Leeds/Manchester - diversity

[soniaz]

Hello all :-)

I'm currently living in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, which we love, but we are a multi-racial family and while it's diverse here in many ways, it's not racially diverse.

I have two children who are black Kenyan (I am white) and one is in school in Wales (long story!), the other, who is my wonderful 13-year-old autistic daughter is now home with me doing online school.

Originally, we had a medium term plan to return to Kenya, but for a number of reasons, that may not happen now. So I need to look at moving to areas that are more diverse, and within driving distance to north Wales. And that would have good schools so my daughter can return to schooling, with adequate support.

We like Leeds (she does basketball in Allerton High School twice a week), have only heard good things about Manchester, but I really don't know where to start!!

Any help gratefully received :-)

If you like Hebden I’d go to Leeds over Manchester, I’ve lived in both. Leeds whilst a large city still has close ties with york and the surrounding villages, and the countryside, so has a Hebden edge, but is definitely diverse. Manchester is a mega city, and whilst it has some good parts you pay through the nose x

thank you, Gettingonabitnow (and LOVE your username :-))

Yes, I'm leaning more towards Leeds as well. Do you know which parts would be good for schools/diversity?

We’re in North Leeds and the high schools are all racially diverse. Allerton High is a great school as is Roundhay. It’s 100 miles and 90-120 minutes to North Wales, traffic dependent.

I'd go for leeds too. It's very racially diverse. Allerton High is an excellent school, better than Roundhay in recent years.
It's a very green city and also very close to beautiful countryside.

Yes, I’d look at north leeds.
I would look at Chapel Allerton sort of area. Possibly into Moortown.

Chapeltown is very ethnically diverse, but also very deprived and with a high crime rate.

Not Horsforth, more to the NW, it’s not very diverse. Also not Garforth over to the east.

What’s your budget and house size requirements though?

Manchester (especially the south western bit) is MUCH closer to north Wales than Leeds is.

How often do you need to travel to Wales? I take it this is a boarding situation rather than needing to drop your daughter off at 9am every day!

@IdblowJonSnow

I'd go for leeds too. It's very racially diverse. Allerton High is an excellent school, better than Roundhay in recent years. It's a very green city and also very close to beautiful countryside.

Thank you! Yes, countryside/green is really important to me - so that could work well. Also really good to hear that about Allerton - I will contact them :-)

@CasperGutman

Manchester (especially the south western bit) is MUCH closer to north Wales than Leeds is.

How often do you need to travel to Wales? I take it this is a boarding situation rather than needing to drop your daughter off at 9am every day!

Hahah - yes, my son is dyslexic (plus a few other learning challenges) and boards in Wales - so definitely no drop offs required!

We can cope with more distance - diversity is our key driver and also a school that has good SEN support for my daughter

I’d say budget is important. Manchester, especially for renting, is more expensive that leeds generally.

Be aware that there are two schools that sound similar, allerton grange and allerton high.

@4PawsGood

Yes, I’d look at north leeds. I would look at Chapel Allerton sort of area. Possibly into Moortown.

Chapeltown is very ethnically diverse, but also very deprived and with a high crime rate.

Not Horsforth, more to the NW, it’s not very diverse. Also not Garforth over to the east.

Thank you - really helpful comments! I thought Allerton looked great, but wasnt sure about the diversity aspect - good to know.

On budget, I'm not sure. We could keep our house here, rent it, and then rent in Leeds for a while to get a feel for it - we'd need at least 3 bedrooms.

@lastqueenofscotland

I’d say budget is important. Manchester, especially for renting, is more expensive that leeds generally.

Yes - I'd realised that just now as well - likely out of our budget....

Allerton Grange has a better reputation these days. I know of a few kids who attend and are very happy there.

Carr Manor in Meanwood has a good nurturing ethos and I believe a dedicated unit for kids with autism. May also be worth checking out. Also lots of diversity in that school. Meanwood would also be cheaper to rent than chapel allerton/Moortown etc.

