to live generally.

Onlyoldontheoutside · 20/05/2018 08:09

Leeds.As someone said Ilkley is lovely but not many houses with decent gardens but as one train stop nearer to Leeds is Ben Rhyding.You have Ilkley moor just up the hill and a good train commute(15 mins)to Leeds station which is central .
Good schools and great for children of all ages.

muffyduffster · 20/05/2018 08:09

I moved to south Manchester from south London three years ago. It has a very different feeling and I miss London a lot (go back for work a few times a month) but have a nice network here now from doing Nct classes, do you know anyone in either city? Chorlton and didsbury have lots going on.

Lex234 · 20/05/2018 08:10

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-73272992.html

For example Smile

chewbacca83 · 20/05/2018 08:15

Another for Leeds. I live in Manchester. I find it very industrial, too spread out, a lot of crime and a huge problem with homeless in the city centre. I have a friend in Leeds and visit a lot. The city centre is smaller and really pretty. It has a cool vibe and just feels safer in my opinion. And it has a John Lewis. Bonus. She lives out towards headingly which is where quite a lot of young professionals live and there's a lot going on.

ConciseandNice · 20/05/2018 08:26

I livedin Leeds with a 6 month work contract. They wanted to make me permanent and increase my salary. I couldn’t face staying in Leeds another day. Hated the place. It’s 10 years ago, but it was if the people were stuck in the fifties. Decent childcare, including wrap around was nearly impossible to find. When I looked around with estate agents, they kept pointing to parts on the map where we couldn’t live because ‘they’re not white areas (eye roll)’. No kidding. This was more than a couple of different agencies. It was just bloody awful. You’ll not got another London with Manchester, but I’d certainly prefer Manchester. Areas of Greater Manchester are lovely.

MsJaneAusten · 20/05/2018 08:36

I think if you move to Leeds or Manchester themselves, you won’t be moving anywhere offering a different/better quality of life than you have now (except for house size).

Why not visit both, decidevwhich you prefer, then scour the train routes / right move for prettier towns/villages with good commutes? That way you’d have the benefits of cheaper housing, and be close to city amenities but with the clear difference of living in the countryside.

dinosaursandtea · 20/05/2018 08:42

I’d also say Leeds - and it’s not a long train journey from Manchester anyway, so you still get access to everything there. I nearly moved to Leeds after London and I think I’d have been really happy there.

Loveglee · 20/05/2018 08:48

Definitely Leeds - the city centre is great, Headingly is really nice and full of quirky places, and I’ve always found it much easier to drive from London to Leeds than London to Manchester, if you want to go back and see friends etc.

neighneigh · 20/05/2018 08:53

I'd recommend visiting areas of both, you need to get a feel for a place really. Roundhay, Chapel Allerton etc are nice (or fancy, as we say up north), but as far as I know childcare is tricky as oversubscribed. We did a similar move from London about five years ago and chose to go super rural, settling south of York. in terms of quality of life for your kids, you'll never regret it. Public transport is crap, but we do have wifi and even proper food. Luckily wrap around childcare is fab near here, but well paid jobs (not being snobby. Just looking at 2x childcare) .... Less so. If you've a role in Leeds, I'd jump at it, but consider living in the surrounding countryside because it just won't compare to living in London so you might as well go the whole hog and go rural

southeastdweller · 20/05/2018 09:01

Leeds doesn't have the excitement of Manchester, but the crime stats state that Leeds is the safer city. The amount of rough sleepers in Manchester is getting worse as is the anti-social behaviour. I agree with others that Leeds is the prettier city, if you're bothered by that kind of thing. I also think that there's too many people in Manchester these days and it adds to the fraught atmosphere. The prices of using public transport is crazy and it's nowhere near as good as in London (where it's cheaper Confused.

Best of all about Leeds is the proximity to the wonderful (but expensive) city of York.

Nomad86 · 20/05/2018 09:11

We live in south Manchester and it's wonderful. Great schools (Trafford is a grammar school area with some very nice areas like Altrincham and Hale), close to the countryside, small commute and you could get a large 4/5 bed property in a nice area. Culture wise, I prefer Manchester to Leeds, great museums and theatres. Leeds has some really nice rural areas close by such as Wetherby.

Either way, I think you could have a great quality of life.

aharddaysnight · 20/05/2018 09:20

I prefer Leeds. Manchester might have more 'going on' but I wouldn't don't like it as much. I have never lived there though. I find driving in Manchester more challenging as well. If you don't want to live in a city then I'd definitely recommend Leeds over Manchester for commuting.

Theworldisfullofgs · 20/05/2018 09:23

Leeds because there is less rain.
But l live in Cambridgeshire and it's v dry here.

Original poster
siwel123 · 20/05/2018 10:40

Wow thanks for the suggestions really appreciated.
Yes I do know there's life outside London I did grow up in hull, well if you can call that a life Grin.
I have to live in or near either for work.

OP posts:
Original poster
siwel123 · 20/05/2018 10:47

But so far on this thread it seems most like leeds.
The reason for the move is a proper garden for the kids not a tiny courtyard excuse. Access to proper countryside.
Closer to the family in hull but not too close Grin.
A slightly more relaxed pace but with still a bit of hustle and bustle.
Easy access to London if needed.

OP posts:
CarrieBlue · 20/05/2018 10:53

I love Hull - the regeneration is fab and it’s much much less busy everywhere. But then I’m sick of tourists and southerners who’ve moved to York which has changed it beyond recognition!

jamoncrumpets · 20/05/2018 10:53

So many votes for Leeds. I LOVE Manchester and wouldn't hesitate to live there, there's so much going on there for families.

Original poster
siwel123 · 20/05/2018 10:59

@CarrieBlue. I like hull too, but the job is only Leeds or manchester.

It does seem like lots of people prefer Leeds to Manchester on here though.
Btw I'm not expecting a mini london, I just want a bit of buzz and life.

OP posts:
Southwest12 · 20/05/2018 11:02

What about Liverpool? There’s the second highest number of civil servants here after London. If you work for a Dept that isn’t here, like BEIS, you could still commute to Manchester.

I took VES and moved from London to Liverpool, have never regretted it. I don’t miss London one bit.

Original poster
siwel123 · 20/05/2018 11:05

@Southwest12. Thanks for the suggestion. The role is in Leeds or Manchester in afraid. But Liverpool does sound lovely.

OP posts:
Ted27 · 20/05/2018 11:19

liverpool to Manchester is an easy commute - frequent rail service, thousands of people do it