Moving to Ilkley - Advice please

[Tramore]

Can anybody tell me what it is like living in Ilkley with a young family? We are considering moving from London and found a discussion here comparing Ilkley and Harrogate and everyone advised Harrogate as the better option - are there any Ilkley supporters out there? How would we be accepted? (my husband is from the North but I am a southern girl) We are more drawn to Ilkley having looked at Harrogate but I was surprised that all the comments were in favour of Harrogate. Thanks in advance.

Ilkley is lovely. We live nearby and I go to Ilkley nearly every week with my ds. Lots off fun things to do, good shopping within walking distance and nice walks nearby. Good schools too. I love Harrogate too, however because Ilkley is smaller there seems to be more of a community spirit. Thats where I plan on moving to next!!!

Thank you so much! I was beginning to despair of any replies at all. Are you originally from the area? We are getting so much negative feedback from friends/family in London who warn of cold, grey and rain in addition to being removed from the metropolitan buzz (however none of the detractors have actually been to Ilkley) Do you think its welcoming and easy to make friends? Our impression has been very positive, and we are pretty social people who would get involved (no choice with multiple children!)I see the Guardian is running a piece on Ilkley in next weekend's supplement so that will be interesting to read. Thanks again.

We recently moved from Leeds to Otley which is about 7 miles from Ilkley. I absolutely love this area. Ilkley has a brilliant park, a decent range of shops and an easy rail link into Leeds. If you like the out doors you've got the chevin, Ilkley Moor, Fewston and Swinsty Resevoirs not to mention the Dales right on your door step.
As for making freinds etc, we've been here three months and although there were no toddler groups for half of that (summer hols) I'm now starting to recognise people to say to hi to in the street and have become freindly with our neighbours with DCs. This website might be handy.
We looked at Harrogate too but found it far too pricey. We chose here becaue you get lots more house for your money than in either Harrogate or Ilkely and it was nearer to our networks in Leeds.

Have you also been to Knaresborough? It is a stunning little town just about 15 mins from Harrogate. The Guardian also did a cover of this once. It has a beautiful river with rowing boats, a castle and little shopping centre. I dont live there, just visited but remember it having a nice feel to it. Also visited Ilkley but only a day so can't really comment. But it is a stones throw from the Dales and stunning Bolton Abbey! I'm also looking to move from Manchester but towards the South Lakes area... Good luck to you.

Thanks so much for the Moormums website link - that is incredibly helpful. Contemplating a move like this is so scary, and any way of meeting people very reassuring. Any more advice gratefully received.

It was scary enough just moving 10 miles down the road!

Knaresborough is lovely too. The only thing I personally would have against Ilkley is that there is a lot of money floating around there and so I feel a bit 'posh' for my scruffy jeans and jumper lifestyle . Like I sadi though, it is beautiful, the rail links are good but if you are commuting by car the traffic is a pain,though probably not if you are moving to london.

That should have been from London. Burley and Ben Rhydding worth a look too. Good luck.

Knaresborough is lovely for a day trip, but I wouldn't live there. There are a few rough pubs and empty shop units now and it's only really in the summer that it looks lovely.

Ilkley is pretty close to me. Lovely little town - it has a Lido that we love to go to in the summer.

It also has a train link to Leeds (Ilkely is the end of the line), good shops, park, outdoor lifestyle - walking, cycling, riding, rambling - it has a Betty's tearooms if you like that sort of thing (Fat Rascals...yum!). You are a stones throw from the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Bolton Abbey is just up the road. We are also considering Harrogate for our next move but like you say, you get more for your money in Ilkley and it's still an up-market neighbourhood.

Agree that the drive to Leeds is a pain in the butt - one road and it's slow in rush hour.

Burley in Wharfedale is closer to Leeds than Ilkley but still a lovely village in the same area - we were there yesterday and it's lovely, we took kids out and there were loads of families out and about at the farmer's market, the park and sitting in the beer gardens!

Otley is a bit closer again but it doesn't have a rail link so houses are much cheaper here. It's not as nice as Ilkley or Harrogate though - has a few "scruffy" bits and the town centre is always jammed with cars.

I hope you enjoy your move to here. This is a lovely part of the world to live and bring up a family - I really hope you will be happy here!

Oh meant to add - don't worry about being "accepted". Yorkshire folk are the friendliest around! We moved from Scotland 11 years ago and I am well and truly settled - I consider myself a Yorkshire Lass these days!

Guess it depends on what you mean by nice. Otley has a good mix of different sorts of people, the scruffy bits are easy to avoid if you wish and compared with cities not really that scruffy. The centre is busy on market days but I've never found it to be jammed with cars.
My dh works in Leeds, he has a 2min walk to the bus stop, 10 mins on the bus to Menston station then straight into leeds- it's actually quicker than we were only 3 miles out of the city centre.
I guess it depends what you are after. The nearest equivalent house to the one we bought, 4 bed detached, was 40 grand more in Ilkley and had a rubbish garden.
Totally agree about being accepted though. you'll be fine Tramore.

