Anyone live in or near Harrogate

[Wootle123]

We are contemplating moving to Harrogate (or near-ish). We moved from London a couple of years ago to almost central Manchester due to work and have never really felt settled for various reasons.

All family in Yorkshire and DH and I both like the North Leeds area and know it well from Uni days. We both can work in Leeds or possibly Harrogate.

I've been a few times to Harrogate and visited recently and was once again wowed by it (except the traffic).

Can anyone recommend any villages / small towns close by (we wouldn't want to be too central as don't think we could afford it) that I can look at on Rightmove and compare property prices / schools etc? Ideally south of Harrogate but doesn't really matter. In a village we would prefer a shop and a pub but happy for it to be quite rural as long as within easy ish reach of Harrogate amenities.

Budget wise we would be looking at around 500-600k for a 4-5 bed house.

Ripon is nice, not far from Harrogate with a pub, shop and church?

Never been to Ripon, will check it out. We are planning a weekend there in a few weeks to look around the area so need to make a list!

Given the awfulness of the traffic between Leeds and Harrogate it might be an idea to live within easy reach of one of the stations en route. Failing that, I really like Otley.

Yes this is a very good point, would definitely need to be near-ish to a train line also as from time to time I am in London for work!

Does anyone know what Wetherby is like?

It's lovely! Small market town. Parking can be a bit of a nightmare. But easy access to lovely countryside, and a short car journey from Leeds.

You might also like to consider York - or villages en route to York, if that's too far away.

Rail services from York to London are quicker than from Leeds.

Look towards Starbeck, you'd get what you want for your money there and it's a short bus ride or one stop on the train into town - plus on the train for work. It's Harrogate though, not rural! You didn't say if you had kids but better to be close to town if you do so you're not a taxi service!

You should be able to get something on south side of Harrogate itself in that budget. Look at the area around hornbeam park train station, the saints area, can avoid traffic too as trains to Leeds and York.

Pannal is worth a look, village south of Harrogate with a good primary school.

Ripon is lovely and better value than Harrogate but no train station. Close to a1 for commute to Leeds but a long way.

There are a few villages to look at further south between Leeds and Harrogate - sicklinghall, harewood. Or look between Harrogate and Wetherby - spofforth is nice.

But on your budget I wouldn't rule out Harrogate itself....

Harrogate isn't a market town. Knaresborough is. If you live on the south side of H you're better getting the train or very good 36 bus into Leeds rather than drive. It's an easy commute compared to London life. Do schools matter to you? Because where you settle will make an enormous difference to school options.

Ripon's a nice small town but a less easy commute to Leeds (no train). The town itself has much less to offer in terms of things to do, restaurants, theatre etc etc with grammar school system so depends what you want.

Wetherby is also a nice small town but West Yorks rather than North Yorks, so you are in a whole different ball game for services, schools etc.

Yes schools v important! DCs are 5&2 but we would be buying for long term, don't want to move again for secondary catchments (although appreciate things can change!!)

Is Harrogate centre a nice place to live for kids? I mean I like it but would think maybe on a bus or train route in (quickly) would be ideal as they grow up! We aren't hugely outdoors types but do like bike rides / big ish garden so I had thought town centre might not work for that. We both grew up rurally so are happy to embrace that again.

Harrogate high schools are very highly regarded.

I would second Ripon and the outskirts, have lived in North Stainley and West Tanfield, did also live in central Harrogate but relocated so we could get more for our money, you are 5 mins from the A1 and can be in central leeds in 1hr, Harrogate is 30 mins and we used to use the train station in North Allerton as its easier to get to and cheaper for car parking. You are also in the catchment area for the Grammar school altough WT is just outside but you can still sit the entrance exam. Primarys, not really a bad one and most villages have a small school

What about Knaresborough (just noticed there's a train station there). I would ideally prefer to be South of Harrogate just as family are all in S Yorkshire so it would make the journey easier! London trip is only once a month or two so not such a hassle to be longer than the York route. Will have a look at options around there too though. DH will most likely have to work in Leeds and would prefer the train but would be happy with short drive / cycle to station. It's quite exciting looking at all these lovely villages and seems you can get more for your money than we can do in Cheshire!

Harrogate high schools are highly regarded

True, except ironically for Harrogate High School, which isn't.

Harrogate centre is good for children, much better to be walking distance to town if you can as they get older. You would want to be on the outskirts of centre to get a garden though.

I live in a lovely village in this area. DH wanted to move to Harrogate and was really taken with one particular house. I vetoed it and we live rurally (I always have done).

Harrogate just isn't me.

Have a look at the Dunsforths and villages near Boroughbridge for rural living. Aldborough is lovely. A stones throw from the A1 and you can be in South Yorkshire in 50 mins easily. Much less of a drive to York station too (we allow 35 mins including parking).

Not in Ripon Grammar catchment though.

I knaresborough is fab for kids, I have several friends raising children there and are happy with their schools. Harrogate is lovely too and very green for such a large town.

I'd say it's a fantastic place for kids. Mine have grown up here and there's enough stuff for littlies and for teens while being extremely safe. I'm comfortable with my teens walking home from anywhere in town, while those seeking the bright lights can head to Leeds.

Great place for kids, mine are 4 and 2. We are 10 min walk from Harrogate which is great for facilities (and will be great when kids are older). We have a garden. Loads of green spaces in Harrogate (parks, the stray, lots of bridleways/cycle paths) plus so quick to get into north York moors. So easy to get rural very quickly. Lots of good schools. Good transport links, though London is much easier from York. If you need to be in London more than once a week York would be better.

Other villages to look at - Burn Bridge, south of pannal, nice pub. Or Huby (west of Harrogate, on the train line). Or could try the Wetherby villages (Collingham, Clifford, Boston Spa).

In terms of Harrogate secondary schools you'll have more choice if you're dedicated church attenders or you live in certain (more expensive south side or some village) postcodes.

If you don't want to relocate twice or go to church , it would pay to be very careful about which type of school might suit your family in the future. Some lovely villages in the area aren't in the the catchment of the most popular schools, others are. Likewise some lovely parts of town are not served by those schools.

Just like any other town or area, I guess.

"you are 5 mins from the A1 and can be in central leeds in 1hr,"

In the rush hour? Ha ha ha ha. Nose to tail into Leeds on the A58 or A64. I wouldn't fancy that drive.

I have a relative there - I love it. It's really nice. (The children go to the Grammar School at Leeds - I think there is a school bus. It's fee paying but seems quite good)

Why not north Leeds then? It's not remotely like Manchester - Leeds is much smaller in feeling - but there are fantastic opportunities for children available just because of the size. And you can get into the city centre in less than 30 mins most days... Or there are lots of buses if you're in the right location too.