What is Leeds like?
Discussion
There's a very interesting job going that would suit me right down to the ground, but it is in Leeds, and I live in London. I've previously visited the place where the job is but apart from the journey from the station to the place, which is near the canal basin, I don't really know anything about the city and the surrounding areas.
Interesting though the job is, it would be someting of a risk to uproot my life to somewhere that I might hate. What can PH tell me?
Interesting though the job is, it would be someting of a risk to uproot my life to somewhere that I might hate. What can PH tell me?
I moved from London to Leeds in 2010 and lived there for 5 years.
I absolutely loved it, the people are great although a little distrustful of Southerners... however, it didn't took me a long time to form a friendship groups. I joined a local rugby team and cycling team which helps with that
It's got some great driving roads nearby and I personally loved that it had a city with everything in it but you could drive 10 minutes and be in the countryside. Within 2 hours you've got Croft, Oulton Park and Cadwell Park, plus if you like to do trackdays; Blyton Park - did my first trackday there
The villages north of Leeds are really nice, some places to consider are Wetherby, Harrogate, Ilkley... if you want to be a little closer, then Roundhay or Horsforth are nice. 1 place I always wanted to move to is Aberford which is east of Leeds. I live south of Leeds (officially Wakefield) in a place I loved but wasn't as nice to look at: Stanley, I really settled there and loved the village feel whilst being a £10/15 cab ride home from Leeds after a night out.
Still love Leeds, struggled to leave
I absolutely loved it, the people are great although a little distrustful of Southerners... however, it didn't took me a long time to form a friendship groups. I joined a local rugby team and cycling team which helps with that
It's got some great driving roads nearby and I personally loved that it had a city with everything in it but you could drive 10 minutes and be in the countryside. Within 2 hours you've got Croft, Oulton Park and Cadwell Park, plus if you like to do trackdays; Blyton Park - did my first trackday there
The villages north of Leeds are really nice, some places to consider are Wetherby, Harrogate, Ilkley... if you want to be a little closer, then Roundhay or Horsforth are nice. 1 place I always wanted to move to is Aberford which is east of Leeds. I live south of Leeds (officially Wakefield) in a place I loved but wasn't as nice to look at: Stanley, I really settled there and loved the village feel whilst being a £10/15 cab ride home from Leeds after a night out.
Still love Leeds, struggled to leave
Edited by Potatoes on Monday 14th March 12:10
I lived in Leeds for 20 years and sometimes go to Leeds on a Sunday. its probably the best of the northern towns, the things you will miss compared to London are the Tube and buses, plus rail network. Like any major city, it has its crime problems and the streets are not as clean as some parts of London, I worked in the City and felt very comfortable there, maybe less so in Leeds.
You will like the cheaper housing compared to London and the nearness of the countryside.
You will like the cheaper housing compared to London and the nearness of the countryside.
If you were to look at moving to Leeds, look at living somewhere to the North of the city. You will still notice that it is appreciably cheaper than London but the areas to the South of the city are pretty grotty
Headingley has its own nightlife, whilst only being 10-15 minutes out of town - it is student central. Also look at places like Adel, Horsforth, Alwoodley - there are train links into town (try to avoid driving if you can it is shocking to get into the City centre at rush hour, I have to do it everyday)
As said, there is loads going on. Plenty of cycling, running, rugby (even some of that 15 man rubbish
), football etc. and the city itself is buzzing
Headingley has its own nightlife, whilst only being 10-15 minutes out of town - it is student central. Also look at places like Adel, Horsforth, Alwoodley - there are train links into town (try to avoid driving if you can it is shocking to get into the City centre at rush hour, I have to do it everyday)
As said, there is loads going on. Plenty of cycling, running, rugby (even some of that 15 man rubbish
), football etc. and the city itself is buzzingandburg said:
If you are used to London you'll like leeds.
Its the s
thole in the middle of real Yorkshire, full of self important pricks who think they're in London 
Its the s
thole in the middle of real Yorkshire, full of self important pricks who think they're in London 
But yes - I don't know where in London you are coming from or what its like - but you could move to somewhere semi-rural and still effectively be 'in' Leeds (if that's what floats your boat.
bobtail4x4 said:
look at south milford/burton salmon/hillam/monk fryston.
These are very nice little villages - I used to cycle through on weekend rides. The little airfield was bought over the summer and will be used for chartered domestic UK flights only. There was a risk it was going to be developed into housing but a friend's uncle bought it to keep it as an airfield.Edited by Potatoes on Monday 14th March 12:55
Thanks for the replies so far.
As it happens I live in a village right on the western edge of London and I like that 'just being on the cusp of the urban but still in the rural' thing.
Just to add something else into the mix, I also live close to a canal and something I've been pondering is the idea of selling my flat and buying a boat, with a view to semi retirement. Looking at a map of Leeds, it seems that the boat thing - if I were to do it - would work there too. And I suppose if it all went tits up I could just throw smoke and chug off back to that London!
