Good areas for family to live North Leeds?
Discussion
Wife is starting a new job at Leeds General Infirmary in June. I was also hoping to have my kids enrolled in Leeds Grammar.
So north Leeds looks the best for my wife's daily commute (I work from home) and kid's school runs.
Am looking for a fairly diverse area, not too cliquey. I'd like there to be a local parade of shops (Spar, Post office, Fish n Chips) or high street nearby so that I don't have to go into the city centre too much (I hate congestion). The Saturday big shop will be done at White Rose if Leeds are not playing at home so hopefully I can avoid traffic which I've heard can be bonkers in Leeds (the Junction 2 turnoff at M621 towards the ring road seems to be a car park at all hours of the day)
If our house and my wife's BTL sell, our deposit and joint mortgage can go up to 850k, I need a 4-bed with a decent garden. I would also be happy to buy a plot of land and do a self-build if that's a possibility in north Leeds?
Any ideas of areas I should be looking at? Scarcroft and Wike looked really nice when I had a drive around but might be out of my price range and plus full of the ladies-who-lunch crowd that we'd like to avoid. Chapel Allerton seemed nice and had a nice high street. Someone recommended Horsforth but could there be too much noise with the airport? Anything with a villagey vibe, some countryside but with a 24 hours AorB road run to the city centre and the motorway network would be amazing but I think impossible to find in Leeds.
Thanks
So north Leeds looks the best for my wife's daily commute (I work from home) and kid's school runs.
Am looking for a fairly diverse area, not too cliquey. I'd like there to be a local parade of shops (Spar, Post office, Fish n Chips) or high street nearby so that I don't have to go into the city centre too much (I hate congestion). The Saturday big shop will be done at White Rose if Leeds are not playing at home so hopefully I can avoid traffic which I've heard can be bonkers in Leeds (the Junction 2 turnoff at M621 towards the ring road seems to be a car park at all hours of the day)
If our house and my wife's BTL sell, our deposit and joint mortgage can go up to 850k, I need a 4-bed with a decent garden. I would also be happy to buy a plot of land and do a self-build if that's a possibility in north Leeds?
Any ideas of areas I should be looking at? Scarcroft and Wike looked really nice when I had a drive around but might be out of my price range and plus full of the ladies-who-lunch crowd that we'd like to avoid. Chapel Allerton seemed nice and had a nice high street. Someone recommended Horsforth but could there be too much noise with the airport? Anything with a villagey vibe, some countryside but with a 24 hours AorB road run to the city centre and the motorway network would be amazing but I think impossible to find in Leeds.
Thanks
Scarcroft is nice and Alwoodley is pleasant but neither give the "villagey" vibe you refer to.
Chapel Allerton is nice but a lot of smaller terraced houses and generally the place young couples move to when they are done with city life.
Roundhay would be my suggestion in your circumstances. Demographic more fitting, you have Street Lane and Oakwood at the other end for some village feel, and the park on your doorstep which is beautiful.
Horsforth is a funny place. Pleasant enough but wrong side of town given your school of choice for the kids in any event. It has a premium to it because of the station and rail link into town. North Leeds does not have this so you have to drive or use a bus...The rail link is a nice bonus for those dotted along the Wharfe valley like Menston, Burley in Wharfedale and ultimately Ilkley. However, given what you say about schools I assume any of those places are out of the running.
Chapel Allerton is nice but a lot of smaller terraced houses and generally the place young couples move to when they are done with city life.
Roundhay would be my suggestion in your circumstances. Demographic more fitting, you have Street Lane and Oakwood at the other end for some village feel, and the park on your doorstep which is beautiful.
Horsforth is a funny place. Pleasant enough but wrong side of town given your school of choice for the kids in any event. It has a premium to it because of the station and rail link into town. North Leeds does not have this so you have to drive or use a bus...The rail link is a nice bonus for those dotted along the Wharfe valley like Menston, Burley in Wharfedale and ultimately Ilkley. However, given what you say about schools I assume any of those places are out of the running.
