Where to Live near Harrogate

[Roses8183]

I've seen a few old threads along the same lines but wanted to get some up to date advice about where to move to near Harrogate.

I've been offered a job in Knaresborough, but before accepting, I want to be sure that we can find somewhere nice to live with our 1 year old and 3 year old children.

Schools are really important, plus being close to a good nursery.
We currently live in a small village in Oxfordshire, and we're looking for somewhere slightly bigger with a few shops, a pub etc, but nowhere too busy which is in the catchment area of good primary and secondary schools (we're hoping to not have to move again for a while!). We also have a cat, so we need to be away from busy roads.

We're used to living in period or older houses rather than new builds.

I looked around Knaresborough but my first impression was that it was a bit tired and run down - does that sound right? Ilkley also looked nice but there wasn't a lot of choice of houses to buy.

We don't want to go too far north of Harrogate so my partner has an easier commute to Leeds.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Budget?
Bedrooms?

Will he be getting the train to Leeds?

Boston Spa.

Up to £400k and 3+ bedrooms (preferably 4)

He could drive or train but I guess a local station would be handy

Ripon!

Wetherby? Otley?

Pannal

Sunday Times piece about Boston Spa

Boston or Wetherby would be good options. No train stations but ok commute to either Leeds or Knaresborough. Commuting from Ilkley to Knaresborough would be a nightmare as no direct train line. I agree parts of Knaresborough are a bit tired though Abbey Road is vv nice.

Wetherby, Collingham, Boston Spa, Harrogate, Adel, Shadwell, Alwoodley, Otley or Tadcaster.

I used to live in Ripon. It's a beautiful little place. Not sure on schools and things as I didn't have children then.

Whether by?

Wetherby*

Does anyone know Clifford and Brahman, outside Wetherby? We’ve seen some beautiful houses there!

Ripon to Leeds isn't exactly an easy commute....

I think the problem is that there isn't much in between villages with a pub and maybe a shop, and much bigger towns. Personally I'd say that Wetherby is no nicer than Knaresborough (but I quite like Knaresborough). Are you sure Harrogate itself is too busy? It's not that big a place and has lots of Victorian stone properties (though in your price range they're likely to be terraced and not have much outdoor space). Surrounding villages like Pannal, Starbeck etc would be worth looking at maybe?

Clifford and Bramham both lovely, easy commute to Leeds and Knaresborough and close to Boston Spa for shops and restaurants etc

Neither Harrogate or Knaresborough are ‘busy’, though they can both get congested, as can the road between them.

400k would get you a great house in either of them. In HG look at the Saints or Wetherby Road areas, or maybe Bilton.
All are easy walks to town/stations, good access to roads to KB and we don’t have bad schools. 😀

I don’t know KB as well.

I don’t really know the towns you’re asking about but I wouldn’t want to drive between them and KB at rush hour.

You need to think about secondary education if you think about Ripon. The Grammar gets excellent results, the alternative school is very poor so you may end up with kids on a bus to Harrogate. Loads of lovely places to live in the area though.

Thanks everyone for all of your replies!

I’ve just realised that a lot of the “grammar” schools aren’t actually selective anymore. From what I can see, just Ripon and two schools in Skipton (and then Leeds and Halifax) are actually selective schools, is that right?

Leeds Grammar is independent and fee paying Tadcaster Grammar and Harrogate are comps. Ripon is selective

Ripon Grammar is selective - Outwood Academy is the alternative.

It depends where in Leeds as to whether it is commutable - north leeds/Horsforth is about 45 mins - city centre much longer... you may also need adjust your expectations a little - you are unlikely to get a house which is period and not on a main road even with three bedrooms in your budget - though there could be some more modern houses which would work - there are also some larger villages which are lovely and would hit the shops/pub/school kind of criteria but tend to be pricey...

The Ofsted for the Academy I’m Ripon was outstanding in 2016, is it really not good?

I didn’t mean to say it wasn’t good - just that there is a selective system in place. Some children go to other schools - faith schools in Harrogate, boroughbridge, thirsk but it can be hard to get into and you have to factor in bus fares etc.

The Academy in Ripon used to have a really bad rep, but, its under a new head and is a very good school now. Ripon and its surrounding villages are lovely and within price range as its def cheaper than Harrogate. You will be hard pressed to find a poor secondary school in the Harrogate/Ripon area.