Help - been offered university place at Huddersfield - where to move too???

[Hjm1984]

Hi all,

So as the subject states, I have been offered a place on a BSc at Huddersfield this September so we will need to relocate from Chepstow!
I have absolutely no idea about the areas at all so having a bit of a panic - can you please help by offering suggestions. I am happy to travel 30-40 minutes if it means we live in a nicer, safer area. Not keen on super busy city life, prefer a quieter town/village but also don't want to be in the middle of completely no where! We will be renting until I finish the course and hopefully look to buy.
Looking at the map I'd be happy moving toward Manchester, Leeds or Sheffield - not particularly fussy(!) but of course have no idea what areas are better for single mums

I am a single parent of a 6 and 8 year old so will need to find appropriate schools too. Please please help would be soo appreciated xx

Huddersfield is within 30 min (by train) of Dewsbury and Leeds (and within 40 min of York), as well as Stalybridge, Brighouse and Halifax. I wouldn't rely on driving times around there. (To be honest, the trains aren't the most reliable, either.)

Hebden Bridge is very popular. I know a lot of Bradford University academics who live there. It's two trains, though.

I presume there are buses from Wakefield.

Is there any reason not to live in Huddersfield itself?

What is your budget?

Holmfirth is popular as is Glossop.

700-800 pcm x

There are some really nice parts of Huddersfield, Lindley being the most expensive. People graduate from the university and stay locally because there are so many lovely parks, nature reserves etc. The area north of Lindley as far up as the M62 is slightly cheaper but some nice 3 bedroom houses and there are buses/shops in easy reach. I don't know what the rents are like but worth a look online to see.

Marsden or Holmfirth could suit you nicely

Look at schools and work from there, they vary a lot. Within 40 minutes prices vary enormously, so this will play a part.

Train services are quite good locally to plenty of connected towns.

There are some really nice, 'sought after' parts of Huddersfield, with excelletn schools. Lindley/Marsh, and Almondbury come to mind. Why you would want to burden yourself with along commute (winters here can be grim) I've no idea.

I have just had a look at rightmove and there are some very affordable properties within 3 miles of Lindley and some very good schools. I would start there. I agree with pp that is isn't sensible to add a long commute to your day when it isn't necessary.

As above - I think I'd start looking in Marsh, Lindley, maybe Oakes. Also Holmfirth if you don't mind a longer commute plus Golcar - both have a more small town feel.

I think the cost and time commuting would be a bit prohibitive and Huddersfield tends to be cheapish anyway.

What is your course and where might you be looking for employment once graduated?

Hi the best places around Huddersfield surrounding areas are 😊

West side
Within Colne Valley - Marsden, Linthwaite, Slathwaite, Golcar.
Above Colne Valley - Lindley, Marsh, Outlane
Holmfirth area - Holmfirth, Meltham, Honley, Upper thong.

East side
Emely, Skelmnathorpe, Shelley Denby Dale, Sheply.

Northern Trains are an absolute joke at the moment with cancellations and service reductions, so if I were you I'd avoid anywhere that's dependent on a rail commute.

Another vote for Marsden and surrounding areas .

Mirfield, lovely little town with easy train and bus links to Huddersfield. 2 outstanding and 2 good schools. There would be definitely places at the good school my children go to.

Lots of nice places to live around Huddersfield!

Lindley, Edgerton, Outlane are fine as are Kirburton, Kirkheaton, Meltham, Upperthong, Shelley, Shepley, Denby Dale, Emley, Lascelles Hall, Thunderbridge, Farnley Tyas and most of Almondbury (but avoid Lowerhouses). Slaithwaite, Marsden and Holmfirth okay.

In the Huddersfield side of Halifax, Greetland, Barkisland, Krumlin, Ripponden, Rishworth, Norland, Sowood, Stainland, Jagger Green are all good places.

If youre happy towards the Manchester side I’d look at Meltham, Slaithwaite or Marsden (all on train lines between Manchester/Hudds) or easy drives in (nice villages with lovely surrounding countryside).
My sister in law lived in Lindley, it felt very towny and busy, I didn’t like it much.
Holmefirth is nice, as is Upperthong, Netherthong. I don’t mind DenbyDale either. Rishworth is nice too.

Sorry I’m not sure why I quoted that!

We have relatives in Brighouse, Halifax and Hebden Bridge, never mind Huddersfield. They are all fine.

There are some really nice parts of Huddersfield, Lindley being the most expensive

Interesting that you say that @endoftheline when I grew up there, Edgerton was where all the big expensive houses were and Lindley where the mills and mill workers houses were!

I would think Edgerton, Fixby, Almondbury, Farnley Tyas and the Kirkburton area have the most expensive/grandest houses (I used to ride around the south side of Huddersfield and it is a softer and very pretty landscape and more fertile land compared to the west/Pennine side) unless a lot of them have been turned into flats?

Another thought - someone mentioned travelling in the winter and it can be very bleak in the Pennines and some of the villages mentioned can get a lot bad weather like Marsden etc.

I have relatives in Uppermill, Saddleworth which is a fab village to live in if you have small children - lots going on, great schools, shops and coffee shops/restaurants but that trek across the Pennines is brutal in the winter! It's on the train line into Huddersfield though (Greenfield Station).

There has been a lot of change and loads of investment. The university is doing very well and it seems that lots of former students stay in the area long term, which is all good.

Emley, kirkburton, Shelley, shepley and denby dale are all lovely areas with plenty of countryside.
Mirfield is a nice small town with good transport links.
The ossett and horbury areas of Wakefield are also nice and are about a 30 minute drive to Huddersfield.

I think you need to start with where there are primary school places available for both children and take it from there.

I was born and brought up in Huddersfield. It was a very wealthy northern town due to the wool industry and some of the suburban areas reflect this. I would look at Lindley/Oakes/ Marsh area where the schools are very good. Almondbury is also a good area.
Although commuting may be an option, during the Winter there is always snow (Huddersfield is high up on the Pennines) and often the roads are tricky. Being within walking distance (2-3 miles) of the Uni is an advantage.