I would agree with most of the above if you want to be in north Leeds. Roundhay is best shot for a village feel in terms of wandering out for a coffee and a paper. The other alternative is Shadwell which has good sized houses and a few shops, albeit nothing fantastic.
It depends how far you want to be out for your wife’s job and how long she wants to commute to LGI. You could move out to Collingham or Boston Spa, but the commute is getting worse especially in peak periods (it’s not too bad outside these times and I personally would sacrifice a longer commute for nicer surroundings). These places also have the benefit of being closer to the A1 if you want to hit the motorway network.
I live in Burley in Wharfedale which is mentioned above. It ticks the boxes for village vibe and affordability, however it can be a pain to drive into Leeds in busy periods. Train is fantastic though.
It depends how far you want to be out for your wife’s job and how long she wants to commute to LGI. You could move out to Collingham or Boston Spa, but the commute is getting worse especially in peak periods (it’s not too bad outside these times and I personally would sacrifice a longer commute for nicer surroundings). These places also have the benefit of being closer to the A1 if you want to hit the motorway network.
I live in Burley in Wharfedale which is mentioned above. It ticks the boxes for village vibe and affordability, however it can be a pain to drive into Leeds in busy periods. Train is fantastic though.
The rail link is great I concur. If I leave the city centre I would be minded to head somewhere on the Ilkley line just for convenience. Driving in town is a royal PITA and parking is now getting expensive to add to the woes. I have also become accustomed to the convenience of city living after 8 + years of it so going back to the ball ache of a stationary car park commute would drive me insane. Jumping on the train and into the centre in 25 mins is far preferable! The trains on the Ilkley line are also luxury compared to the old ones on the Harrogate line!
Anyway, back to the OP, I would strongly recommend looking at Roundhay as I say. Oakwood has now developed into its own little community too if you are that side of Roundhay. That sad, if you look at any properties in Oakwood itself (which adjoins Roundhay), be a little cautious as to start getting a little close to Gipton and Harehills....
Friends of mine live down this road and its a lovely place - http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...
60 seconds to the edge of the park, nice little walk to Oakwood (which I actually prefer over some of the more 'ladies what lunch' establishments of Street Lane). Even a bus stop at the end of the road if you can stomach public transport into town. Given its all a traffic crawl anyway I have braved the bus and its the same time as driving anyway.
Anyway, back to the OP, I would strongly recommend looking at Roundhay as I say. Oakwood has now developed into its own little community too if you are that side of Roundhay. That sad, if you look at any properties in Oakwood itself (which adjoins Roundhay), be a little cautious as to start getting a little close to Gipton and Harehills....
Friends of mine live down this road and its a lovely place - http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...
60 seconds to the edge of the park, nice little walk to Oakwood (which I actually prefer over some of the more 'ladies what lunch' establishments of Street Lane). Even a bus stop at the end of the road if you can stomach public transport into town. Given its all a traffic crawl anyway I have braved the bus and its the same time as driving anyway.
Bramhope?
LGI commute isn't too bad, maybe 30min. Out of peak even quicker, 10mins.
At your price point you'll get a decent house there.
Leeds Grammar is a nice run along Kings Road then Alwoodley Lane, even at peak times they're ok.
Decent enough pub, nice chippy and bakery in old Bramhope, then another few collections of shops.
It's not urban village like Roundhay, it's rural village... but still well connected and located.
Also iirc isn't Otley going to attract a new train station spur and by-pass with the recent development near the Smiths garden centre?
A run from Bramhope to that to then pick up the train network is easy.
LBA very close if needed.
LGI commute isn't too bad, maybe 30min. Out of peak even quicker, 10mins.
At your price point you'll get a decent house there.
Leeds Grammar is a nice run along Kings Road then Alwoodley Lane, even at peak times they're ok.
Decent enough pub, nice chippy and bakery in old Bramhope, then another few collections of shops.
