i moved to sheffield from bedale(the gateway to the dales) 18 months ago. my mum and dad live there as does my sis, her partner and their ds, and also my brother. i grew up there. we vivit there about once a month.
ummm, what is it like to live there?? well it wasn't for me, but i am a city girl. i am also single and relatively young. i also don't drive-you need to be able to drive!
my mum and dad love it and wouldn't leave. my sister loves it. it probably is a great place to bring up kids, v quiet, lots of greenery, farms, walks etc. very little in the way of museums, galleries, organised events for kids.
bedale is a small market town, think population is about 7000, it has grown massively since my parents moved there (1975!) there are a few toddler groups/nurseries. a little farm which is really nice. there is a little park too.
how expensive is it? depends what you are looking for wnd where! my sis and her dp have just bought a 2 bed persimmon home in bedale for £136,000. a friend recently bought a 3 bed stone built house in reeth(verrrry remote!) for £360,000. cost of living is pretty low-especially after london i would think!
the nearest big hospital in the friarage in northallerton. i had ds there-it is a lovely hospital(well as lovely as they can be lol). we spent a fair bit of time in the childrens in ds's first 2 tears and couldn't fault the care.
it can be very remote indeed, but is very friendly once you are accepted lots of pubs have prices for locals and higher ones for tourists!! obivously you don't have to live remotely, there are lots of market towns, bedale, leyburn etc, or villages.
oh the other thing that i think is important to consider is your children as they grow up. it is not fun for 13-18 yr olds, absolutely nothing to do. kids just end up hangig round, any plans for skate parks etc are fiercly rejected(a bit nimby!!)
so that is my opinion