What is Leeds like?

[dave_s13]

Derish said:

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?

Hah.. You can always rely on PH to pick up th vital points on matters such as these. I have no idea what you mean though?

Edit.... Just looked it up, very astute!

Edited by dave_s13 on Tuesday 22 March 23:28

[All that jazz]

zarjaz1991 said:

More like where....Harehills / Gipton border.... Ugh. I still have nightmares about it.

Harehills, Gipton, Halton/Halton Moor, East End Park, Burmantofts, all that side is basically Leeds' version of Glasgow's Easterhouse and is to be avoided as it's all pretty bad until you get out near the Ring Road and it improves a bit.

[All that jazz]

dave_s13 said:

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?

Looks fine if you're 70 years old.

[DannyScene]

Blown2CV said:

Is the problem with all of this not that you're all saying just live in a nice part of Leeds, but then saying place names that are 15 miles outside? Like saying oh Manchester is great if you live in a nice part, like Cheshire.

Probably but for the most part inner city sreas aren't going to be that nice, I live around 7 miles away from the city centre, anything closer tends to be council estate/student digs/on fire

Leeds is great if you visit the city centre and live in the outskirts is a more accurate statement

[Vaud]

DannyScene said:

Probably but for the most part inner city sreas aren't going to be that nice, I live around 7 miles away from the city centre, anything closer tends to be council estate/student digs/on fire

Leeds is great if you visit the city centre and live in the outskirts is a more accurate statement

You can have a view like this, 15 mins train ride from the centre of Leeds (and a short walk up the hill), basically out of the house and straight onto the moor, no driving need to get there..

Not my best shot (iPhone), it was a quick afternoon walk in late Feb, lovely day!

[DannyScene]

Vaud said:

DannyScene said:

Probably but for the most part inner city sreas aren't going to be that nice, I live around 7 miles away from the city centre, anything closer tends to be council estate/student digs/on fire

Leeds is great if you visit the city centre and live in the outskirts is a more accurate statement

You can have a view like this, 15 mins train ride from the centre of Leeds (and a short walk up the hill), basically out of the house and straight onto the moor, no driving need to get there..

Not my best shot (iPhone), it was a quick afternoon walk in late Feb, lovely day!

That looks like otley chevin near the top car park over the road from the royalty pub

[Shnozz]

DannyScene said:

Blown2CV said:

Is the problem with all of this not that you're all saying just live in a nice part of Leeds, but then saying place names that are 15 miles outside? Like saying oh Manchester is great if you live in a nice part, like Cheshire.

Probably but for the most part inner city sreas aren't going to be that nice, I live around 7 miles away from the city centre, anything closer tends to be council estate/student digs/on fire

Leeds is great if you visit the city centre and live in the outskirts is a more accurate statement

I hold a contrarian view. I've lived in the city centre for 8 years and love it. Apartments in the city centre at £1k a month rarely seem inhabited by council tenants, students or be on fire. I socialise 5 - 6 nights a week around the city and haven't yet stumbled across any of these council digs, the odd student house if heading out of town rather than inward, and the only fire I have seen was an old derelict office block.

I'm not quite sure your definition of city centre and mine are matching based on your description. Within a km sweep of the central station I can't think of any accommodation that falls within that description.

I'm not going to become a spokesman for Leeds tourist board and would simply say to the OP to spend some time here and judge for themselves. It also depends what they want from life. I like to play out and have fun, plus I am single and no kids. City centre life suits me perfectly, with the added perk of Leeds being in 20 mins I can be out of the city and on the doorstep of the Dales if I want non-city life. The contrast is therefore far less stark than when I had to make the city/rural living choice in the South.

[Vaud]

DannyScene said:

That looks like otley chevin near the top car park over the road from the royalty pub

Close

It's on the walk up from Burley Woodhead onto Ilkley moor, looking back towards Otley. The Chevin is at the top right.

[DannyScene]

Shnozz said:

DannyScene said:

Blown2CV said:

Is the problem with all of this not that you're all saying just live in a nice part of Leeds, but then saying place names that are 15 miles outside? Like saying oh Manchester is great if you live in a nice part, like Cheshire.

Probably but for the most part inner city sreas aren't going to be that nice, I live around 7 miles away from the city centre, anything closer tends to be council estate/student digs/on fire

Leeds is great if you visit the city centre and live in the outskirts is a more accurate statement

I hold a contrarian view. I've lived in the city centre for 8 years and love it. Apartments in the city centre at £1k a month rarely seem inhabited by council tenants, students or be on fire. I socialise 5 - 6 nights a week around the city and haven't yet stumbled across any of these council digs, the odd student house if heading out of town rather than inward, and the only fire I have seen was an old derelict office block.