It's not urban village like Roundhay, it's rural village... but still well connected and located.
Also iirc isn't Otley going to attract a new train station spur and by-pass with the recent development near the Smiths garden centre?
A run from Bramhope to that to then pick up the train network is easy.
LBA very close if needed.
Yep. Can vouch for Bramhope or Pool in Wharfedale. Best combo for your budget in terms of house budget, village, short commute to school, ok run to LGI. Adel should also be on your list.
Ilkley the pick of the lot but poss too cliquey. Its further from school but LGI easy on train.
West End/Southway areas of Horsforth may also tick the box as more varied community etc but lower end of your budget.
Good luck
Ilkley the pick of the lot but poss too cliquey. Its further from school but LGI easy on train.
West End/Southway areas of Horsforth may also tick the box as more varied community etc but lower end of your budget.
Good luck
I live close to scholes, between there and thorner just off york road.
very fast commutes into Leeds (15 mins I reckon).
But in Barwick in Elmet, and Scholes, they are quiet, a couple of pubs here and there. The nearby School John Smeaton is very poor. Roundhay and Boston Spa are decent though.
I'm struggling to decide whether to move towards North Leeds or Harrogate for future schooling, though (almost) entirety of family and friends live within half a mile of this area - making for tough decision making. With your budget you have the choice of the city though, happy house hunting.
I would do some test runs of the commute into Leeds from Horsforth side should you be considering it, my cousin moans what a ball ache it was driving into the centre.
very fast commutes into Leeds (15 mins I reckon).
But in Barwick in Elmet, and Scholes, they are quiet, a couple of pubs here and there. The nearby School John Smeaton is very poor. Roundhay and Boston Spa are decent though.
I'm struggling to decide whether to move towards North Leeds or Harrogate for future schooling, though (almost) entirety of family and friends live within half a mile of this area - making for tough decision making. With your budget you have the choice of the city though, happy house hunting.
I would do some test runs of the commute into Leeds from Horsforth side should you be considering it, my cousin moans what a ball ache it was driving into the centre.
I wouldn't move to Horsforth. Went to school there but as a kid from the s
thole council estate down the road, they were ruthless to me. Don't have a single friend from my school days, funnily enough...
I do have the main group for Horsforth on my Facebook though and the overriding theme currently seems to be residents complaining about how out of hand crime is getting.
Roundhay is a good shout but quite densely packed. With your budget, however, you should be able to take your pick and find something that fits your needs. The areas in and around may be better for you though. There are some very nice houses with land a bit closer to the airport. Depends if that sort of noise bothers you much. I doubt you'd hear it too much when inside with decent windows and doors.
Shadwell is a nice area and there's a large Jewish community there. Wetherby, Collingham, Boston Spa are all very nice and Otley, Pool in Wharfdale etc. are also nice, open areas.
thole council estate down the road, they were ruthless to me. Don't have a single friend from my school days, funnily enough...I do have the main group for Horsforth on my Facebook though and the overriding theme currently seems to be residents complaining about how out of hand crime is getting.
Roundhay is a good shout but quite densely packed. With your budget, however, you should be able to take your pick and find something that fits your needs. The areas in and around may be better for you though. There are some very nice houses with land a bit closer to the airport. Depends if that sort of noise bothers you much. I doubt you'd hear it too much when inside with decent windows and doors.
Shadwell is a nice area and there's a large Jewish community there. Wetherby, Collingham, Boston Spa are all very nice and Otley, Pool in Wharfdale etc. are also nice, open areas.
TroubledSoul said:
I do have the main group for Horsforth on my Facebook though and the overriding theme currently seems to be residents complaining about how out of hand crime is getting.
Not sure if all areas of Leeds itemise their Crime now, the East Leeds Outer Police facebook group makes for some grim reading when itemised on a daily basis, up until recently had been pretty petty stuff generally. I have seen a spike in burglaries in recent months, fortunately not near me, Halton Moor area is likely to blame for much of it.Car theft seems to be pretty low though, although its not near bradford so there is that to be thankful for.