As it happens I live in a village right on the western edge of London and I like that 'just being on the cusp of the urban but still in the rural' thing.
Just to add something else into the mix, I also live close to a canal and something I've been pondering is the idea of selling my flat and buying a boat, with a view to semi retirement. Looking at a map of Leeds, it seems that the boat thing - if I were to do it - would work there too. And I suppose if it all went tits up I could just throw smoke and chug off back to that London!
Interesting part of England this is, I've been living in one of the southern suburbs since 2014 and studying in the big city.
I'd say one of the major practical downsides is public transportation - there are buses and trains, but they move along set routes that isolate parts of the area or make the trip last forever. They also stop around 11 pm or 10 on the weekends, and there's no night bus. WTF?!
Airports are another thing - we got LBS with limited international links or MAN which is two hours away. No fun at all if you're a frequent flyer.
My next point is going to sound racist, but as an immigrant myself I think I'm allowed to speak freely. My apologies in advance to anyone this might hurt... Bradford to the west is the demographic hub for Asia and the Arab countries. Wakefield to the south is the same story for East European immigrants. If one of these groups particularly bothers or attracts you - these would be the places to avoid or aim for. Leeds is rather cosmopolitan and over there everyone seems to play nice together. That said, a white Jewish man might feel a bit unpleasant in Bradford, and a Muslim will stand out like a sore thumb in Wakefield. It's just the general vibe - the flags and stickers, the shops, the music playing on the streets, etc.
Plenty of upsides as well obviously - Yorkshire is a naturally beautiful area of England, most people here are nice and friendly (although they speak with a funny accent), everything is laid back and yet things get done, many places to shop and eat out if that's your thing, living costs are reasonable, night life is quite good, lots of entertainment for any taste and budget, and the old mills converted to modern trading/living spaces are amazing.
I think in many ways you'll find it similar to London, but a bit lower key and with everything closer by. It's not quite as diverse or as well connected to the continent, but I'd still give it a go if I were you.
P.S. I'm 30 y/o and single, so no idea about the quality of local schools, kindergartens, medical services, political representation, etc.
I'd say one of the major practical downsides is public transportation - there are buses and trains, but they move along set routes that isolate parts of the area or make the trip last forever. They also stop around 11 pm or 10 on the weekends, and there's no night bus. WTF?!
Airports are another thing - we got LBS with limited international links or MAN which is two hours away. No fun at all if you're a frequent flyer.
My next point is going to sound racist, but as an immigrant myself I think I'm allowed to speak freely. My apologies in advance to anyone this might hurt... Bradford to the west is the demographic hub for Asia and the Arab countries. Wakefield to the south is the same story for East European immigrants. If one of these groups particularly bothers or attracts you - these would be the places to avoid or aim for. Leeds is rather cosmopolitan and over there everyone seems to play nice together. That said, a white Jewish man might feel a bit unpleasant in Bradford, and a Muslim will stand out like a sore thumb in Wakefield. It's just the general vibe - the flags and stickers, the shops, the music playing on the streets, etc.
Plenty of upsides as well obviously - Yorkshire is a naturally beautiful area of England, most people here are nice and friendly (although they speak with a funny accent), everything is laid back and yet things get done, many places to shop and eat out if that's your thing, living costs are reasonable, night life is quite good, lots of entertainment for any taste and budget, and the old mills converted to modern trading/living spaces are amazing.
I think in many ways you'll find it similar to London, but a bit lower key and with everything closer by. It's not quite as diverse or as well connected to the continent, but I'd still give it a go if I were you.
P.S. I'm 30 y/o and single, so no idea about the quality of local schools, kindergartens, medical services, political representation, etc.
Edited by Derish on Monday 14th March 14:36
Rodley, Calverley, Horsforth, Rawdon are nice enough and a few mile further out and your out into the countryside whilst still retaining a reasonable commute time.
If you are a bit more flush and willing to commute a bit longer each day then the further out the better it gets. Menston, Otley, Ilkley, Burley and Wharfdale are very very nice areas, and the outer suburbs of Bradford are really nice too, Saltaire and Baildon have good train links into Leeds. Dont let the BD postcode put you off with some of these areas.
Leeds itself seems to be recovering well both jobs wise and growth. Lots of buuldings going up in centre, a good night out too, plenty of bars and resraurants for all manner of tastes.
All in all not a half bad place to live to be honest.
If you are a bit more flush and willing to commute a bit longer each day then the further out the better it gets. Menston, Otley, Ilkley, Burley and Wharfdale are very very nice areas, and the outer suburbs of Bradford are really nice too, Saltaire and Baildon have good train links into Leeds. Dont let the BD postcode put you off with some of these areas.
Leeds itself seems to be recovering well both jobs wise and growth. Lots of buuldings going up in centre, a good night out too, plenty of bars and resraurants for all manner of tastes.
All in all not a half bad place to live to be honest.
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