Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects
Original poster

Any Harrogate or Stroud mums?

35 replies

2ManyPimms · 05/09/2006 10:33

We have decided that we MUST move now or settle down where we are.

Harrogate and Stroud are the contenders for our next (and final) move.

Problem is that I don't know ANYTHING at all about the area "from the horses mouth" (so to speak). I have all the information about schools, housing, community groups etc...but I need some "colour".

Anyone live in either of those areas or know someone who does?

OP posts:
auntymandy · 05/09/2006 10:34

Not lived in Harrogate but I know it a bit! Its nice!!

Northerner · 05/09/2006 10:47

Hi there! I live in Harrogate and there are quite a few others on here who do too! It is a lovely lovely town. Excellent schools - state and private, Yorkshire Dales on your door step, booming town economy wise thanks to the leisure market and the International conference Centre. Good shops - if you like boutiques (we've lots of those!) but bad for bargain shops- no Primark here! Very close to York & Leeds, lots of nice green parks, valley gardens, the stray (acres and acres of beautiful green grass bang in the town centre) It is just a beautiful town to live in IMO, house prices are hight though, especially on teh South side of town.

Which area are you considering moving to? If I can help any more I will.

Loshad · 05/09/2006 10:56

Harrogate is great, we live reasonably close to there and it's a super town. Agree with northener about fab choice of schools, yummy restaurants and so on - Ilkley is also lovley if you are coming up noorf.

notsogummyanymore · 05/09/2006 11:01

Hi 2MP, I live in Harrogate too. Been here for 10 years now and agree it's a lovely place to live. So many bars and restaurants too! Just curious about Stroud or Harrogate? There's quite a difference in milage isn't there?

Original poster
2ManyPimms · 05/09/2006 11:31

It's primarily about education and quality of life. We lived in the Cotswolds years ago and thought it was bril. Drove up to the Lake District via Harrogate and fell in love with the place. We don't have family ties here so there is the flexibility with that as well as my husband's imminent retirement.

What surprised me is the cost of homes in Harrogate. St Albans prices but a lot further north! (insert shocked smiley here!)

Are you from the area or are you from another part of the country???

OP posts:
Northerner · 05/09/2006 11:34

Hi notsogummy!! How is that lovely boy of yours?

I'm from Teesside originally and have lived in Harrogate 11 years. Dh was born here and will never leave.

Told you houses were expensive here!!

MissChief · 05/09/2006 11:35

nrish to stroud and know of it from when i was a child, BUT no expert! However, it seems a relatively down-to-earth place for the Cotswolds - great facilities, tons of cultural stuff, good market, direct train to London, lovely countryside around..Think schools are good but I'm way out of date on this now. HTH?

notsogummyanymore · 05/09/2006 12:23

I'm from Manchester originally and dh is Scottish. He moved here to be with me! aah! Gummy is on fine form thanks Northener, can't believe he's nearly one!! House prices are quite high I know. We're thinking of moving quite soon but hopefully staying in Harrogate area.

Original poster
2ManyPimms · 05/09/2006 18:42

Out of curiosity...why is South Harrogate more expensive? Schools? Housing stock?

What about "The Saints" area? It is termed on the estate agents sites as "popular"...does that mean nice-but-cheaper-than-the-rest-of-Harrogate?

Which is the best area to live in? The worst? Any school catchment areas to avoid? How about crime?

Miss Chief - I thought Stroud was like that. I am glad I heard it from another source though!

Sorry for all the questions, Mumsnetters!

OP posts:
fullmoonfiend · 05/09/2006 19:10

Hello, another 'Gater here. The Saints is popular - but not cheap, because of its proximity to 2 excellent secondary schools. However, as they are both Faith schools, do not be fooled into thinking you might get in cos you live next door

The South side is always described in estate agents' blurb as 'the favoured' side because of the easy links to Leeds/Bradford etc for commuting.

I have lived here for (too) many years, like it a lot on the whole, it is very pretty, lots of green spaces etc but I do wish I was richer, as everything is expensive here. I also find the council tends to pay lip service to children's events/facilities, resting on past glories rather than doing much new. It's also not much of a cultural melting pot...very white middle class. Others may disagree.

How old are your kids? Do you need to be near primary or secondary schools?

TheSylviaGame · 05/09/2006 19:28

Stroud is quite lentil-weavy (lots of organic cafés, homeopaths coming out your ears etc..) but close enough to Bath, Bristol and Cheltenham if you fancy something a bit more refined.

It is also incredibly beautiful and full of character. Most people live in the outlying villages in ?the five valleys? than Stroud itself. Now is a good time to buy, the canal in Stroud is about to be restored which I think will add value to everything.