And meanwood has a huge park and lovely walks. It has some rougher areas but the centre has become really trendy in recent years with many bars and cafes etc.
What kind of things are you into? What's important to you?

@IdblowJonSnow

And meanwood has a huge park and lovely walks. It has some rougher areas but the centre has become really trendy in recent years with many bars and cafes etc. What kind of things are you into? What's important to you?

Thank you - I didnt know about Carr Manor and will check it out. My daughter is high functioning, but highly vulnerable, especially to bullying/social situations so the school we choose is really important.

I do a lot of hiking here, love it, cycling, boxing, drumming...my daughter is really into basketball, we love cafes/restaurants, hanging out in local places. Our ideal would be Hebden Bridge type vibe, but bigger and more racial diversity!

We’ve just moved to Headingley at the end of May this year. It’s very diverse, quite hippyish and has lots of green space. There are a lot of students here in term-time and though we love that vibe, I know not everyone does.

We looked for 18 months for the right house. Initially we wanted a victorian house with a good sized garden but they were way out of our price range. We ended up buying a beautiful 1930s semi opposite Beckett Park, in an area I didn’t even know existed when I lived where at a student.

Caveat - we have never lived in Manchester though DH is there a lot with work.

@Warmduscher

We’ve just moved to Headingley at the end of May this year. It’s very diverse, quite hippyish and has lots of green space. There are a lot of students here in term-time and though we love that vibe, I know not everyone does.

We looked for 18 months for the right house. Initially we wanted a victorian house with a good sized garden but they were way out of our price range. We ended up buying a beautiful 1930s semi opposite Beckett Park, in an area I didn’t even know existed when I lived where at a student.

Caveat - we have never lived in Manchester though DH is there a lot with work.

Thank you - that is really helpful. I have been in Headingly as the basketball was in the university campus for a while - and loved it! But was definitely out of my budget - so really good to hear that you found somewhere, eventually.

I think I would prefer to rent to start with, so then, like you, I can look around and spend time finding the right place, for the right budget! And of course, in the right school area

I think Leeds is a much nicer city.

Don’t forget, OP, prices are starting to come down even this soon after the end of the stamp duty holiday, so in another six months or year, houses that are too expensive now may need more affordable by then.

@Warmduscher

Don’t forget, OP, prices are starting to come down even this soon after the end of the stamp duty holiday, so in another six months or year, houses that are too expensive now may need more affordable by then.

Thats a very good point!

Looks like Leeds is the one - now to find the catchment areas for the schools :-)

I worked in Manchester until recently and it’s very racially diverse plus it has a really nice central part of town. It can be expensive-I love Chorlton, very mixed, diverse lifestyle wise but now gone very expensive. But much easier to get to Wales-would not fancy the journey down the M62 from Leeds.

It really depends on what kind of diversity you are looking for. If you are looking to socialise with other Kenyans / East Africans in an excellent school area I would pick Leicestershire over either of them. There is a strong Kenyan / East African community there, not just Indo, but black and white too.

@Ozanj

It really depends on what kind of diversity you are looking for. If you are looking to socialise with other Kenyans / East Africans in an excellent school area I would pick Leicestershire over either of them. There is a strong Kenyan / East African community there, not just Indo, but black and white too.

Well that is interesting - thank you! I had no idea about there being a large Kenyan community in Leicestershire - I was out of the U.K. for 27 years so really don’t know it well!

Which area do you mean, with reference to excellent school area as well?

@soniaz - most parts of Leicestershire have great state schools. Places like Oadby in South Leicester arguably have more consistantly good schools (primaries and secondaries have been outstanding for 25 years+) but the ‘Indo-Kenyan’ parts of North Leicester, particularly Rusheymead and Belgrave, are just as good. I would suggest you rent for a bit and get a feel for the areas to see what you prefer.