London or Leeds. WWYD?

[endoftether82]

To live, with 2 young kids. Crouch end in London, roundhay in Leeds. Which one would you do? And why preferably!

I have lived happily in both. Leeds has everything to offer for a lot less money.

London for me. Because these things are essential for me -

massive cultural diversity -kids grow up meeting people from every country on earth , truly international outlook

theatre and art and music - the best of the best, so much choice and so much for kids, much of it free

history - as in, really deep and dense history, from Roman through medieval/Tudor , regency, Victorian, everything

Job and career opportunities

I'm a born and bred Londoner, lived in another major UK city for a few years and the reality is it just does not compare.

history - as in, really deep and dense history, from Roman through medieval/Tudor , regency, Victorian, everything

Yes, because the rest of the country didn't exist, and thereby didn't have any history, until the New Towns were invented in 1946.

London. I'm a northerner who tried to move back to Leeds after 15 years living in London. Wanted to buy couldn't quite do it. Just felt very small, and the thing about being out of the city and in the countryside so quickly was a negative for me. Made it feel less of a city. But that's just cos I hadn't (still haven't) got London out of my system really. If you have, then moving to Leeds is probably a no-brainer.

But not buy

London. Because the other option is Leeds.

Another vote for Leeds! I've recently moved to Leeds (well, north of Leeds, Wetherby - hi @marzipancustard ) and I love it. Loads of green space, nice, compact city centre but good shopping, good transport links, not far from beautiful coastline etc etc. And to the poster that seems to think there's no history outside of London...

I obviously didn't say that.

Ok. This is why I wasn't going to post on this thread, because for some reason they always bring out the needlessly arsey and unpleasant comments.

Op asked for opinions and I gave mine - and with 100% predictability as soon as anyone said something positive about London, they get jumped on.

If you want to have a fight, you'll have to have it with yourself.

That was to senua btw

Am outvoted on this thread but definitely London.

There’s a massive difference between the two in house prices so it depends on what jobs you do, what your commute would be and if you can afford to buy/live comfortably in Crouch End.

It depends on your income - London would win for me hands down if you can afford it. Not keen at all on Leeds, I'm afraid.

Gorgon, you’ve heard of York have you? Closer to Leeds than some parts of London are to each other. Not that I noticed much deep history growing up in SW11.

^massive cultural diversity -kids grow up meeting people from every country on earth , truly international outlook

theatre and art and music - the best of the best, so much choice and so much for kids, much of it free

history - as in, really deep and dense history, from Roman through medieval/Tudor , regency, Victorian, everything^

Yes because all those things are far more important than finding somewhere suitable and affordable to live . Meanwhile, for the other 90% who can't afford to live comfortably in London, it really is worth looking elsewhere, like the OP is doing.

Of course, nowhere is 'the same' as London but Leeds is also a big, diverse city with history, culture, national museums, big parks, shopping, free stuff, pretty much everything for a great life plus people on normal wages can buy whole houses to live in, imagine that?

Of course I could cite specific examples like the oldest West Indian Carnival in Europe, major music venues, Leeds Festival, loads of big parks and historical houses, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Barbara Hepworth gallery, close to York if you want more history than you know what to do with, 4 national museums locally, just like those who live 'in London' but not centrally, but of course, they don't count, because it's just not London is it?

I just knew that there would be at least one Londoncentric post from someone who thinks that there is a dearth of culture and diversity outside of London.

Leeds is smaller and it isn't our capital city so clearly it won't be the same as London, but for a "provincial" city it has far more going for it than many others. I live near Sheffield, and compared to Sheffield Leeds is more like London than Sheffield. It is buzzing, diverse and exciting.

Leeds is home to Northern Ballet and Opera North. It is the street art capital of the UK. It is home to a national museum, other museums, art galleries, theatres, a prestigious art college, an annual West Indian carnival and loads of reataurants with food from every corner of the earth. What it doesn't have is the quantity that London does.

I agree about the weather, but just lately there have been many threads on here complaining about how hot and stuffy London is. A great many of these are from posters who live in tiny, new build flats with no access to open spaces.

I also agree with the public transport comments. London trumps every city I have visited in the UK for getting about on public transport.

Finally what Leeds has that trumps London is access to some fantastic countryside, and an affordable cost of living.

Jesus Christ. When I saw this thread title I knew there was no point responding to say anything other than "Leeds all the way!!! London's a shit hole!!!"

Really wish I hadn't bothered. Enjoy your circle jerk.

^Ok. This is why I wasn't going to post on this thread, because for some reason they always bring out the needlessly arsey and unpleasant comments.

Op asked for opinions and I gave mine - and with 100% predictability as soon as anyone said something positive about London, they get jumped on^

There's plenty of positive things about London. Shame the people who live there can't seem to grasp that there are positive things about other cities too and that London doesn't have the monopoly on these.

@GorgonLondon I live in the longest continuously settled place in Britain (since the Stone age). It is boring AF. History isn't about how old something it but how well it has been preserved. In contrast I grew up in a colonial city (less than 200 years old) and it was steeped in history because people cared enough to preserve it from the word go. I appreciate that it must not be very to be a London lover and gave people continuously disparaging it because they are city folk but London has lots to offer, you don't need to come out with nonsense like that.

@OP I grew up in a small city (1 million people). It was great when I was young but as I got older it very quickly because very small and I left eventually. How long is this move going to serve you and how old are your children?

Neither! Come and live in Scotland instead.

There is no need to be so defensive Gorgon. For most people being able to afford a decent place to live trumps being able to access umpteen museums/theatres/ethnic restaurants etc within a mile radius of their home.

Marks and Spencer started in Leeds Market by a Polish refugee in the 19th Century.

But that can't be true either because only London has history, diversity and culture.

I live in Leeds and love it - but I do also miss the buzz of London. I'm guessing that you'll have to have a smaller place in Crouch End than Roundhay- so it's a case of balancing everything. Schools, housing etc will be excellent in Leeds, there is plenty of culture, museums, great restaurants and the Yorkshire countryside is incredible. However it's not London and there's nowhere near the amount of theatre, music and art.

Our kids have left now and we love spending more time in London. I could imagine retiring there-but when the girls were growing up Yorkshire was fantastic.

London for sure

history - as in, really deep and dense history, from Roman through medieval/Tudor , regency, Victorian, everything

Indeed it is well documented Leeds rose from the river Aire in approximately 1950

presumably OP mentioned both Crouch End & Roundhay as they are places they could afford to live in, so affordability of housing is not an issue.

OP hasn't given much else away, so it really is just going to comments from people about their own preferences. I think OP needs to come back and explain what it is about both these places she likes, and what she is looking for.