Wow! I am feeling the love already! Thank you all so much for the constructive advice, have looked at a couple of properties in Ben Rhydding actually and really liked the area, seemed like a good compromise between my need for local shops and my husband's to look out at countryside. I mean I love the countryside and all that but I do need to know there is a nice cafe in striking distance! Have looked at schools too - are you allowed to mention them by name? Am new to this so will err on side of caution, but have looked at both primary and secondary schools and they seemed great.

FYI the grammar school is very over subscribed. They've been talking about moving the site for years to make it bigger but lots of controversy over where it should be. I noticed an article in the local rag this week that they are changing admissions policy. In sept some kids from addingham did not get in. Worth further investigation.

Thanks for that, am thinking of Catholic schools, secondary in Menston which looks good and primary in Ilkley although everyone seems to rave about Ben Rhydding primary. Any views out there? Am starting to worry am not rich/posh enough for Ilkley! One final thing, anyone recommend a good fun choir in the area?

Well, funnily enough... I go to one which will take about 40mins from Ilkley. We do show tunes and stuff I love it.

Don't know about the primary schools over that way but I suspect they are all lovely.

If/when you come up this way look me up - i alays like to convert a southener.

Think I will be an easy convert! Thanks for that, will definitely do so when plans more concrete.

Tramore welcome! Feel free to private message me

Ilkley is lovely - check out the Guardian who are running a Let's Move to...on Ilkley in the next couple of weeks

Pah - at all the Harrogate folk pouring scorn on us - they are just jealous of our sense of community!

Ilkley is a haven of ex-londoners so you will feel very 'at home'

Re schools people DO rave about BRP but as ALL the primaries are so good i think its just snob value
My personal favourite is the Sacred Heart Catholic Primary and I am an educational weirdo obsessive
What else would you like to know?

I am itching to know what houses you've looked at then I can give you the low down!

Very . We live near to Ilkley and I would love to live there. I would probably look to move to Ben Rhydding (if we came into some money)! It is still walking distance to Ilkley, but I think you would get a little more for your money and you have the train station and village on your doorstep.

Tramore just re read one of your posts - silly! You will fir in great guns. Some of my friends are in a choir at St Margaret's Church and love it. My son goes to a teen choir there and is having a brilliant time . Ilkley really is lovely for bringing up children - you should have been here this week for the litfest - celebs adorning!

Oh. I CANNOT belive no-one has said it all yet.

Um.

Don't forget to put a hat on, if you go out. On the moor, like. Catch yer death without one...

ok, not sure why my other message was removed.

I am a childminder in Ilkley. I was born here and although I have lived quite a few different places I always end up back here. It's a beautiful place to live and a great place to bring up a family.
In my opinion Ilkley, Ben Rhydding, Burley and Menston are a better choice than Otley or Addingham, just becasue of the direct rail link to Leeds and Bradford.
If you're ever missing the big city pop on a train to Leeds, you'll be there in less than 30 mins!

Thank you everyone for those messages - I came up on my own for the day on Friday and LOVED it!Am really interested in the choirs for me and actually my 16 yr old son too, (although he may not admit this in public). The primary school we are looking at is Sacred Heart as it is very similar to the school my kids attend here so think the transition won't be so hard, but have conundrum of not being able to physically move before June as eldest has GCSE's, but need an address by January for youngest to register for reception place - might have to rent a place and not live in it to get primary place. Very complicated to get the timing right.
Am starting to feel excited now and not just worried which is due in no small part to the info (and encouragement) you've all provided. Top favourite house is on Bolling Road with STUNNING views, really jaw dropping. Any views on location? Busy road? Thanks again.

Tramore I am sooo pleased!
I reiterate my views on Sacred Heart - a gem of a school in my opinion - even amongst all these diamonds! ( when my dd went there - now 16 - it was rated 6th in the country on the dreaded league tables and imo not changed a bit!)

Re Bolling Road - LOVELY houses if it is the one i am thinking. I was once selling a house in Ilkley and the woman who was on about her third view was weighing up my beautiful house against a Bolling Road one like yours - guess which she bought? She said it had more 'Pzazz'

Great - great house and re the road - it's fine. nothing's ever 100% and personally I never mind the odd bit of road noise. Well worth it imo!

I too have older and primary aged children and as I said my son is in the teen choir. There is a boy at school with my sons who is VERY choir orientated ( I think wants to go to Kings) who also sings at St Margarets .

I am excited for you

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OP, If you move to Bolling Road, just be aware that there is a very close knit community of Ben Rhydding school people on that street.

shame really as Ashlands is the coolest school

notanotter, Does the first name of the boy you are thinking of begin with T? If so,he plays viola with me, but is much too good for me.

Ilkely girl born and bred here. Attended Ilkely Grammar School and loved it.

Lingle... Me and DH's first house as a married couple overlooked the back of Ashlands Primary school.

I just wish I could afford to move back there now

Only downside of Ilkley is that it is cold - local oldies always say: 'Aye, it's a cold-ole is Ilkla'

The wind sweeps down Brook Street straight off the moors.