Northerner · 05/09/2006 19:35

Hi again. I agree with everything FMF has said. The South side is simply 'more desirable' and home to the big houses. To summarise, here is a rundown of areas and approx house types/prices:

We've already covered the 'South side' which has a fantastic primary school and The Saints area which has 2 excellent secondary schools.

Fulwith - south side. Very expensive detatched houses. Expect to pay at least £450,000 for a 4 bed detached

Duchy - north side but still extremely desirable. Very old victorian detached houses with huge gardens. In same area as 'Harrogate Ladies College' expect to pay upwards of £650,000 and in excess of a million.

Jennfields - fairly new development on North side of town. Think Wimpey style homes. Yoou can get a decent 3 bed detached and garage for £180,000. Our first house was on this estate and I loved it.

Bilton - North side again. This is where I live. Older style traditional victorian teraced houses. 3 Beds go for about £190,000 atm. On the outskirts of Bilton there is 'Old Barber' a newer development which is also really nice.

Town centre is mainly victorian properties converted into flats and very expensive.

Don't know much about 'St Andrews estate' but I have heard is it one of the rougher estates. Don't want to offend anyone who lives there though. There are more, but these are the ones I am familiar with.

Also 'Starbeck' is on the outskirts of Harrogate and is much cheaper, but not as desirable.

HTH.

Original poster
2ManyPimms · 05/09/2006 19:48

WOW! What fab information!!!

We plan on going on a reccie over a couple of weekends and make our choice. Not holding my breath at the moment as DH is the ultimate...what's the word...indecisive man! Couldn't decide on vanilla or vanilla if his life depended on it. It may come down to me taking the lead and saying where we are going to live.

OP posts:
NotAnOtter · 05/09/2006 19:50

harrogate is lovely - i live near it (ilkley) lots of pimms drinkers in both areas!

Northerner · 05/09/2006 19:51

What's your bedget 2manypimms if that is not a rude question?

NotAnOtter · 05/09/2006 19:53

pop into weetons for a coffee and olives!

fullmoonfiend · 05/09/2006 20:10

mmmmmm Weeton's I like to do aspirational window shopping there (it's a fab upmarket local produce deli) and spend half an hour looking at everything - and sampling olives - before buying a very modest packet of herbal tea or something

littlemadam · 05/09/2006 21:00

Pimms Harrogate is lovely, we live quite close and the town is lovely. Where would DH be working as South side expensive as closer to Leeds. Lots of people get the train though. I must live near notanotter, in Ilkley, which is another spa town with a Betty tea rooms and is lovely!!

DumbledoresGirl · 05/09/2006 21:03

I am nearish Stroud and can confirm that the secondary schools there are good. Unfortunately, not near enough for us to take advantage of them.

Countryside is lovely too.

petunia · 05/09/2006 21:16

My Uncle and Aunt live just outside Stroud, on Rodborough Common. We've stayed with them a couple of times and thought Stroud itself was a bit run down at the time (this was 4-5 years ago so that might have changed). A lot of the villages around though are really nice like Nailsworth and Minchinhampton. Think the schools are pretty good in these villages too.

Original poster
2ManyPimms · 06/09/2006 13:30

Northerner - Up to a max of 550k. DH is retiring and we don't want to have a massive mortgage. I light of his giving up work, perhaps Harrogate will be to expensive of an area to live. Thoughts?

Otter - I had a friend who owned a salon in Ilkley a few years back. She said it was gorgeous!

This weekend we are going up to Stroud to look at the town itself as well as the villages in the surrounding area.

Personally, I am freaked out about a possible move away from everything I have known for the last two years. Tearing DS and DD away from their friends is going to be a real wrench.

OP posts:
littlemadam · 06/09/2006 13:40

Pimms if DH is retiring, then there is no need to live on the South side of Harrogate, there are lots of gorgeous villages around there that are less expensive, because those with jobs wouldn't want to commute every day. I can send you a copy of Yorkshire Post property section if you CAT me your address. Might give you some idea!!

fullmoonfiend · 06/09/2006 16:31

ditto, I can send you the local paper's weekly property section if you want to CAT me? (You'll get something lovely with that amount of money )

fullmoonfiend · 06/09/2006 16:32

How old are your children by the way?

Wisp · 06/09/2006 17:37

Hi
Im a Stroudie, grew up there, but now live about 8 miles out. I agree it is lentil weaverish!! Lots of health food shops and organic cafes.Theres a new cinema there now, a waitrose and a huuuge Tesco.People are really friendly, and theres some great shops.
Georgeous countryside,loads of lovely places nearby.Great Schools, and lots to choose from. Please ask away!