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!

Can you elaborate on the type of area you are interested in, size requirements and top budget?

N Yorks is huge and varied from coast to very rural to cities like Harrogate and York, there are also peripheral areas around Leeds like Guiseley that are well connected by train but border onto countryside.

If you are looking to be based in a city or town hub the suggestions will be very different.

Using the trains is fine if you pick somewhere within easy walking distance of a station. On the Ilkley, Skipton and Harrogate lines are obvious choices. Towards York would also work, but beware flood plains. You could even venture South towards Wakefield. The X (express) buses are also pretty decent.

It all depends on what you like in terms of settlement density, and how much you’re prepared to pay for your property. The weather is definitely colder and wetter than London, and the folks less friendly than some other parts of the North of England, but Yorkshire isn’t called God’s Own County for nothing. I’ll be moving back there as soon as I can.

You could do worse than renting a cottage in (say) Ilkley for a week and doing a bit of exploration via train to get a feel for the place?

Yeah I wouldn’t rely on it out of London

@MoveUpNorth I'm a Londoner who has settled in W Yorks. I agree with everything @Glamorous24 has so neatly summarised.

Also agree with @Glamorous24 and I'm another one waiting for details of the huge cultural divide between London and the cities of northern England.

Public transport has improved quite a bit over the last few years and is actually feasible for commuting in some areas, eg there are buses every 10 minutes most of the day - stop laughing those of you used to TFL, this is as good as it gets up here. A relative of mine lives in a nice village on the A61 between Leeds and Wakefield and uses the bus for commuting, shopping, evenings out etc.

I went from Leeds to Manchester on the train a couple of weeks ago on a Sunday and was pleasantly surprised that there was a fast train every 15 minutes, plus additional slower trains.

Don't think OP that you have to live in MN approved North Leeds, or North Yorkshire. There are plenty of perfectly other decent places in the area, your money will go much further and the traffic isn't always as bad, which will delay buses.

If you're expecting to be working in the city, you might also want to consider the city centre, loads of new flats. Eg have a look at the new Aire Park development on the edge of the city airepark.co.uk/

Don't do it.

Better to make a sideways move and go west than North.

I'm from central London.

My son is at uni in Manchester. I'd never been there until recently.

What a great city!!!!!

It's like a slightly smaller London, with lots going on, but more laid back (and cheaper!

Why? Genuine question.

I’ve lived in both places and Leeds area offers so much more in terms of quality of life.

@Bjorkdidit
Once you buy property up North you will struggle to move back to the south if you are on a low wage because of the differences in property prices.

A sideways move will see less of a margin between house prices.

Plus it's grim up north. 😉

Gravy on chips? Nay that's from t'wrong side of the Pennines.

I know, I nearly cried as a 10yo when we went to Blackpool on holiday and I had fish and chips in a cafe and it came with gravy on. They’d never even asked if I wanted it!

We moved from Yorkshire to Lancashire when I was 10.

Fish and chips to me were haddock cooked beef dripping with bits on.

Suddenly chip shops sold pies and gravy. Then there was the 'Pie and Pea supper', which is always a supper even if you eat it at mid day.

This faded in to insignificance when I moved south and fish had the skin left on!

We moved from Yorkshire to Lancashire when I was 10.

I am very sorry that happened to you 😁

My son lives and works in Leeds. He moved to Leeds from York because of the commute. It's doable but if you had to get to work every day in Leeds then I would look to live in Leeds. Commuting by car may seem a better idea but Leeds traffic is dreadful. I'm from up North so no idea how it compares with London transport.

Lots of provocative wind up merchants on this thread, but please stop as it's actually very offensive to those both from and living in the north of England.

@Glamorous24 summed it up very well. Yorkshire is not another planet. By moving there you will lose some things and gain some things.

To the OP. If you don't drive, I would look at the Leeds suburbs that are on train lines or fast and frequent bus routes. The 36 bus runs between Leeds > Harrogate > Ripon and is every 10 mins I think. It passes through many places so could be a good option for getting around. I reckon you'll want to learn to drive though as exploring the amazing countryside round there would be difficult without a car.

It sounds like you want to rent first so you aren't locking yourself in. Maybe rent a place near Leeds centre as a starting point and then go from there once you have a job sorted and know what your commute would be like. Good luck with your search - exciting times ahead for you in 2025.

Nah, we don't care.
If anyone thinks its a wasteland up here and doesn't want to come then thats OK.

I live near to the edge of North Yorkshire but my house is up for sale and I’m looking to move into North Yorkshire. It’s a beautiful county, similar in lots of ways to Surrey. I’m very familiar with London as I go numerous times a year.

London is great for excitement but up north we have the beautiful scenery and more space. My preference is York, over Leeds and favourite places in NY are Richmond (with easy access to the Yorkshire Dales, and a bit further, the Lake District), Ripon, Harrogate and Great Ayton area. York, however, is extremely busy (I was there yesterday and it was packed). I’d probably go for a smaller place like Ripon. Northallerton is a nice place too - and regular trains from there to/from London King’s Cross. Leeds/York too.

House prices up here are rising but nowhere near as eye-watering as those in London.

Good luck!

North Yorkshire is bloody awful. Tedious backwatery places and everyone with a slow half arsed accent. Havent you considered a bit further North where people are less yokel?

We lived happily in Leeds for many years before moving back to the midlands. Our DS got a job in Newcastle and was there for over 5 years.
Newcastle is a fantastic city surrounded by amazing countryside and beaches. And an easy train trip to Edinburgh. I'm glad DS will be in Manchester but I will always miss Newcastle.

you might need to buy a dialogue dictionary 🤐

ex colleague of mine moved from Docklands to Derbyshire and it transformed his life. He and his wife love every second of it even though he now spends longer commuting (Manchester) than he did when in London.

Leeds has some lovely places to live and transport is generally good, although the buses are more reliable than the trains. Rental market in the city moves fast though, so you can’t dilly dally. Northallerton is a fab little town and on the east coast mainline. Harrogate and ripon are also both lovely.

I still have not forgiven my parents.

My mother claimed it was missionary work to civilise the locals.

Awesome thread. I'm from Cambridge but lived in London whole adult life.
I have spent time in North Yorkshire and its interesting and parts are otherworldly beautiful.
But for me it's Glasgow that is a real step up from the rest of the UK. Glasgow is so photogenic and the infrastructure is stunning. They even have a tube! It's a smallish city but heaves with shops and art galleries and music venues.
I found the accent difficult at first but it's easy after just a week or so.
And Glasweigians are great! Look at Glasgow OP.

LOL, treated myself to a city break in Glasgow for my 40th. Picked the wrong weekend as Celtic were at home and so half the city felt like a war zone with throngs of people best steered clear of.