Moving North from South

[Popcornlassie28]

Hi Everyone!
So sorry if this isn’t in the right place- I hope it reaches where it needs to be.

We as a family live South in the Oxfordshire/Berkshire region and are so miserable. The cost of living here is extortionate and I’m sorry to say we don’t feel it is particularly welcoming or friendly.

We are from the South but I have connections to Yorkshire and LOVE it there. Has anyone else made the move? Do you regret it?

We want to live somewhere more affordable and friendly people that make a nice atmosphere to raise a family in. Any suggestions?

What is your budget, and what kind of house/location would you prefer?

@BIWI We would look to rent first to make sure we like it! For a house to buy, happy for a 2/3 bed semi (if possible but happy for terraced) up to £250k-£270k (that’s laughable here).

Rent here is £1,500 per month for a 2 bed alone. It’s depressing

We are open to any location as family aren’t that hands on anyways! We just want to be happy 😂

Do you need to commute to jobs or think about schools? Are your connections family and you want to be close to them or not so close they can come round all the time?

Yorkshire is massive so narrow it down, West or North etc. There was a whole thread on this recently which of course kicked off with some people in the South thinking we Northerners live in smokey Victorian-esque cobbled street, gas lamp cites.

Near to a city or town, more suburbs or heading more rural? Motorway links? Important or not? I mean Yorkshire has it all.

@RuggedOutcrop Oh god, I didn’t see that thread! I can’t believe that as that is definitely NOT the case. Sorry if this sparks any further issues but part of the reason we also want to leave.

My Dad was from West Yorkshire before he died (I now cannot ask his input) and family isn’t a huge deal us as they aren’t hands on anyways.

We would like a quiet town/village. Somewhere where there is lovely walks for the dogs and not far from shops but not at the centre of a city. Schools are something we need to factor in.

We moved from south London to Lancashire 13 years ago and I have never regretted it. I still go back to London regularly for work and I love getting back on the train up north.

Do it!

First thing you need to establish is whether your preferred location is a shoes-off or shoes-on enclave.

@Sparticle Thank you so much for your reply! I’m so glad you are happy and found home there☺️

Do you get what I mean by the ‘atmospheric’ difference if you go regularly back and forth?😉

Any minute the posters will be here telling you it is a poverty stricken ghetto 😂It's lovely up here OP, but not cheap in nice areas - West Yorks is following manchester and is currently got the fastest rising prices in the country

And can we please continue the myth that it is grim up here, full of pipe smoke, whippet shit and concrete? Even Calderdale and Kirklees are getting dear now!

As an owner of whippets, I can vouch that they are very regular & poo a lot!

I have to admit I moved from down south to up north and just hated it, despite my family being from the north (I was in Manchester, land of perpetual rain).

I finally admitted defeat and left. Yorkshire is probably nicer though!

@User1979289 I know, awful up here, don't move, rains every day and night, cold, buses never run, houses are falling down mill cottages.

We love it here, not native to West Yorkshire but made it our home 20 years ago. Best decision ever. I don't live in a small place or village so will bow out but best of luck with the move. Definitely rent first when relocating. We regretted not doing that 20 years ago when local knowledge would have made choose a different area but it was a learning curve.

I'm originally from the South but have lived in Yorkshire for 25 years now. DH comes from West Yorkshire.

We live in South Yorkshire on the edge of the Pennines, we love living here. Lots of walks, running and cycling round here.

Good schools round here too all rated as Good or Excellent

I'm from Yorkshire, although I live in Cumbria now after many decades in London.

If I were to move to my home county i'd go somewhere like Settle. Very pleasant market town, properly in the Dales with all that it offers, with easy links to Leeds and beyond.

Shropshire might be OK for you? Not so northern but cheap enough housing.

I'm from Essex and go to North Yorkshire once a year or so. Absolutely love it up there and would move there in a heartbeat if it wasn't for my parents. Good luck with your move x

😂😂

@RuggedOutcrop 😂😂 Let them think that and then leave the North to be enjoyed by those who can appreciate it!

Thank you!! ☺️

@Ringpeace Thank you!❤️

@rollonretirementfgs Love the username😂
I have my Mum down here but she’s got her partner. I feel terrible leaving but I’m so depressed here. Thank you- maybe one day for you🙌🏻

@Quiestvous I shall note it down. We just want somewhere friendly and nice to live in without having nothing so open to all😂

@Thecatisboss Thank you!❤️ I’m so happy you love it and great recommendation.

@whirlyhead Oh no, such a shame. Did you move back down South? Sorry it didn’t work out for you and hope you are happier now ☺️

I'm a southerner living in west Yorkshire. I reckon half the village is southerners these days. Weather is less good, it rains a lot, but it's a great place to live.
I currently live in a nice bit of Calderdale.
Commuting is something you need to consider - there's a good train network and unless you're very rural a fair bus network. Driving into some of the bigger towns/cities can be slower.
If you can suggest which bigger town you want to be near it would be easier to suggest places. How old are your children?

I had a very brief look on Zoopla, and it looks like there are plenty of options around the £270k mark near York. If you could find somewhere between York and Leeds that would give you the best of both worlds, I think. Lovely countryside and two great cities (albeit very different ones).