Good areas for family to live North Leeds?

[ATV]

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

[ATV]

OP here, thanks for all the great responses everyone. Sorry I was away for a couple of weeks and only got back last night to reply. Can I give a bit more information to paint the picture a bit clearer?

Decent rail links don't factor into our decision as my wife must 100% have a car for work, it's a requirement of her job as she has to travel between LGI, St. Jimmy's and Seacroft Hospital at least 2-3 times a week.

I've virtually given up on driving A-roads/M62/city centres because the traffic is so bad these days, I took a pay cut to work from home and it's been better for my stress levels. I was hoping that by moving into North Leeds, I could avoid most travel into Leeds centre myself and get the major things I need from White Rose. I was also hoping that by having kids in Leeds Grammar I could stay in the North side of Leeds as much as possible where I've heard the traffic is a lot less congested than in other areas of Leeds?

Shnozz said:

£850k budget and the White Rose did seem an odd combination!

Lol you can take the man out of Yorkshire but you can't take the Yorkshire out of the man! I like the White Rose because parking is dead easy and free, there's plenty for the kids to do (cinema, shops) whilst me and the missus get our things done, meet up at the food court for dinner, then a stonking huge Sainsbury's shop at the end and a cheap Sainsbury's petrol station for a fill up on the way home.

I've virtually given up driving into Leeds centre. Parking is about £7-15 for a few hours, tight narrow spaces, and the entry into Leeds from Junction 2 on the M621 is a car park almost all day. I think the council are deliberately trying to make the driving as frustrating as possible to get people onto public transport.

I'll definitely be ok with moving further afield but funnily enough the wife doesn't mind driving. It's only me that goes mad on the roads these days. The more people are getting congested the more violence seems to be spilling over. This fight took place in Leeds city centre very recently, nasty stuff ( https://tinyurl.com/ycweqyao )

Shnozz said:

Roundhay

I love LOVE the park area. But Roundhay Road/Easterly Road/A58 make me apoplectic with rage, especially since they turned one lane into a bus lane. It nearly always seem to be standstill traffic especially as there are about 5 lights and pedestrian crossings along the way

BlackGT3 said:

Harrogate

Too many ladies who lunch for me and I'm looking for a bit of diversity which is why I'd like to stay put in Leeds. I don't think I'd fit in here. Again traffic from hell. But what a beautiful town! The huge open green spaces are so so nice.

CRA1G said:

Wetherby

It's a lovely town but I think a bit out of the way for wife's daily commute, I'll have another look at it though. What's the daily traffic like here?

BlueMR2 said:

(snip)

Not quite sure if you need to live in a particular area to go to the grammar school at all?

No you don't need to be in a catchment area as it's fee-paying. Thanks very much for the links man, I appreciate the effort for an internet stranger!

telecat said:

Thorner, Scholes Barwick-in-Elmet slightly off to one side. Just read up on ELOR. Bramham is a good spot if a little hilly in places.

vindaloo79 said:

I live close to scholes, between there and thorner just off york road.

very fast commutes into Leeds (15 mins I reckon).

Of all the suggestions these areas (North East) seem the best compromise for what I'm looking for. I've driven around there and it's very nice, doesn't seem to be much traffic which is very important for me

Does anyone living in the North East of Leeds have any advice on the traffic congestion around these areas? Is it fairly quiet outside the rush hours?

And if I was traveling eastbound from the M62 in peak time, would it be best to bypass Junction 27, head toward the M1 north and then get off at Junction 47 and then follow A642 >> Long Lane etc.?

I'm going to have a few drives around, especially at peak times but just want to get an idea of what it's like?

How bad is the traffic up and down the A64 to/from Leeds City Centre all the way to the A1?

Thank you guys for all your help. Much obliged.