Local advice for move to Wetherby/York

[Cazleanne]

Hi, I'm moving up North from Sheffield and looking at areas around York/Wetherby/Knaresborough. I could really really do with some help and advice of areas to avoid or areas to look at etc as it's a forever place we want to find.
We have 3 children so goods schools are vital (as usual). Also my dd is at Leeds uni so a rail or good transport link would be a help.
I'd love somewhere with a village feel but nice shops/restaurants but near enough to reach retail parks and supermarkets etc via car easily enough.
We moved to Sheffield 5 years ago and we got it so wrong so now that the kids are getting older I really want to lay our roots for grandchildren etc in the future to call 'home'.
We're going to spend some time driving around and are looking at 450k (would like to spend less hopefully though so I know York centre is ruled out 😂), so any places we can look at would be appreciated.
Tia ❤️ xx

Boston Spa is lovely!

Oh I've actually been street viewing there today. It looks lovely but wasn't sure if it's ok for transport links for the kids. Is it as pretty as it looks? x

Buses run regularly from Boston spa and Wetherby into Leeds city centre, it’s pretty easy to get too. Schools are OK some are better than others of course. Boston Spa is lovely though

You have always got Leeds Grammar School on your doorstep if you can afford that option. Some kids travel into Harrogate. Im a Chapel Allerton fan personally.

Further north you have Ripon. Small city, a small range of restaurants within walking distance.

Big plus are the schools. Both secondary schools are outstanding. Ripon Grammar selective by 11+ and distance from the school. Www.ripongrammar.co.uk

Primary schools a range of good and outstanding, including local villages.

Direct (rather smart!) bus from Ripon market place to Leeds. 90 minute journey, leaves every half hour.

Ripon is lovely too, chapel A is nice but the area surrounding it isn’t great

Thank you for all the replies. We went to wetherby today and still loved it, as well as Boston.
We also looked at tadcaster but decided that wasn't for us and we have also been told about a place called Garforth on the edge of Leeds. Seems well located but maybe too populated? X

It depends what you want in a place. Garforth is very good for links to both Leeds and York, but it feels a bit soulless to me. So, do you want modern/period, detached, garden, close to countryside etc etc?

Horsforth, Guiseley, Otley, Ilkley all have good schools if you are looking at north west Leeds, and are probably comparable to what you would get house wise in Wetherby and Boston Spa, but have better transport links I would say (Otley not quite as good as doesn't have its own train station, but not far to Menston).

Thank you, we visited Garforth and it's not what we're looking for. We went a bit further north on our travels and I fell for a place called knaresborough and Ripon. We have been told that Harrogate is very nice and in between both places so I seem to be going towards these areas a bit more.
I don't mind a new build as we're in one now but there is something about period houses that I find appealing too. We definitely need a garden and a drive though and are looking around £450-500k which doesn't seem to get as big a house that we're used to but I suppose that shows they are nicer areas?
I really do like a market style town but need other stores for the older kids to go to.
Thank you for all replies, it's really helping us narrow down a place to live and settle

Knaresborough and Ripon are both lovely. Harrogate is nice as well. Ripon doesn't have the train, whereas Harrogate and Knaresborough are both on the line to Leeds and York. I think Ripon is grammar schools if that's a consideration.