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Original poster

Where to live in North Yorkshire?

71 replies

helsbels03 · 25/02/2013 07:48

Hi, we are looking to move from north London to North Yorkshire. 3 dc, 2 at primary and 1 pre school. Just done a half term reccy and like wether by . However it seems to be a little more expensive than other places. Our main priority is schools, but ideally would like a new build.

Any suggestions??

OP posts:
Inthepotty · 25/02/2013 08:06

Wetherby is extortionate prices! Lovely lovely houses though. Do you want a little village or something with more going on? Will you be commuting anywhere?

iseenodust · 25/02/2013 10:37

Wetherby is lovely and you pay for that. We have friends in Monk Fryston if you fancy a village with good road links, modern house but not brand new. They are very pleased with primary school.

lalalonglegs · 25/02/2013 14:16

My ILs live in Skipton - smallish market town with several primary schools and grammar option at secondary. It punches above its weight in terms of size because it's on the very edge of the Dales so the last "proper" town for some distance therefore it has large supermarkets, a small cinema, lots of restaurants/cafes, tons of independent shops plus usual chains, direct trains to Bradford and Leeds several times an hour plus Carlisle (across lovely Settle-Carlisle route) and Morecambe. I think it got voted best high street in UK a couple of years ago. It's a really friendly place and we love to go and stay. I don't know Wetherby at all (I thought it was in West Yorkshire Blush) so I can't compare but I know it is a lot cheaper than Ilkley which is a near neighbour.

fedupwithdeployment · 25/02/2013 14:24

My Dad lives in Knaresborough. Very nice, and on the train line to York, Harrogate and Leeds which is very handy. I think the schools in Harrogate are very good. He has some friend who switched to state from private at about 11...not for financial reasons; the school (St Aidans?) is very good. I think you can end up doing a lot of driing around. His friends recently moved into Harrogate from Knaresborough. (traffic can be a shocker).

MyNameIsAnAnagram · 25/02/2013 18:10

Wetherby is in west yorks, but it wishes it was in north yorks Wink

iclaudius · 25/02/2013 18:15

Wetherby - Harrogate or ilkley although ilkley classed as West

Selks · 25/02/2013 18:28

Ripon is very nice.

41notTrendy · 25/02/2013 18:30

Another vote for Skipton. We have friends who live there and are Envy every time we go.

BinarySolo · 26/02/2013 09:01

Otley is quite nice. Does it need to be North Yorkshire? We live in West Yorkshire. My dh works in Leeds but it's a faster commute because traffic is better.

MoreBeta · 26/02/2013 09:06

You need to live in the Golden Triangle between York, Harrogate and Leeds. I am from that part of the world and I have lived in London too.

There are many lovely parts of North Yorkshire but frankly unless you live in a fairly sophisticated bit of it that has good connections back too London you will find it to much of a culture shock.

To put it simply, the Golden Triangle is the part that is most like the South East of England.

iclaudius · 26/02/2013 17:52

Ilkley is full of Londoners unfortunately that has pushed property prices up but makes for an interesting mix
Otley is nice too with good mix and lively school - Skipton more mixed although great grammars

Pudden · 26/02/2013 18:51

Ripon, Skipton or Richmond. All lovely- Ripon has fab pie shop www.appletonsbutchers.co.uk/

lalalonglegs · 26/02/2013 19:13

Ripon has a fab racecourse and Richmond is a lovely town (with this amazing secret garden right in the middle of the centre but neither has a railway station which would make a difference to me. Go to Skipton.

lalalonglegs · 26/02/2013 19:14

Skipton has prize-winning pork pie shop. Just saying.

wonkylegs · 26/02/2013 19:25

Just to make sure we are clear where North Yorkshire is en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Yorkshire
Ilkley, Otley & Wetherby aren't technically NY (Ilkley's very nice thoughWink)
We are currently househunting in NY although we are moving south from Newcastle and are limited to a small search area which is a real shame as I love Richmond, Harrogate, York & Richmond.
There is a house with a 6 storey tower for sale in Richmond that my DS is obsessed with Grin

41notTrendy · 26/02/2013 19:28

Lalalonglegs. Do you live in Skipton? Because I take serious issue with your pork pie shop link. Grin
The best pork pies, by some considerable distance are from Stanforths. I speak with much pork pie eating experience Grin

lalalonglegs · 26/02/2013 19:34

We visit Skipton and eat pork pies there on a very regular basis (ILs live there, see upthread). I can promise you that Stanforths are arrivistes and not a patch on D&M. The best fish and chips are on Newmarket St, BTW and the best pint is in the Woolly Sheep although the Narrowboat is a nicer pub. See, we're very thorough Wink.

boardingschoolbaby · 26/02/2013 19:35

The is the town of Tadcaster which is between York and Leeds- enough shops etc to keep you in groceries but still a lovely river and field to walk through, or closer to York but with only the village shop and pub there is the village of rufforth which is lovely.

cathpip · 26/02/2013 19:36

We moved from Harrogate to Ripon as needed a family size house and found that you got more space for your money. Ripon is a lovely market town, and close to the A1 for commuting, the area has some beautiful villages and great small primary schools as well as a Grammer School. Not to mention the best pork pies :)!!

Awks · 26/02/2013 19:41

I live in Scarborough by the sea, but work in London and love, love, love getting off that train in York and being back where people say hello just for the hell of it.

I was born in York and parents live in Harrogate so know the area well. York is very nice, don't like Harrogate much but LOVE Scarborough.

Awks · 26/02/2013 19:43

Rufforth is horrible. the only good thing about it is the humungous Car Boot Grin

slambang · 26/02/2013 19:43

If you're thinking through to secondary school its worth thinking about whether or not you may buy into the grammar school system. Harrogate has excellent high performing comprehensive schools. Some of the other towns mentioned are still old-school grammars. Great if you're a high achiever, not so much if you're a middle of the roader.

Will commuting be an issue? Some towns have better links than others e.g. Ripon has no train.

guineapiglet · 26/02/2013 19:47

If you dare venture even further east, there are some lovely places, Yarm, Great Ayton etc with very good schools and near the coast -very picturesque area. Would definitely consider Skipton, it is a friendly, busy place, good connections, fabulous scenery, easy to get to the Lakes etc, - the Ilkley area is gorgeous as well.

Having just moved to the SE, I can tell you after living here for 6 long months, I would willingly move tomorrow to any of these areas. Friends of ours moved to Addingham area ( West Yorks I guess) and that is a fabulous area, with good access to Leeds.

Inthepotty · 26/02/2013 19:49

I live in a small village out of York. Good schools, nice shops, great links up road and could walk to York station if needed. Like Harrogate, but don't know it so well. What are you looking for in an area, OP? Also what is your housing budget? Oop north housing prices vary wildly.

boardingschoolbaby · 26/02/2013 19:50

Is rufforth horrible now? I have lived down south for the last 10 years but I had a friend that lived there and it was really lovely.
What about upper poppleton and green hammerton?