What is Leeds like?
Discussion
john mowbray said:
I avoid Leeds like the plague, to me it's just one big sprawling dump. York is a much nicer city and has some really nice outlying villages.
Both have their positives and negatives. I've lived in both.Bits of Leeds are awful. Ditto York.
York has great range of independent shops, a prettier city centre. However the traffic is awful, might as well cycle / walk. Flooding risk much higher depending on your location. Most of the immediate surrounds of York are quite flat, so if you like walking/mountain biking its more limited. Also a lack of stone built properties if you like that kind of thing. York is probably better value £/sq ft once you are off the main commuting runs.
Leeds - more of a commercial centre, bigger but more disparate. Some awful areas. But head north and within a 15 min train ride you have some seriously nice options and are a very short drive into the Dales proper. Alternatively there are nice districts around Roundhay, etc.
Another Southerner that has found his way to Leeds and would struggle to leave. Love the place.
Whilst I agree with a previous poster in that its a small city in terms of distance (a benefit IMO), I don't think it feels small in terms of population or in terms of facilities. In fact, when I head over the Penines for a night in Manchester I find that its far more sprawling and hence spread out, with only similar number of bars, restaurants etc so it seems more diluted as a result.
I worked in London for a while, I've lived down South, both in cities and in rural suburbs. I was also 4 years in the Midlands before coming to Leeds. I genuinely will miss the place hugely when I come to leave. The people are the cornerstone of that, but also the density, the bars, restaurants, nice balance of decent businesses and ambition without a falseness and presenteeism culture, the closeness of amazing scenery, incredible roads, superb architecture etc etc.
The other thing that surprised me was the extent to which people take pride in their appearance. Yes, there are some that go somewhat overboard on the fake tan and the animal print, but by and large you see a whole lot more effort than I have ever seen on the streets of Southampton, Portsmouth, Reading, Northampton etc and previous cities and towns - ok these are hardly Milan or Paris and London is a different kettle of fish, but as a Southern fairy I was expecting a grim demographic and was pleasantly surprised. No one even has coal dust all over them in the local bars..
Again, London is a bit of an unusual oasis but I haven't found the cost of living much different from Hampshire. House prices slightly perhaps but even then, not by a great deal. A pint in RBG is a fiver, a meal is not dissimilar prices to "back home" etc. Lapdances are the same price. I am sure the suburbs are cheaper but I live in the centre of the city so frequent the bars and foodie places here.
I was a snob before I came here. Now when I visit other cities I usually think they look shabby in contrast. As I understand it, as recently as 20 years ago Leeds was a bit of a s
t tip. It then had a major overhaul and even in the last 8 or so years I have been up here its carried on upping its game.
Downsides? The traffic can be ste. But in contrast to London, that is a breeze. You don't have a tube, obviously, but I would argue that the train and bus services aren't as bad as folk are making out. As I say, I live in the centre so don't have to use them daily but compared to other places I have lived the trains seem relatively reliable and better value. The buses have lots of bus lanes and clever aisles down the middle of some roads so can often get through traffic.
It's cold. It may not rain as heavily this side of the Pennines and not noticeably more than Hants, but it gets colder. The weather forecast is an indicator but its so much more than the figures. I miss balmy summers evenings. The daytime July temp might be the same as southern Hampshire, but as soon as the sun goes down its cold enough a jacket is needed. There are none of those evenings sat in the pub garden in a t-shirt at midnight feeling as though you are on the continent. And in winter, there can be 3 months of it being properly cold. The cold that needs about 4 layers cold (as a southern poof). No more nipping outside for a tab with just a shirt on, this needs ski wear. I used to experience about 3 weeks of that in Hants. Up here its 3 months. The first few years I was here it snowed and that snow then didn't thaw for about 3 - 4 weeks as the temp remained in minus figures. That was an eye-opener having been used to celebrating a day of snow as you knew the next morning you'd wake up to slush at most.
For me, I do miss the proximity to the coast. I grew up overlooking the river and then bought an apartment on the coast. 28 years worth of living by the sea and I miss that occasionally. The Yorkshire Moors and Dales do offer spectacular alternatives that I wasn't blessed with previously - the New Forest is predominantly flat, but nonetheless.
