Should we move to Ilkley or Harrogate? Advice please!

[ELongstocking]

My husband and I want to move Up North. We've had 10 happy years here in Cambridge, but for various reasons we need to live closer to my Mum.

But should we choose Ilkley or Harrogate? Leaving aside things like house prices, schools, commuting and boring stuff like that, what have both places got going for them in terms of local activities, friendliness of the area, etc? Is Harrogate posher and Ilkley more elderly? Will we freeze to death in Ilkley? Will I need to have plastic surgery and buy a Merc if we live in Harrogate?

We have a 17 week old daughter. I am a vegetarian, but not the knit-your-own yurt and breastfeed and orphaned yak variety. We watch more Channel 4 than ITV - anything else you need to know?

Where are we going to fit in best? Don't hold back!

We've lived in Harrogate for almost 2 years and love it. There's loads to do with young kids and I have found it very friendly. The Valley Gardens playpark has just been redone and it's brilliant, now much better than the Ilkley playpark. We do go through to Ilkley occasionally and always seem to get stuck in traffic, whereas in Harrogate it just seems to flow even when busy. If you want local shops, good schools, a 'community' feel I'd highly recommend the Cold Bath Road area - you'll fit right in!

I worry we're not posh enough?! Any thougnts on this?

i would agree with the cold bath road area. Not too posh, reasonable (for Harrogate) priced houses, good schools and lots to do (shops, park, restaurants etc)
I really like Ilkley, but much prefer it here in Harrogate. I kind of agree with your 'more elderly' opinion of Ilkley, think its just a 'bit too much out of the way' and I always preferred the feel and 'atmosphere' (can't think of the right word...) of Harrogate.
Harrogate is great for access to York and Leeds too!
(oh, and we've been here 4 years and have managed to avoid both plastic surgery and German cars!!)

Hi

I would absolutely go for Harrogate as it has all the resources you could ever ask for and and schools are good. Yet it is only a few minutes to the A1 with its motorway links across the country when needed

I just came across your post about moving to Harrogate or Ilkley from Cambridge. It's a bit late to reply to that post, but I just wanted to wish you well, whatever you decided on. We moved to Harrogate after 20 years in Cambridge - also to be close to parents. Tried to CAT you, but it didn't work, so I don't know if you are still around or will see this.

Another vote for Harrogate.

Harrogate seems a great place to live. Its not perfect though...as some people seem to think..

Harrogate's great for activities but I find it very clicky (sp?). We're in Skipton now which is far friendlier. Not sure about Ilkley, don't know it well enough x