Another Londoner considering...

[EllieH86]

...moving to Harrogate or Pannal or Skipton or Knaresborough or...

Hello!

My husband and I are considering moving to Yorkshire from London with our two boys (1 and 4). We're considering a couple of places including York but posted separately on their local board. We are in need of some advice regarding location.

Our two main problems are that:

1. we don't know which areas to avoid (I read Starbeck should be avoided? Is this true?)

1. neither of us drive (yet). I'm keen to learn but hubby doesn't want to. For the right area I might persuade him but for now I'm looking in to places with good public transport should he need to commute for work. The above places I mentioned all have train stations which is useful.

Basically, could you just throw some place names at me - what areas would you recommend and which to avoid? This way I can be more specific in my property search and get a realistic idea of whether or not we can afford what we want in a decent area.

Thanks!

I think it depends what you are looking for - more space? More access to countryside? Better jobs? I know Skipton quite well (my in-laws live there and we go up there several times a year) and you could probably live there and not need to drive as the town is reasonably self-sufficient and has good railway links to Leeds and Bradford. The bus service to the surrounding area has been cut right back though. In my opinion, the local housing stock tends to be quite small within the town (lots of outlying villages with bigger houses but then you need a car) and job opportunities aren't brilliant in the town itself.

It is a really nice buzzy place though, has its own character - it's not been completely taken over by chainstores and theme pubs - and is friendly and pretty and, if you're used to London prices, unbelievably good value. If you're used to London weather though, it is always at least 5C colder and must get a few feet more rain each year as well. There are a lot of great primary schools but it still has the grammar school system at secondary level which has meant underperforming comprehensives if your children don't make the cut (and a lot don't as the grammars cater for the wider area). I believe that there is a new school opening or that has recently opened (a bit hazy as my in laws don't have children young enough to attend) which is meant to be an improvement.

Thanks lalalonglegs! Very helpful advice :-) much appreciated.

Following here :-)
We have the same considerations regarding Skipton.. We went there this week to get a feel of it, and it was really nice. But I can't help worry over the grammar scholl systems lalalonglegs mentioned...

We may look at Harrogate as our oldest is dyslectic and will never get a chance at the grammar school in Skipton. However we really liked Skipton..
We have the same problems regarding transportation. I am from Copenhagen and I have no drivers license... :-D