Potential move to Leeds

[2catsandatoddler]

Me and DP are very seriously considering moving to Leeds. We currently live in Hertfordshire near family and have 1DD. We want to expand our family and we can't afford it where we are now. DP has the opportunity to relocate his job there. Neither me nor DP know Leeds massively well. We absolutely want to rent there for a bit then eventually buy when we find the right place. We just need to know whereabouts is good to raise a family, with good schools. Any help will be greatly appreciated

So budget for eventual house purchase is 300,000-350,000. Depending on how much we manage to save here. We're hoping for four bedrooms but can happily get by on three.

Again thanks everyone for the suggestion this is all super duper helpful.

Biased as I live here, but Horsforth is great. The schools are quite oversubscribed, but they are generally all decent. Really close to getting out to the countryside, and has two stations for getting the train to work. (Personally I find the trains so much better than buses.) You should be able to get a rental for your budget. 4 bed would be a struggle to buy under 350k, but 3 bed is doable. Lots of my friends around here are expat southerners too.

The other areas mentioned are great too. Chapel Allerton, Meanwood, Headingley are all much closer to town, and are perhaps a bit more a buzz. I used to walk to work from Meanwood.

Horsforth, Guiseley, Ilkley, Rawdon all lovely and decent commutes into the city

Bad things about Leeds - TRA run the council, the Managed Zone is a blight on the city, there are some very deprived areas and weather is much worse than the South (but much better than the North West)

Good things - compact city centre, great cultural life, good music scene, lots of theatre/dance/comedy. Truly multicultural, brilliant restaurants, a very child-friendly city, lots of events throughout the year - like Light Night this weekend.

I’ve lived in several areas. For families I definitely think North or North East Leeds is best. You tend to get bigger gardens, more open spaces and parks, good schools.

Leeds is a collection of villages. Each has its own feel and community spirit. Chapel Allerton, Moortown, Gledhow, Roundhay, Oakwood, Shadwell are all lovely. Far Headingley, Horsforth and Farsley are good too.

I don’t know the East Leeds ones as well, but I have friends in Crossgates, Garforth, and Swillington who like it.

From my house buses are roughly every 10 minutes to the city centre, take 25 minutes maximum and make a cheap alternative to parking.

I’m sure you’ll like it, OP.

North West Leeds is a very good area.

We just bought our dream house in Headingley three weeks ago! We’ve been meaning to move back there for decades after meeting as students at uni.

Our house is five minutes walk from the shops and bars but tucked around the back opposite a park so it’s residential and there are lots of families on our street.

Bad things about Leeds - TRA run the council, the Managed Zone is a blight on the city

Whilst these might be things that get attention in FWR, and are worthy of attention in their own right, I don't think they really have any affect on the quality of life living here. (Unless you are unfortunate enough to be near the managed zone that is, but from what the OP is saying I doubt that is the case.)

@FamilyOfAliens congratulations! That's definitely the kind of vibe we're looking for.

Thank you, OP.

I’ve PM’d you

What is/are TRA?

Trans right activists. There's quite a few people on mumsnet who are obsessed with them. Clearly it makes no difference as to where in Leeds OP would want to live so a rather random comment!

Thank you. I did google but it came up with a load of irrelevant replies.

@Level75 Well exactly, TRA aren't really something I consider when relocating so not sure how relevant that comment was

I grew up in headingley. I'd live there now if I could but have been priced out so now live in Woodhouse which is rougher but has some nice green bits and some lovely people.

@Level75

Trans right activists. There's quite a few people on mumsnet who are obsessed with them. Clearly it makes no difference as to where in Leeds OP would want to live so a rather random comment!

The “obsession”, as you call it, comes from the TRA side as they are the ones who have people who spend all their time scouring Mumsnet for screenshots to “prove” that it’s a hotbed of transphobia.

And actually it does bother me that Leeds City Council seems not to understand their legal obligation to uphold the Equality Act 2010, being as how it’s the law of the land.

@Ginfordinner the crime in Headingley is mainly opportunistic when students are moving or leave their doors unlocked. I think there is more house crime and car theft in Chapel Allerton from the neighbourhood groups I'm on. We live amongst the students and have a 4 story Victorian which would have been easily £200k more elsewhere in Leeds. But yes there are lots of hmos and students - I'm a lecturer so actually thrive in this environment and we have a lot of families in the community too with an active neighbourhood association. Great restaurants around the corner like Heaney and Mill and Salvos and lots of independence around Headingley for our children at places like Sundaes. The university staff and students make it a really fun vibrant community.

It sounds very similar to the student area my daughter is in. There is a mix of students and families in Victorian terrace houses. The area has a great vibe.

I'm glad to hear that Salvos is still there. We used to go there after sales meetings at work in the early 1980s.

The only part of Leeds I'd like to live is Oakwood. Horsforth is really overrated - just a grey suburb. I'm not counting the outlying villages between Leeds and Harrogate/Wetherby which are all stunning.

I’ve lived in the Rothwell-Woodlesford-Garforth area and can recommend it. Lots of local shops, schools, and activities (and the best French patisserie in Garforth), but also easy to get into the centre of Leeds.