Shadwell - agree with you on that, there or Adel may be interesting to OP.
vindaloo79 said:
Not sure if all areas of Leeds itemise their Crime now, the East Leeds Outer Police facebook group makes for some grim reading when itemised on a daily basis, up until recently had been pretty petty stuff generally. I have seen a spike in burglaries in recent months, fortunately not near me, Halton Moor area is likely to blame for much of it.
Car theft seems to be pretty low though, although its not near bradford so there is that to be thankful for.
Shadwell - agree with you on that, there or Adel may be interesting to OP.
I have family in East End Park unfortunately! Not quite Halton Moor, thankfully. You could at least go through there without fear of reprisal once upon a time. Now it’s all tales of cars/taxis/buses being attacked by feral kids. Car theft seems to be pretty low though, although its not near bradford so there is that to be thankful for.
Shadwell - agree with you on that, there or Adel may be interesting to OP.
Not much else though. Strudul said:
Barwick in Elmet is really nice.
Is there a sense of community there?Also whats garforth like?, the school there looks good. My son goes to nursery there as it seemed more progressive than those on our doorstep. Have to drive through Barwick in Elmet to get there. I just recall it being a bit unfriendly to outsiders when I was in my twenties, a bit like all locals knew one another...
A nice house for the OP here: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...
Edited by vindaloo79 on Tuesday 16th January 00:46
I think the Leeds Grammar and LGI mean being North Leeds are a good idea.
Being on the Otley Road seems very sensible as it's fairly reasonably trafficked even at busy times, and very fast off peak, and runs pretty sweetly right into the city centre.
Even now I'm impressed with how efficient it's remained over the years.
So Bramhope and Adel make a lot of sense.
From Adel there is a little snicket road that runs East and joins up with the road full of huge posh houses and runs over to Shadwell, right to the Leeds Grammar school.
I'd say from the Adel house posted above (which looks nice, and hopefully won't ever get built around any time soon due to the location), you'd get to the school in 10 mins tops, and LGI peak maybe 25-30min, off peak 10 min tops.
I'm not sure how much it means, but I'd walk all around that part of Adel on a dark night on my own and not worry a jot.
Most of the big house areas/nice house areas have been nice/big/posh areas for long enough that people in them are nice.
Go into the 'estate' areas though and people are less nice.
About 15 years ago I worked for DEFRA doing carto work, and people used to park on streets around there. I used to park further away (driving from Bramhope haha) near nice houses, rather than nearer on the estates.
Worst I had was a note on windscreen saying please don't park directly opposite our drive as it's hard to get on/off (even though it was a really wide road)
A few people who parked on the estates had tyres slashed and side windows broken.
Nice.
Being on the Otley Road seems very sensible as it's fairly reasonably trafficked even at busy times, and very fast off peak, and runs pretty sweetly right into the city centre.
Even now I'm impressed with how efficient it's remained over the years.
So Bramhope and Adel make a lot of sense.
From Adel there is a little snicket road that runs East and joins up with the road full of huge posh houses and runs over to Shadwell, right to the Leeds Grammar school.
I'd say from the Adel house posted above (which looks nice, and hopefully won't ever get built around any time soon due to the location), you'd get to the school in 10 mins tops, and LGI peak maybe 25-30min, off peak 10 min tops.
I'm not sure how much it means, but I'd walk all around that part of Adel on a dark night on my own and not worry a jot.
Most of the big house areas/nice house areas have been nice/big/posh areas for long enough that people in them are nice.
Go into the 'estate' areas though and people are less nice.
About 15 years ago I worked for DEFRA doing carto work, and people used to park on streets around there. I used to park further away (driving from Bramhope haha) near nice houses, rather than nearer on the estates.
Worst I had was a note on windscreen saying please don't park directly opposite our drive as it's hard to get on/off (even though it was a really wide road)
A few people who parked on the estates had tyres slashed and side windows broken.
Nice.
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