Ripon to Leeds

[cfc95]

Hi
We are considering moving to Ripon for the Ripon Grammar School.
We both work at the University of Leeds. Wondering if there are any particular areas in Ripon which are slightly better for commuting to Leeds - preferably by public transport.
Thanks in advance.

Look up the number 36 bus route I think it's run by Harrogate & District

Yep, the only public transport option is the 36. If driving is an option, Ripon isn't really that big so it won't make the hugest difference, but people I know who do a very similar journey tend to use the A1 rather than go through Harrogate.

Thanks @HJ40 and @JohannSebastianBach . Do you have any idea how bad is the drive in terms of congestion? Also, we were wondering if driving to Harrogate or Thirsk station and taking a train is a better option.

Not these days, I haven't lived there for a while. My family are still there but retired.

Trains from Harrogate are expensive and old stock iirc.

Everyone I know raves about the 36 though, it's cheaper than the train and once you get to the outskirts of Leeds there is a guided bus lane so it's a bit quicker as you don't sit in traffic on the Scott Hall Road.

Ripon is tiny so you could live in any part and not have far to go to catch the bus.

Driving as pp said, definitely quicker on A1. Can't comment on train from Thirsk.

Hello if you move to Ripon,you can get the number 36 bus as others have mentioned.However if you choose to move to surrounding villages,public transport might be difficult.We have moved to a village called Burton Leonard which is within the catchment area but for us to get the number 36,we have to park our car at The George Carvery in Wormald Green and take the bus.

Or you could drive to Harrogate station and then take the train.You can find few car parks near the station so shouldn’t be a problem.

The 36 bus doesn’t actually go down the guided busway in Leeds, I don’t think.

It goes through Chapeltown and Chapel Allerton, so a bit further over and can definitely get stuck in traffic, still a great service though, I’d choose it over the train any day.

Have you considered Skipton grammars? Better train service and the bus goes through Headingley and right past the universities.

Thanks @JohannSebastianBach , @confusedandsad2019 and @RoseZinfandel.
@RoseZinfandel: Yes, we have visited Ermysteds, Heckmondwike, Ripon and Crossly Heath - Ripon Grammar stood out. But, may need to go for Ermysteds for the sake of a better balance. Or may be Ilkley Grammar Or Allerton High (which we have not visited yet).

If I was working in Leeds personally I would not be looking at moving for the selective grammars. Instead I’d look at the likes of Ilkley, Allerton, Horsforth, Prince Henry’s etc. All very good schools with a much easier commute!

There's a really good school in Otley, think it's Prince Henry's which would be much closer. Also Leeds Grammar school. I assume you've considered these already! My DD is going to Abbey Grange which has a great reputation. My friend does supply teaching all over Leeds and said Abbey Grange was the best state school she's worked at in terms of behaviour and teaching. Said it's on a par with private schools

Ripon to Leeds would be a brutal commute for, in my opinion, relatively little benefit.

The more sought-after comprehensives in Harrogate are IMO at least as appealing as RGS in their own way. e.g. I remember reading that Harrogate 'Grammar' [a comp] got something like 9 Oxbridge offers last year.

Ripon to Leeds is an absolutely brutal commute for anyone, especially on the 36 which becomes more and more unreliable. I think the George are getting super fed up with commuters using their car park so would not rely on that. House prices are crazy all round there.
good non selective state schools are Ilkley and Harrogate grammar but both also need £££ house mostly to be in catchment. Leeds grammar is fee paying so may prefer to put that money into a mortgage and go for state school options.

I have a lot of friends and colleagues with boys at Ermysteds, and the odd one at Ilkley and Prince Henry Otley.
Everyone seems very happy with all of the schools.
I’d definitely go for the Skipton area over Ripon if you both need to be in Leeds. A long commute gets you down after a while.

Living in Ilkley would give the very nice choice of Skipton grammars, or Ilkley grammar (which is a comp.) but housing is very expensive. Excellent transport links by train and a bus direct to the uni.

Closer to Leeds, Burley and Menston are a tiny bit cheaper, and you’d likely have the choice of Ilkley grammar or Prince Henry, but you might well miss out on the Skipton grammars by distance, it would be a bit of a gamble. But the fastest commutes to Leeds on the train. Burley also has the direct bus.

Otley housing is a bit cheaper too, but doesn’t have its own station, though easy enough to commute via Menston, or directly by bus. You won’t be in catchment for Skipton, but might have the option of Harrogate secondaries as well as Prince Henry. Otley is a lovely town, can be a bit prone to flooding in parts though.

Skipton itself is more affordable for housing, but the back up options if you don’t pass the 11+ are less good. Slightly longer commute, but there are some trains coming from Lancaster way that don’t stop at every single station on the line.

You could go a bit closer to Leeds down the Aire valley rather than Wharfe valley, and be in catchment for Ermysteds - Cononley or Silsden or Steeton are fairly easily commutable by train to Leeds, and you have South Craven school as your back up option.