I'm not quite sure your definition of city centre and mine are matching based on your description. Within a km sweep of the central station I can't think of any accommodation that falls within that description.

I'm not going to become a spokesman for Leeds tourist board and would simply say to the OP to spend some time here and judge for themselves. It also depends what they want from life. I like to play out and have fun, plus I am single and no kids. City centre life suits me perfectly, with the added perk of Leeds being in 20 mins I can be out of the city and on the doorstep of the Dales if I want non-city life. The contrast is therefore far less stark than when I had to make the city/rural living choice in the South.

Strange, 2 of the biggest apartment looking buildings in the centre are exclusively student accomadation, 2 minutes walk from them are a number of council high rises, are you also forgetting little london? Which part of the city centre did you live in? Seems odd you never noticed the above which are certianly within your 1km sweep of the station

I lived in city island for about a year, excluding the city centre views nothing about it would make me move back into the centre, I enjoy living on the edge of the dales too much

[Shnozz]

DannyScene said:

Strange, 2 of the biggest apartment looking buildings in the centre are exclusively student accomadation, 2 minutes walk from them are a number of council high rises, are you also forgetting little london? Which part of the city centre did you live in? Seems odd you never noticed the above which are certianly within your 1km sweep of the station

I lived in city island for about a year, excluding the city centre views nothing about it would make me move back into the centre, I enjoy living on the edge of the dales too much

Horses for courses isn't it. As I say, I like city life and am out 4 - 5 nights a week. Work and play both being city based I like it that way. When I do want to do biking, hiking or climbing I can get out to the Dales in next to no time. I've tried living in rural parts and its just not for me.

I had in mind Little London and the stty blocks about half a km behind the FD arena, but I wouldn't class these as central. The only big apartment block I can think of that is exclusively student is the one on the edge of the centre on the A58 as you come in from Sheepscar. When I look at city square and work outward in a 360 arc I predominantly see blocks of high end apartments.

As I say, one man's meat is another's poison. Simply a preference but for the sake of replying to the OP's question, I simply would add that I don't consider Leeds centre to be a dump - even as a Southern ponce with high expectations. Perhaps I have low standards.

[Derish]

To be fair, these modern apartment blocks are hardly suitable for normal home-type adults. The ones I've seen typically had small rooms and a lounge-integrated limited usability kitchen that's mostly good for warming up yesterday's takeaway. Great if you go out a lot and just need a place to sleep (or bring a date), but even as a single young guy I found them a waste of money compared to what I could rent 15 mins out. Plus the added benefit of not having to deal with smug realtors acting as if they were renting out the last flat in London City... You're in Leeds, wkers - who are you trying to impress?!

I'm sure there are proper apartments in city center as well, but they seem to be well hidden or just privately owned. Meanwhile all these Clarence Dock/Bridgewater Place type of projects seem to be following the same idea described above. Calling their target audience 'young professionals' is nice, but they should also add 'with no personal belongings or homemaking skills' to the title.

[DannyScene]

Shnozz said:

DannyScene said:

Strange, 2 of the biggest apartment looking buildings in the centre are exclusively student accomadation, 2 minutes walk from them are a number of council high rises, are you also forgetting little london? Which part of the city centre did you live in? Seems odd you never noticed the above which are certianly within your 1km sweep of the station

I lived in city island for about a year, excluding the city centre views nothing about it would make me move back into the centre, I enjoy living on the edge of the dales too much

Horses for courses isn't it. As I say, I like city life and am out 4 - 5 nights a week. Work and play both being city based I like it that way. When I do want to do biking, hiking or climbing I can get out to the Dales in next to no time. I've tried living in rural parts and its just not for me.

I had in mind Little London and the stty blocks about half a km behind the FD arena, but I wouldn't class these as central. The only big apartment block I can think of that is exclusively student is the one on the edge of the centre on the A58 as you come in from Sheepscar. When I look at city square and work outward in a 360 arc I predominantly see blocks of high end apartments.

As I say, one man's meat is another's poison. Simply a preference but for the sake of replying to the OP's question, I simply would add that I don't consider Leeds centre to be a dump - even as a Southern ponce with high expectations. Perhaps I have low standards.

Oh absolutely horses for courses, I'm really not one for inner city living so anything I say is going to be quite heavily biased

I don't mind the city centre for shopping but couldn't live within 5 miles of the city centre I don't think

[Shnozz]

Vaud said:

DannyScene said:

Probably but for the most part inner city sreas aren't going to be that nice, I live around 7 miles away from the city centre, anything closer tends to be council estate/student digs/on fire

Leeds is great if you visit the city centre and live in the outskirts is a more accurate statement

You can have a view like this, 15 mins train ride from the centre of Leeds (and a short walk up the hill), basically out of the house and straight onto the moor, no driving need to get there..

