Aibu to not want to move up north

[time2changeCharlieBrown]

My dh has been offered a great job opportunity a high payrise
the catch is we have to relocate up north near Leeds
so my main concerns is the weather
I hate winter, rain and snow and up there seems to get more?
also I joined a few online community groups recently to get a feel for it and learn about the areas and what’s around
all I have mainly seen is awful things about robbery’s and car theft and violent crimes! It’s really putting me off!
we have a son who is not too far off an age to go clubbing and for nights out and even though he is 6 foot 5 he’s very striking looking mixed race (Greek) and I worry about him being a target and our eldest daughter too also very striking ,but both quite naive as we currently live in a small village and don’t often go into big cities and they are at small schools.
my dh is from a different town up north not too far from Leeds still has friends there and says it’s fine and all city’s are the same and the kids will be fine as not in any gangs and unlikely to be. I am a worrier so Aibu to not want to move?

The Groucho Club is also opening a second venue at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

https://news.sky.com/story/the-groucho-club-famous-private-members-club-to-open-first-venue-outside-london-in-yorkshire-sculpture-park-13094534

The biggest risk you run is moving to Harrogate and dying of boredom.

Leeds is dryer than Manchester as it’s the other side of the Pennines.
I thought the south west also was quite wet?

I'd happily move to Leeds, it was lovely when I went to look round

Yorkshire is the best place! A a collection of counties (east, west, north and south), you have everything. Coast, big cities, open country, moors, dales, villages, larger towns, rivers, canals).

The property prices vary a lot - Leeds as an area varies massively depending on where you are and how close to centre, there are so many lovely places within 30 miles of Leeds.

By the time your children are of an age to go clubbing, they will probably be thinking about university and may well choose universities hundreds of miles away from wherever you live.

If you have school age children; Roundhay and Garforth have great schools.
If your DH needs motorway access; Garforth is nearest, Kirkstall and Headingley would take longer in city traffic.

Harrogate is vibrant and cosmopolitan compared with a village in south west England.

I have a friend who moved from Leeds to Devon for family reasons. Otherwise it's been a bit of a disaster because there's hardly any decent work and it's a long way from high profile live music, interesting restaurants etc.

Haha - don’t mention it to anyone in Ilkley 😂

Is it true about the other side of the pennines being drier? Never realised, I'm from the wet side 😅 But we have lived near Doncaster and I put the better weather down to being a bit further south.
I don't recommend Doncaster to the OP btw🤣

This.
So many people arguing it's the same but it's not.
Bloody love it down here, blue skies and balmy days.
We eat and swim outdoors May to September
It just makes every day life easier.

When I go back up North everyone is weirdly hunched over with the cold, bloody miserable

It is a fantastic part of the country. Beautiful countryside, great cities, friendly people. I would happily consider a move back up north in the future. It could be great for your DC who will be of an age where they want to go out and socialise more.

The area around Leeds is gorgeous-easy to escape into the wildness of the Dales. Harrogate could be Richmond upon Thames. And clubbing and young people up north is no more dangerous than London! Leeds has a great student scene and very friendly city. I’m sure local FB groups in leafy Bedfordshire talk about petty crime too thus giving a narrow impression.
I moved to the NW from London 20 years ago and the weather is generally 3-4 degrees cooler-and much wetter where we are but Yorkshire should be drier. The landscape is stunning though-much more beautiful. I did find it took a while to settle here. I was used to London levels of interest about your life and did what I want without anyone expressing an opinion. Up north it’s different. More parochial too-many people are born and raised in the same town and have established friendship and family. If you’re big into culture, nowhere has the pull and variety of London. If you’re not, then life can be pretty good depending on where you settle. I’d look at the golden triangle.

Sorry my bad-assumed London! If you’re moving from south west you’ll find it cooler but drier. And lovely landscape and interesting cities. Culture and transport links better!

I felt obliged to play down the horror that is the north of England. I didn’t mention the Four Whippet Owners of the Apocalypse, for example. Regularly seen charging along the M62 bringing death, famine, disease and a decent cup of tea.

OP I think your fear stems from fear of the unknown. It is a big step to uproot yourself and your family to somewhere that you don't know well. Been there, done that and got the t-shirt some 20 plus years ago!
Speaking as a southerner who moved north to East Lancs (and only 30 miles or so from Leeds) - you need to approach this probably as a bit of an adventure.
The UK, small as it is, is also is very diverse in its views and its people - I think I found the culture change the biggest thing to get used to. Northerners are generally very friendly, outgoing and want to talk the hind legs off a donkey whereas Southerners are a lot more reserved. The north has its attractions and has plenty to see, do and explore and the whole family would probably enjoy this while acclimatising themselves to the weather!!
Seriously, the weather is no worse or better than anywhere in the UK - we are an island and the weather will split itself or not across the country. Living on a hill - we can find ourselves overnight covered in snow but jump in the car and two minutes away down the hill there's not been a flake to be seen!! But just as likely we can find ourselves baking in 70 degrees. It's the UK - do we talk about - the weather!!
You may do better to rent somewhere or do a few Airbnb's to get a feel for an area but go with an open mind and sense of adventure - you never know you might just prefer it! Good Luck anyway!!

Wow so much ignorance on here … not just from the op! All the haters wittering about Londoners when she is from a small Devon village 4 hours away from the capital - similar driving distance of a Yorkshire village to Glasgow 🤣

@time2changeCharlieBrown there are lots of lovely rural villages that will be commutable and will feel familiar. If you have to live in Leeds, look at Roundhay. It will be drier than the SW but fewer daylight hours. Your son’s looks will be no less remarkable than in rural SW.

But should you move anywhere? Consider your DC schooling and friendships - is this the right time to move? And how much do you rely on your social network? How easy do you find it to make new friends?

Good luck 💐

I lived in Yorkshire as a “striking” teenager and got embroiled in exactly zero gang shootouts. 😃

Is it true about the other side of the pennines being drier?

The east side is dryer because it is in the rain shadow of the Pennines. We live on the edge of the Pennines and "enjoy" 969mm rain per year, yet York only has 635mm of rain as it is further east.

Interesting. 50+yrs of getting soaked and I'd never realised!

And your flat cap has to be fitted, and the pigeons, my life the pigeons are better looked after than the humans. Have to go racing every weekend, dogs, horses or pigeons.

I bought a waterproof coat around 3 years ago, a fancy, expensive one mind. I've used it 6 times.
Yes of course it rains more than 6 times in 3 years, but you dont always need the big coat.

Some gorgeous villages just outside of Leeds.

You don't sound like a city person at all! If your OH is going to be working in Leeds I'd look at the many lovely villages around York and Harrogate which will be easily commutable into the city and you can have a similar lifestyle to the one you obviously enjoy now. The weather won't be that different. Your concerns would be more relevant if you were moving to the Scottish islands!

You've picked the wrong local groups to join if they are just going on about crime.

I think Ilkley or Harrogate for you.

I'm a softie southerner born and bred but spent a Christmas in Leeds with a friend and had the best time ever!

The people are far friendlier than in the South.

My son went to Leeds for university. He's now living in a gorgeous village with his partner, it's where they filmed the Sewing Bee. Lovely atmosphere, friendly people, excellent shopping and hospitality. According to police statistics almost non existent crime rate . He can hop on a train to get into Leeds very cheaply .

At weekends, they have a choice of the country to explore or the city. I envy them their train lines which are so much better than ours.

@time2changeCharlieBrown just ignore the moaners on some community groups. As for Leeds Live, awful rag.

Try this community page as a comparison