The only other (infrequent for me) hardship is that whilst Manchester airport service most worldwide flights (I've done Toronto from there, Dubai etc), there are still the odd ones that either require a stop somewhere or will only operate from London airports. Its infrequent, but its a royal pain in the arris when it does. Generally popping back and forward to London is no bother, the train is 2 hour 20 and cheap enough booked in advance. Hardly an issue. But when you add another 60 - 90 mins to Heathrow, Gatwick or Standsted, booking in some cancellation time and extra, ahead of a 7 - 8 hour flight its just a bit of an extra arse. As I say, manchester airport offer most routes now for hardly any premium and that is an easy non-stop train into the terminal so not so bad. Leeds Bradford is a great little easy small airport for the odd European jaunt but doesn't have that many route options. It's handy to have though as you can be through the airport on 20 minutes due to the tiny nature of it.
Whilst I agree with a previous poster in that its a small city in terms of distance (a benefit IMO), I don't think it feels small in terms of population or in terms of facilities. In fact, when I head over the Penines for a night in Manchester I find that its far more sprawling and hence spread out, with only similar number of bars, restaurants etc so it seems more diluted as a result.
I worked in London for a while, I've lived down South, both in cities and in rural suburbs. I was also 4 years in the Midlands before coming to Leeds. I genuinely will miss the place hugely when I come to leave. The people are the cornerstone of that, but also the density, the bars, restaurants, nice balance of decent businesses and ambition without a falseness and presenteeism culture, the closeness of amazing scenery, incredible roads, superb architecture etc etc.
The other thing that surprised me was the extent to which people take pride in their appearance. Yes, there are some that go somewhat overboard on the fake tan and the animal print, but by and large you see a whole lot more effort than I have ever seen on the streets of Southampton, Portsmouth, Reading, Northampton etc and previous cities and towns - ok these are hardly Milan or Paris and London is a different kettle of fish, but as a Southern fairy I was expecting a grim demographic and was pleasantly surprised. No one even has coal dust all over them in the local bars..
Again, London is a bit of an unusual oasis but I haven't found the cost of living much different from Hampshire. House prices slightly perhaps but even then, not by a great deal. A pint in RBG is a fiver, a meal is not dissimilar prices to "back home" etc. Lapdances are the same price. I am sure the suburbs are cheaper but I live in the centre of the city so frequent the bars and foodie places here.
I was a snob before I came here. Now when I visit other cities I usually think they look shabby in contrast. As I understand it, as recently as 20 years ago Leeds was a bit of a s
t tip. It then had a major overhaul and even in the last 8 or so years I have been up here its carried on upping its game. Downsides? The traffic can be s
te. But in contrast to London, that is a breeze. You don't have a tube, obviously, but I would argue that the train and bus services aren't as bad as folk are making out. As I say, I live in the centre so don't have to use them daily but compared to other places I have lived the trains seem relatively reliable and better value. The buses have lots of bus lanes and clever aisles down the middle of some roads so can often get through traffic. It's cold. It may not rain as heavily this side of the Pennines and not noticeably more than Hants, but it gets colder. The weather forecast is an indicator but its so much more than the figures. I miss balmy summers evenings. The daytime July temp might be the same as southern Hampshire, but as soon as the sun goes down its cold enough a jacket is needed. There are none of those evenings sat in the pub garden in a t-shirt at midnight feeling as though you are on the continent. And in winter, there can be 3 months of it being properly cold. The cold that needs about 4 layers cold (as a southern poof). No more nipping outside for a tab with just a shirt on, this needs ski wear. I used to experience about 3 weeks of that in Hants. Up here its 3 months. The first few years I was here it snowed and that snow then didn't thaw for about 3 - 4 weeks as the temp remained in minus figures. That was an eye-opener having been used to celebrating a day of snow as you knew the next morning you'd wake up to slush at most.
For me, I do miss the proximity to the coast. I grew up overlooking the river and then bought an apartment on the coast. 28 years worth of living by the sea and I miss that occasionally. The Yorkshire Moors and Dales do offer spectacular alternatives that I wasn't blessed with previously - the New Forest is predominantly flat, but nonetheless.
The only other (infrequent for me) hardship is that whilst Manchester airport service most worldwide flights (I've done Toronto from there, Dubai etc), there are still the odd ones that either require a stop somewhere or will only operate from London airports. Its infrequent, but its a royal pain in the arris when it does. Generally popping back and forward to London is no bother, the train is 2 hour 20 and cheap enough booked in advance. Hardly an issue. But when you add another 60 - 90 mins to Heathrow, Gatwick or Standsted, booking in some cancellation time and extra, ahead of a 7 - 8 hour flight its just a bit of an extra arse. As I say, manchester airport offer most routes now for hardly any premium and that is an easy non-stop train into the terminal so not so bad. Leeds Bradford is a great little easy small airport for the odd European jaunt but doesn't have that many route options. It's handy to have though as you can be through the airport on 20 minutes due to the tiny nature of it.