Not my best shot (iPhone), it was a quick afternoon walk in late Feb, lovely day!

Mirrored my view the Saturday before last. Train to Ilkley, some brunch and then a walk across Ilkley moor (without a hat) past the Cow and Calf and then dropped down and into the Hermit for beers before training back from B-I-W.

[Shnozz]

Derish said:

To be fair, these modern apartment blocks are hardly suitable for normal home-type adults. The ones I've seen typically had small rooms and a lounge-integrated limited usability kitchen that's mostly good for warming up yesterday's takeaway. Great if you go out a lot and just need a place to sleep (or bring a date), but even as a single young guy I found them a waste of money compared to what I could rent 15 mins out. Plus the added benefit of not having to deal with smug realtors acting as if they were renting out the last flat in London City... You're in Leeds, wkers - who are you trying to impress?!

I'm sure there are proper apartments in city center as well, but they seem to be well hidden or just privately owned. Meanwhile all these Clarence Dock/Bridgewater Place type of projects seem to be following the same idea described above. Calling their target audience 'young professionals' is nice, but they should also add 'with no personal belongings or homemaking skills' to the title.

I don't disagree. I am fortunate in having a decent size penthouse with a large outside terrace, an outside store room the size of a single garage and a decent living space with 8 seat dining table, big lounge upstairs and a separate office (I work from home a fair bit so needed).

Even with that space I think if I were to have a partner live with me it would be a struggle.

The fact is, if you are a couple, or a family, or the stay at home-type, chances are city living would be unattractive anyway. As you say, most of the places are small and designed as a crash-pad. You pay a premium to live there for half the space - why would you bother unless you want to live closer to the action and be out in the thick of it. If I were that type I would jump on the opportunity to live in the countryside which is wonderfully nearby unlike many cities. A short commute and you can be in wharfedale as the photos below show. If I was a homely type or happy to be leaving the centre before the 11 - 12pm cut-off for the trains I'd be finding somewhere in a nice village or town on the rail line in one direction or another. I'd probably avoid Ilkley, mind.

[Vaud]

Shnozz said:

Mirrored my view the Saturday before last. Train to Ilkley, some brunch and then a walk across Ilkley moor (without a hat) past the Cow and Calf and then dropped down and into the Hermit for beers before training back from B-I-W.

From the "Classic from the mrs! Vol 2" thread:

Nom de ploom said:

on way to a dance in ilkley wife starts "singing"

"on ilkely moor bar t'at" repeatedly.

I suggest she sings the other lines to which she replies "oh i didn't know there were any...."

(it continues)

"whence has tha' bin' since I saw thee...." I pipe up and before I can continue she interupts with

"what does ilkley moor bar t'at mean?" she asks

replying said I "well its about being out on the moor without a hat, bar t'at. Hat. like horse racing 10-1 bar, means all the others are x odds bar these ones"

"oh" she says " I thought it was about a potato"

me

"well tat....potato" she says..

me "why would you be on the moor with a potato? and moreover why would you sing about being ou ton teh moor WITHOUT a potato???"

[Shnozz]

And that is a great example of why I am happy single and living in a broom cupboard

[All that jazz]

Vaud said:

me "why would you be on the moor with a potato? and moreover why would you sing about being ou ton teh moor WITHOUT a potato???"

[zarjaz1991]

All that jazz said:

Harehills, Gipton, Halton/Halton Moor, East End Park, Burmantofts, all that side is basically Leeds' version of Glasgow's Easterhouse and is to be avoided as it's all pretty bad until you get out near the Ring Road and it improves a bit.

But that's a huge part of the city.

And near the ring road...depends where. Seacroft? Swarcliffe?

I struggle to think of a city where I can name such a huge number of absolutely ste, dangerous areas.

[All that jazz]

zarjaz1991 said:

All that jazz said:

Harehills, Gipton, Halton/Halton Moor, East End Park, Burmantofts, all that side is basically Leeds' version of Glasgow's Easterhouse and is to be avoided as it's all pretty bad until you get out near the Ring Road and it improves a bit.

But that's a huge part of the city.

And near the ring road...depends where. Seacroft? Swarcliffe?

I struggle to think of a city where I can name such a huge number of absolutely ste, dangerous areas.

You're not trying very hard then. Pick any decent sized city and they're all the same for bad areas.

[Voldemort]

zarjaz1991 said:

I struggle to think of a city where I can name such a huge number of absolutely ste, dangerous areas.

London.