Tell me about life in...East Yorkshire

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My OH works all over the North East, so we're considering a move. Currently living in the South.

We'd like to be close (half an hour or so) to the coast, nothing too rural (I grew up in a house which was 20 minutes walk from the neighbours, put me off!), somewhere with a community and things going on. We have two young children, so a lot of school years ahead of us.

Places we're considering...Beverley, Knaresborough, Diffield, Malton, also heard good things about Pocklington but might be a bit too far inland. We've also been told Hull might be worth looking at, but we're currently in a city and missing a sense of community and seem to spend all our free time escaping to the countryside so not sure that would be the right road.

It's hard to gauge a place from a brief visit and looking town guides on the internet, so I'm turning to the MN hive mind! Are you familiar with any of these and able to offer some insight? We're wondering what they're like for young (primary age) families and teens? Do they feel safe to walk around at night (appreciate safety is a very subjective thing), is it easy to make friends as incomers? Is there much going on? What do you love and loathe about it?

Beverley is lovely, Hull is largely awful.
Malton and Pickering are nice

Thanks for the reply! I think we were getting the same vibe about Hull, though increasingly hear that it's been tarred with a bad brush for years and deserves consideration.

What makes Beverley lovely? And Malton/Pickering nice?

I live about an hour and a half from Hull and had only really passed through. I had heard it was awful but I know a lot of places just have a bad rep - however, I had to visit for work 3 times in the last few months and it was as bad, if not worse than I thought. They have tried to develop the dock area a bit but the surrounding area is very grotty.
Beverley is a really nice town, my friend lives there and its quite posh. Lovely little shops and restaurants. My Auntie lived in Pickering and it seemed nice when we visited and I have been to Malton a couple of times and liked it

I always thought Hull was awful, just from reputation but in recent years have spent a lot of time there and changed my mind. Yes there are some very rough areas - it's a city. The people are very friendly anfd the city centre is great. Somewhere like Hessle on the outskirts is a good option.
Beverly is lovely, I'd happily live there.
The coast isn't great in South East Yorkshire though imo.
So if you want decent coast within half an hour I'd look further North towards Pocklington or Pickering. Not keen on Malton myself.

Parts of Hull are lovely- the avenues for example. And is has a community feel for a city.
Hedon, which is east of Hull is nearer the coast might be worth considering.
Most of Beverley is nice, but there are some areas you might want to avoid.
Both Hedon and Beverley are good for families.
Cottingham, Hessle, and Anlaby might be worth a look. Technically they are in East Yorkshire, but in reality they are the suburbs of Hull. Welton and Brough might also be worth a look. South Hunsley school had a good reputation.
There's lots of lovely countryside nearby as well as the coast.

I used to work in Beverley- personally I wouldn't want to live there. It's a lovely place to visit though.

It’s further away from the coast but from thr places you have mentioned Knarebrough is beautiful and access to the dales/river Nidd and Wharfe. It’s miles nicer than the other places. Have you considered Easingwold or York? Great schools

Driffield is a nice, market town within easy access of the coast (and property is really good value) but it has very, very limited options for Secondary Schools so I suggest you reseach this carefully.

Malton is a similar size, easily accessible and has lots of facilities (and many more school options) but property is currently at a bit of a premium because of this. You can be at the coast in 40 mintues and in York in 30 minutes.

Pickering is a bit more 'out of the way' and doesn't have a train station which might not suit you? Only one option for Secondary school too.

Pocklington is really well appointed (apart from the lack of train station) but has very easy access to York and is about 40 minutes drive from the coast. Lots of new housing being built currently.

Knaresborough is lovely - lots of school options, transport, facilities but it's nearly 1hr 30 minutes drive to the coast (on a Thursday morning in February - much longer on a bank holiday!).

I wouldn’t want to live in Hull but the West Hull villages (technically in East Yorkshire) are lovely and property is great value for money. Schools are good too.

Knaresborough, Pickering and Malton are North Yorkshire ( relevant when looking at schools).

Knaresborough is lovely but about an hour from the coast.

For schools Ripon is great if you are interested in a grammar education. 11+ in place. Again an hour to the coast though.

I live in hull - cheap place to live 😂 but its shite ! Don’t come here !
Beverly is lovely but expensive to live in , I go there every weekend for a wonder !
pocklington is such a small town , nothing to do there . Everyone knows each other mostly as it’s such a small place .

Knaresborough is lovely but far from the coast.

I don't rate Pickering at all, not much there apart from the steam railway.

I love Pickering. Beautiful place. Not far from the coast.
Malton is ok. Bigger and closer to York.
Ive not been to Hull or Driffield.
Have you considered Whitby or Scarborough? Lovely places, though maybe a bit too touristy.

Depends on your budget. No doubt it’s good since you’re coming from the south so the worlds your oyster. Just remember that ‘naice’ or having a few boho boutiques or cafes doesn’t necessarily mean friendly and inclusive.
People bang on about Whitby but there are some fairly socioeconomically deprived parts and job prospects are poor. Likewise Brid and Scarborough. The Yorkshire coast is different from the south coast in that it’s not got same advantage of decent links to London and bits are pretty isolated.
Most folk who comment on areas like these are tourists too hence the x place is lovey without actually knowing the place. Better off with advice off locals.

I LOVE Hull! Live here and would struggle to leave. However- it's not everyone's cup of tea, and it does take time to get under your skin.
The villages to the west are fab. Beverley is really popular. Cottingham, Market Weighton, Hedon, Pocklington, Howden- all feel rural, but have lots of amenities.
What about Hornsea- you'd get the coast then too.

Beverley is nice, lovely centre and Westwood.

Avoid Driffield Poklington and hull but the villages outside are nice that are kind of hull (eg. Kirkella, Cottingham, hessle)

York is beautiful and so is knasbrough.

See I'm not a fan of Beverley (too many Hyacinth Bouquets who think they're god's gift) but I love Hull-great city! Cottingham is also nice, as is Pocklington. Have you looked at Market Weighton?

Have lived in this part of Yorkshire for 15 years so know it well.

Thanks all for the advice. We certainly have a good list to explore now! A few familiar names but Malton and Howden hadn't previously been on my radar. Looking forward to a few recces this summer and chatting with the locals!

Malton floods.

Stay away from the East Hull villages; property looks like tremendous value but Hull itself is isolated enough so you don't want to be even further out on a limb. Visiting the coast is nice for a day, but there's lots of poverty / deprivation / poor schools in seaside towns on the East Yorkshire coast.

As PP have mentioned, the west Hull villages are well worth a look. Hessle, I think, is getting run down - lots of vacant shops, charity shops etc - but Ferriby is great & in the South Hunsley catchment area. Ferriby also has a train station. Swanland is vair posh - lots of doctors and solicitors, and children who go to Hymers College. Willerby has nothing but estate agents in the centre, plus supermarkets slightly further out. I've never been a fan of Cottingham (totally irrational, I know) - if you buy there, just be aware that many students live in Cott as it's close to the university.

Howden has improved out of all recognition in recent years, but is far more than half an hour from the coast.

I would suggest you look more around Knaresborough and other towns and villages. Much more to do, great connections by bus and rail to Leeds and York, plus easy travel to the coast (not 30 mins though).

For years the public,and private sector have struggled to recruit staff for the east coast. There is a reason for it as largely articulated by other posts.

I want to move to Aldbrough Hu11-4qw. Can anyone tell me what shops are about thank you