Moving to Leeds/ Harrogate/ york area

[getoutofmyhead]

I am relocating for work (Leeds-based) and have primary-aged DCs. We’re currently considering areas such as Chapel Allerton, Harrogate and possibly York, but schools are very much the deciding factor for us. At the moment, our DCs attend a village-style primary school. We live in a city but drive out to the outskirts and it’s a very caring and quite small (80 pupils). I’d really love to find something with a similar feel if possible. I’d be grateful for any recommendations for areas (or specific primaries) within a sensible commute to Leeds that have that smaller, nurturing feel to it.
Thanks for any advice.

Chapel Allerton is lovely but is on the outskirts of Harehills.
have you looked at villages near Wetherby? Where about in Leeds will you be working?

I will be in the city centre near King St!

Check availability of places, I don’t know if it is still the case but not so long ago there were a lot of news reports about popular North Leeds schools being oversubscribed so you might struggle to get into somewhere you like.

Ripon is lovely and also has Ripon Grammar at secondary level. A state selective grammar school with a long history.

Bjorkdidit great call!

whats Your budget

Ideally 400k for a small terrace.

If you looking at York then you would need to live close to train station if you are commenting….and the Bishoprhorpe area is very expensive now…although you would get a small terrace for that price….but likely no parking or front garden….if you live further out then the commute gets much longer

Have you considered Ilkley/Burley in Wharfede? Direct train into Leeds; good primary and schools; lovely little old spa town with lots going on - and a Booths!

How about Pannal? Village on outskirts of Harrogate off the Leeds Road and has a train station runs between Leeds and York. There's a primary school too! (I think!!) And it's a short drive to some great secondary schools in Harrogate.

Ripon is miles from Leeds and would be an almighty commute. Chapel Allerton, despite what you might hear and what its residents like to insist, is not like a village. I'd suggest taking a look at Shadwell, Bramhope, Ilkley (if you can afford it - has direct train line into Leeds), or best of all (but furthest out) Addingham.

Adel?

Friend of mine lives in Pannal. Good primary school - more affordable than Harrogate maybe?

Yes, Pannal has a primary. Harrogate generally ticks a lot of OP's boxes I think. There's also Calverley in NW Leeds - 2 primaries and a short drive to New Pudsey station which has loads of free parking. Or Horsforth - less parking at the station but it's more walkable.

I can recommend a good (small lovely village) primary school. Feel free to DM me.

The wharfedale line is a good commuting option for central Leeds. Lots of lovely countryside and villages nearby.

There are some smaller primaries in the area. If you look at the primary application on the Leeds and Bradford council sites that will give you an idea of the smaller ones.

Leeds catchment areas are odd shapes so you may find you are not in the catchment area for your preferred secondary despite being close to the school.

Harrogate has rural and town catchment areas for secondary so again you need to do your research if you are not looking at the faith schools.

Shadwell, North Leeds.

2nd (or 3rd) Ilkley, Burley and Menston. Adding ham is a lovely village but no station which adds a layer of complexity to a commute to Leeds. Otley is also nice but again no station. But cheaper house prices to reflect that.

Thanks all for the lovely recommendation. I will have a look into those. Love the look of Burley in Wharfede and Pannal sounds like a solid compromise.

Burley in Wharfedale has a nice community feel and a lot going on locally. I don't live there but my work touches nearby. I'd live there 😄

Another vote for burley in wharfedale. We're a bit closer to Leeds on the same Trainline in guiseley, it's fine but burley has a much nicer village/small town feel to it. I like otley too but the lack of train makes getting into Leeds a pain.

Looks like you could get something decent within budget in burley too
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/168081809#/?channel=RES_BUY

Pudsey. Lots of lovely primary schools, green belt and ten mins to Leeds city. Walking distance to gorgeous Farsley and a short drive to Horsforth. 20 mins to the airport.

You can get a terraced house in York within walking distance of the station for your budget. Excellent schools, an easy commute to Leeds and walking distance to town.

Horsforth, very good primaries and an exceptional.secondary.. train station to get into Leeds in less than 15mimutes, lovely vibes and you soon get used to the Airport