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Original poster

Leaving London for York - top tips?

132 replies

herbaceous · 28/03/2018 15:02

I've seen lots of previous threads about moving to York, but wondered if I could start yet another one just for me, me, me.

We have been looking for a while to basically cash in on our London house and buy somewhere else, with good schools, open spaces, friendly people, lots of culture, good train links to friends down South, and enough to keep us and our 8yo son busy until we keel over.

We fell in love with York last summer, and although we wobbled a bit (looking at fairly tedious London suburbs with 'meh' secondary schools), I think we're going to bite the bullet.

I now of course spend approx 7 hours a day on right move, reading Ofsted reports, picking friends' brains, and have just got myself all confused about where to look at living.

We want somewhere near open spaces (I love the look of Rowntree Park), but that isn't going to flood every year (although I believe there's some cunning community insurance thing), in the catchment for one of the outstanding secondaries, walkable or cyclable to the city centre, four/five bedrooms, with a garden, and with a friendly community.

Fulford seems great, but one friend I've been speaking to moved there from where we live ATM, and said it's been much harder than she expected to make friends. People tend to be family-oriented, or just stick to the friends they've had for years.

The South Bank area seems great from all aspects other than schools, while Heworth and Heslington also seem nice but have no idea about them.

Looking to spend about £500K.

I'm also confused by school catchments. On the map from the council each secondary has a very defined catchment area, yet on Right Move houses are said to be 'inside admissions area' even if they're outside the official catchment. What gwan?

I'm a TA and tutor and writer and editor, so am hoping I can find some kind of lovely job up there in time...

OP posts:
ISeeTheLight · 11/04/2018 12:45

I don't know York but we made a similar move last year - London to North East. We've rented for 8 months first. Have now just completed on a new build.
I'd definitely recommend it if you don't know the area - you can get a real feel for the place and go from there rather than making a potentially very expensive mistake. Rents up here are much lower than in London so you don't lose that much over 6 months or so.

Original poster
herbaceous · 11/04/2018 12:53

I was wondering about doing that, but was afraid of ending up in limbo, and never finding the right place. Also, we'd need to get our son into a primacy school, so would need to carry on living near it anyway.

But yes - if we sell our house, it may be an option!

Where abouts have you done in the NE?

OP posts:
SallyOMalley · 11/04/2018 13:38

Oh no!! Fingers crossed on getting an offer soon ...

Banquosghost · 12/04/2018 19:19

Hi herbaceous we've just started looking in york - Fulford probably. Wondered how you are getting on? Did you put an offer in? There isn't much around in our

Original poster
herbaceous · 14/04/2018 16:22

Hi Banquo. No, we didn't put an offer in. We thought the East Parade house would be very popular, and wanted to be in a strong position, so thought we'd wait a day to get an offer on our house. However, we have yet to have any offers, despite about 15 viewings. Still, the EP house is still on the market. I wonder if it's a teeny bit overpriced.

Now dithering, thinking that the area we'd really like is South Bank or right in the city centre, for that 'buzz'. Though of course you don't get much in the way of gardens...

OP posts:
SallyOMalley · 15/04/2018 16:31

@herbaceous - I went down EP today. The one that I think is 'your' house now has an 'under offer' board outside. Is that you?!

Original poster
herbaceous · 15/04/2018 18:03

Nooooooo! Blasted heck. Oh well. It's for the best. It was too expensive.

< wails >

The detached, redbrick house?

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Banquosghost · 15/04/2018 18:50

Tbh I think that house on East Parade (if it's the one I'm thinking about) might be a bit overpriced....? We're in the same position though - no offer on ours so not much we can do at this stage except look!

SallyOMalley · 15/04/2018 19:00

Oh dear ... I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news Sad

Yes - detached, red brick, front door at the side, on the opposite side of the street to the church?

If it helps, I think it's a little overpriced too. It is a lovely house. What a shame.

Are you absolutely wedded to the idea of a detached house? There's a terraced house on the same street - looks like it's been extended nicely at the back? There's also a nice semi on the Malton Road side of Stockton lane - again pushed out at the back and has a loft conversion. It's quite sought-after round there - they've got quite big gardens.

Hope you get sorted in both buying and selling Flowers

Original poster
herbaceous · 15/04/2018 19:01

It doesn't say 'under offer' on the website... < grasps at straws >

OP posts:
Original poster
herbaceous · 15/04/2018 19:03

Oh no. I'm a little bit heartbroken.

