Moving from South to North - Advice please!

[MoveUpNorth]

Hi All!

I'm planning to move from London and have been considering moving up North. After a decade in London, I feel like I need a change. More of a work-life balance and being able to afford a property are strong reasons for the move.

I have been looking at areas and North Yorkshire looks like a strong option. I would need to work so not sure how commutable that would be to a city like Leeds?

Any suggestions of areas to consider or advice would be much appreciated from a clueless Londoner.

Thanks!

It’s not that difficult to look at Leeds and decide how far you could live away from Leeds and commute. We don’t know how long you are prepared to drive or take a train. York gives more options for North Yorkshire. It would depend what work you want too. Where is it available? What would your travel costs be?

Selby is a good choice for York, Leeds, Doncaster and hull - 30 mins max to each and then Hull is very accessible too. Good rail links to London (2 hours) and more affordable than York. Right on A1 and M62 links

Hebden Bridge is a lovely place and has good commuter links

OP, will you need to work?

If so, have you looked at job adverts for the kind of posts you might have a chance of getting?

Will you need a mortgage? What salaries do any available jobs pay and what size mortgage would you be able to get?

Where are the jobs located? What commute would be practical and how long would it take?

If you're looking at Leeds for work, then the suburbs, towns and villages on the Wharfedale (rail) line out of Leeds are popular - Horsforth, Guiseley, Ben Rhydding, Ilkley, Skipton. Otley is popular for families too, but no train station.

If I was starting again in Yorkshire, I'd look at York and surrounding villages, but beware of flood risk.

Commute in how? What would be your preference? Train? Car? Also which side of Leeds because it isn't small and so this may affect which side or direction you might want to live.

Do you need to consider schools at all? Also budget, don't assume that North means cheap either. Do you want to be able to go back to London for visits or work? Because this means looking at train stations.

Can you relocate your job is that why you are looking at Leeds? We are outsiders, ie not from Leeds originally. In all honesty I will tell you the best thing you can do is research and ask questions here but then rent first, don't commit to buying until you get a feel for the area. We relocated here then moved again to a better location for us and because local knowledge shouldn't be underestimated.

Thank you for all your replies! I'm at the early stages of figuring it all out and not too familiar with the area so apologies for not having all the answers.

I have been looking at jobs around the area and most seem to be in Leeds which is why I was wondering if I can commute. It would need to be by train as I can't drive at the moment.

Will be looking to rent first and then consider buying once I've settled and more familiar with the area.

It's just me so no need to consider schools and won't need to visit London regularly so transport back isn't a priority

@MoveUpNorth I’m planning to do the same , have been viewing properties in the last month or so. Yet to find an area that feels like home however have not ventured as far north as Leeds, interested to hear what people’s thoughts are so jumping on this thread :)

don‘t do it - best advice

Congratulations!
I help professionals relocate to The North from all over the world.
Leeds is a great City and there are lots of nice places within commutable distance.

As has already been suggested, Ilkley. There are some amazing architect designed houses, if that's in your budget, and the town centre is lovely for shops. Or if you want to go rural, Yorkshire Dales 👌🏼

How much time have you spent up there already? There's a huge cultural shift between North and South.

Are you prepared for the weather? I had to work in Leeds for six months I have genuinely never been so fucking cold in my life.

I ended up living in Liverpool for eight years, but again that grass does not get green on its own.

No there isn't.
Its not bloody Game of Thrones

Fucking hell. The way some people go on on here, you would think it WAS like GoT up here. Give or take Sean Bean, I promise you, we’ve got all the same stuff you’ve got down south- houses, trains, running water and everything.

I’m actually intrigued to hear these huge cultural differences- can you elaborate?

Bloody hell. It's not so different, just everywhere is smaller than London. I'd look at the Sheffield area - close to the Peak District and a lot better served by public transport to get to, e g. Manchester for things, than Leeds which is a bugger to get to.

Whilst I much prefer Sheffield to Leeds, I'll defend Leeds' accessibility. 2hrs 15 from London by train, and about an hour from Manchester, and on the M1. It's hardly difficult to get to.

It’s the whippets and the pigeon racing. 🤣.

gravy on chips
serious stuff that

Aye, and tha’ll never learn t’subtleties of wearing t’right style o’ flat cap if tha’s not born and bred, tha’ knows…

Having spent significant time living in both Leeds and London:

• the “cultural divide” as others have said is mythical.
• the big difference between London and anywhere else in the UK is simply about the size and scope of London vs anywhere else. That’s it.
• Leeds is a fantastic city, to work, go out, shop, amazing scope of theatre, music etc
• if you want a quiet place to live then by all means look at the surrounding villages that are easily commutable to Leeds, like Ilkley, Skipton etc. (Harrogate might also suit you well, a bit bigger and lovely.)
• None of these places are objectively “cheap” to buy, so don’t be surprised if your money doesn’t go as far as you’d expected when house buying
• wherever you live in and around Leeds, you can be in glorious walking country very quickly
• Yorkshire is definitely a bit colder than London. Expect snowier winters and summers are not as hot as we’ve become accustomed to in the south.

Can you learn to drive before going?

@@Glamorous24 thank you, that's all super helpful!

Yes I can do, I was hoping to use public transport but it seems that a car might be a better option