And to give you an idea on the nearby scenery and roads, this was a few of us out to play yesterday and just outside of Harrogate...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWOiErMN8fI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWOiErMN8fI
Shnozz said:
And to give you an idea on the nearby scenery and roads, this was a few of us out to play yesterday and just outside of Harrogate...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWOiErMN8fI
A59 past Kex Gill?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWOiErMN8fI
zarjaz1991 said:
I lived in Leeds for about a year. Ghastly crime ridden dump and the locals are unfriendly and borderline aggressive to boot.
Some of the outlying villages are very nice though, and the countryside is very close to the inhabited areas, as has been mentioned.
I've lived here 9 years. Not seen a crime yet. Maybe it's more down to the people you hung around with? Some of the outlying villages are very nice though, and the countryside is very close to the inhabited areas, as has been mentioned.
Shnozz said:
It's cold. The weather forecast is an indicator but its so much more than the figures. As soon as the sun goes down its cold enough a jacket is needed.
Interesting observation. I came over here from a much warmer country, and was wondering if this was typical 'UK', 'Yorkshire' or just 'Leeds' weather. Last year was terrible. From about September all the way to March it was as you described, with plenty of rain and this f
king wind that never stopped... No matter which direction I walked in, there was always a static noise and a nasty feeling of something blowing in my face. Often times it was 7-8 degrees outside, but once I was out on the street and not between buildings, it felt like -4. Choosing what to wear was a gamble, I ended up going everywhere with a scarf, an extra shirt and a pair of sunglasses in my backpack. Also it seemed to have been around 25 degrees inside all centrally heated buildings, which I found a bit strange considering everyone came in wearing jumpers. This year, on the other hand... Winter seems to have stayed out altogether, instead we got an extra long autumn which is now turning into spring. Hardly any rain, no snow, very little wind, and really just a great few months. I wonder what next year will bring.
Edited by Derish on Tuesday 22 March 21:06
Derish said:
This year, on the other hand... Winter seems to have stayed out altogether, and instead we got an extra long autumn which is now turning into spring. Hardly any rain, no snow, very little wind, and really just a great few months. I wonder what next year will bring.
Be careful. It can snow as late as mid April... 
zarjaz1991 said:
I lived in Leeds for about a year. Ghastly crime ridden dump and the locals are unfriendly and borderline aggressive to boot.
zarjaz1991 said:
More like where....Harehills / Gipton border.... Ugh. I still have nightmares about it.
Imagine my surprise.So, Leeds is a crime ridden dump with unfriendly locals.
If you live in the Medellin of Leeds.
Live in somewhere that doesn't resemble Baghdad and it's not.
Quite.
I live in an LS postcode 15 mins from the centre by train (so Leeds-ish).
The local PCSO has to focus on the top three crime priorities each month - e.g. car theft, parking issues, sheds being burgled, etc.
The problem had was that in some months there aren't three crimes, let alone the ability to prioritise the response.
I live in an LS postcode 15 mins from the centre by train (so Leeds-ish).
The local PCSO has to focus on the top three crime priorities each month - e.g. car theft, parking issues, sheds being burgled, etc.
The problem had was that in some months there aren't three crimes, let alone the ability to prioritise the response.
There's nowt wrong with Leeds, as long as you live in a nice bit obviously.
I grew up in alwoodley then lived in meanwood, adel, Rothwell and now in Methley. All fine places to live.
We need to bigger house now though and looking over th borders as you get lots more for your money. Anyone got any insight into living in Wakey? There's a house in Altofts that has really piqued my interest.
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/53461897
What do we think?
I grew up in alwoodley then lived in meanwood, adel, Rothwell and now in Methley. All fine places to live.
We need to bigger house now though and looking over th borders as you get lots more for your money. Anyone got any insight into living in Wakey? There's a house in Altofts that has really piqued my interest.
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/53461897
What do we think?
dave_s13 said:
That's a lot of house for "down south"... (nothing constructive to add, sorry)
dave_s13 said:
I'm not too familiar with Normanton, but the street seems pretty well connected - about 15 mins away from the train station and some bus stops nearby. That said, just looking at what's hanging in the local realtor's windows now and then, I think 300k could be better spent elsewhere. Also, is there really an excuse to keep a two-tap system in 2016? How old is this house, and when were its pipes last inspected?
Leeds born and bred. Nowt wrong with it as a city. Yes it has some sketchy parts much like everywhere else but the majority of Leeds is fine. As for naming places 15 miles outside of the city some of the names above like Meanwood, Roundhay and Horsforth aren't exactly miles away from the centre.
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