Not wedded to detached house at all, no. It was just that was so special. I want, in no particular order: four/five bedrooms, side or rear access, garden (south-facing if small), lively community, not on main road, character, catchment for good school.

Stockton Lane seems very popular, but is a bit... suburban? Or AIBU?

OP posts:
Original poster
herbaceous · 15/04/2018 19:04

Our cunning wheeze is to sell our vastly overpriced London house, buy four/five bed to live in and host all the people we're hoping want to come and visit, and also buy a house to rent to students or anyone as an income stream.

I know. Irritating UpFromLondoner.

OP posts:
HatchetFace · 15/04/2018 19:08

I've been inside that house! Know the people that live there. Think the reason it's so expensive is that it's way more garden than you'd normally get round there and off street parking too. East parade is going to be the new south bank imo

Yorklet · 15/04/2018 19:21

Very interesting thread. I live in York! will PM you.

SallyOMalley · 15/04/2018 19:24

Crikey - a lot of Yorkies on here!

Yes, I guess Stockton Lane is suburban but, as mentioned up thread, so is much of York. Tbh, while EP does have shops, I wouldn't call it 'buzzy', not in a Bishy Road kind of way, at least. We've been saying for ages that we need it to take just a couple of leaves out if Bishy Road's books - a Pig & Pastry for a start!

So, Stockton Lane: many of the houses have very big gardens, and the houses themselves (especially the large semis in the streets just off the main road) are extended. By the sound of it, your budget will cover one of those.

It's in the catchment for highly-regarded Hempland Primary and for Archie's senior school. No shops (well, there's a few!) but within walking distance of York city centre and regular buses go down Stockton lane if needed.

AYBU? Not sure! Yes it'll be quieter than what you're probably used to, but that's York to a certain degree. You've got to see yourself living here I guess - if the area's not for you, then it's not for you Smile

SallyOMalley · 15/04/2018 19:26

Sorry - meant to say ... The EP house: I think the under offer sign must have gone up Fri/sat. It wasn't there on Thurs when I went past. Perhaps Rightmove hasn't been updated yet?

Banquosghost · 15/04/2018 19:45

May I have a little hijack? Any of you knowledgeable people have an opinion on Fulford? Our children are teenagers and we have an eye on Fulford school for 6th form. Otherwise looking for reasonably easy access to city centre/station, green space nearby (dogs), but also easy access to Leeds by car. Semi-buzzy ok as long as we can get in and out of town during evenings easily....

Banquosghost · 15/04/2018 19:49

Or I can start my own thread!

SallyOMalley · 15/04/2018 20:05

banquo - Fulford School's catchment is unusual because not much of it is actually close to York (here's a document with catchment areas . Fulford takes in a lot of children from the villages in the south and east side of York. For eg Escrick, Dunnington, Elvington, etc. There are convoys of buses that bring the kids in every morning!

If you live out that way, it can be an easy run into York or it can be a nightmare. Just depends on the day's traffic. Ditto going from York out to the A64 for leeds. In terms of mileage, though, it's not far.

If you're looking to live closer, then I guess it's Fulford itself, or perhaps Heslington (close to the university). Lots of inter-war semis, but some older terraces (some very large) as you get closer to town. York is pretty good for open spaces (lots of strays), so your dog's will be happy!

SallyOMalley · 15/04/2018 20:06

Sorry - random autocorrect apostrophe at the end there!

Original poster
herbaceous · 15/04/2018 20:59

HatchetFace - we loved the people who live in the EP house. Part of the reason we loved the house so much!

OP posts:
Banquosghost · 16/04/2018 10:41

Thanks for the info SallyOMalley, off to investigate catchments (or lack of!)

MirandaWest · 16/04/2018 10:47

For 6th form I’m not sure whether there’s the same thing with catchments. One thing to remember for school busses is that although they’re free for children up to year 11, I think children have to pay in years 12 and 13 (mine are only year 9 and year 7 and also we’ve moved now and so aren’t far away enough to get the school bus anyway).

SallyOMalley · 16/04/2018 13:34

Yep, Miranda is right - sorry for the confusion, Banquo. The doc I linked to says that, to apply for Year 12, you need to contact the school/college directly. The Council does not co-ordinate these admissions. So, you could live anywhere you wanted, and still have a chance of getting into the 6th Form (subject to over-subscription criteria - which means that children living in catchment would have priority over those that don't).

Banquosghost · 16/04/2018 20:47

Got it, thanks!