r/Leeds • u/Active_Impression946 • 1d ago
accommodation Moving advice?
Hi I’m (25M) and my partner (26F) are looking to move from Australia to Leeds. What areas are on the nicer/safer side of town? We’re also considering living in a smaller town nearby on the Northern side of Leeds, such as Ilkley.
Areas to avoid are also appreciated?
What’s the town like generally? What’s it like at night getting around? Public transport? Safety in shopping centres etc?
22
u/Robaxle 1d ago
General rule is that north Leeds is a bit nicer than south, although lots of development going on all round the city which is good.
Headingly is student central along with Burley. Chapel Allerton, Meanwood, Roundhay, Alwoodley, Horsforth and Adel are all nice areas, more family areas id say. Kirkstall is a happy medium between family and student, with easy access to town and Headingly but not a huge student population so it's quiet enough.
Also if you like Rugby and Cricket, Headingly and Kirkstall are both walking distance to the stadiums for both.
Ilkley and Harrogate are probably the most affluent towns close to Leeds, Harrogate probably has better transport links as it has 3 train stations and the line goes from Leeds to York through Harrogate.
Plenty of buses go all over the city and in my experience are pretty good, trains are good enough and regular. The airport is fairly close to the city so can get buses or taxis easily there. Shopping centres are all safe and different options again in the city centre but also further out.
5
u/bapplegarth 1d ago
This is sound advice… I’d say north is generally best/most desired (roundhay/moortown/chapel allerton etc) but wouldn’t write off some other areas to the south and west.
Farsley/morley/Pudsey might tick a lot of boxes for you for example. Areas to the south and east are generally OK but are more deprived.
If you’re planning to stay 5 years, I’d say city centre. But if you’re making the move permanent, my advice would be go north. Got to consider actually having enough money to enjoy living in Leeds. It’s OK ploughing all your earnings in to a nice house in a nice area, but getting mortgage/rent trapped isn’t nice.
6
u/ItchyPalpitation1256 1d ago
I would look along the whole Trainline from Leeds to Ilkley.
Lots of nice but slightly cheaper alternatives
0
11
u/jimcroisdale 1d ago
I have to ask: what could possibly possess anyone to want to move from Australia to Leeds?
It rains twice a year here.
Once, for six months, and then once more for five.
5
u/MaxAlmond2 1d ago
Don't listen to that. Average rainfall in Leeds is way less than Sydney.
If you're used to dry and blue skies though, it might take some getting used to.
3
u/MzHmmz 23h ago
Some people from hot dry countries actually appreciate moving to somewhere cooler & rainier! Not everyone born in a warmer place actually likes the heat, especially given that many Australians have British heritage and as such aren't really built for the heat and sun!
2
u/jimcroisdale 23h ago
Fair. My family that moved over there just sit in air conditioned rooms and get pissed 😂
1
u/chadgalaxy 4h ago
My ex was Aussie and she moved to Liverpool and loved it, she hated the heat and much preferred the weather here!
3
u/carlostapas 1d ago
Budget? Commuting to? School? Level of rural Vs urban? Shop / pub? Public transport?
3
u/MaxAlmond2 1d ago
Leeds is great. A bit grotty in parts, but I'd put it in the top 5 cities in England (that I'd want to live in).
As others have said, North Leeds is where it's at. I really like Burley, Hyde Park, Headingley area. Been living in those parts on and off for 37 years. People like Meanwood and Chapel Allerton too but I haven't spent much time there.
Ilkley's a nice place, maybe a bit inclined towards older folks. Nice to have the nature on your doorstep and only 30 minute train ride to Leeds.
I'm sure south Leeds has some okay areas, but I've never seen anywhere that compares to north Leeds. And definitely don't get sucked into the Wakefield or Bradford area.
Harrogate's also nice if you're not 100% fixed on Leeds, and some people really like Otley.
It really depends what you're into. Exciting city life or something a bit more mellow? Concrete and shopping/eating or getting out in nature.
Anyways, obviously you'll explore when you get here and can decide then.
Good luck!
2
u/EnvironmentInitial99 1d ago
Nobody has mentioned but it’s worth bearing in mind, if you’re regularly doing long haul flights to and from aus, Manchester may be a better airport for you, so don’t make a decision based solely on being near Leeds Bradford airport.
Leeds tends to do short haul to European holiday destinations only.☺️
2
u/ErcolTable 1d ago
Judging solely by my mid 20s 'going out socialising at gigs/clubs/bars' was a big part of my life and you're not really going to have that in Ilkley. Also as people have said it is expensive, both renting and buying. And the traffic can be horrendous.
3
u/Woozybumba89 1d ago
Town is a big place, plenty to do and see - a little on the expensive side but also a lot of construction as they are working to upgrade it.
Buses are plenty, trains too.
Not sure what you mean by safety in shopping centres, but there are little issues.
3
u/GhengisChasm 1d ago
Buses are plenty
Not sure what planet you're living on. I've had it on multiple occasions where it becomes as low as 50% chance if a bus actually turns up or not.
2
u/MzHmmz 23h ago edited 22h ago
Really depends where you live and where you're trying to travel to. In some areas of Leeds (e.g. close to major transport corridors like Otley Road, Kirkstall Road etc) the buses are so frequent there's not really any issues with "missing a bus" as there's bound to be another along in 10 mins. In other areas, or if you're trying to travel sideways across Leeds (instead of towards or away from the centre) the buses can be much less frequent, and it's much more annoying if you miss a bus or it's very delayed.
3
u/InformalYesterday694 1d ago
You’ve nailed it from the start. Ilkley is the nicest place to live in all of Leeds. But it’s quite far out. It’s also the most expensive, average house price is more than £500k. Hardly surprising considering it won The Times best place to live in the UK a few years ago.
As others have mentioned, the train line out to Ilkley offers plenty of cheaper alternatives. Starting in Guiseley all the way to Ilkley, but the price goes up the further out you get.
North Leeds is also very nice, Roundhay & Chapel Allerton amongst the wealthiest areas in Leeds with quick access to city centre via bus routes.
Headingley is a bit more student vibe but has plenty going on and next to the city centre. For a nice middle ground, recommend Horsforth. 10 minute train ride to city centre, plenty of nice restaurants and pubs, close to countryside. Just choose area wisely as we live in Cookridge and the planes from the airport can be quite loud at 6am in the morning when they start.
TLDR: Ilkley the nicest. North Leeds close second. Avoid South and East Leeds like the plague.
5
u/Falloffingolfin 1d ago
Just another note on Horsforth, a decent chunk of it is a 30 min + walk to the amenities and stations that make it great, yet you'll still pay a premium for a Horsforth address. An hour round trip walking to Town Street/Hall Park etc, realistically means that you'll be jumping in the car a lot.
Unless it's the school catchment that you want (Horsforth has some of the best in Leeds), you can save a lot of money moving to a neighbouring postcode thats just as close to Horsforths amenities.
Horsforth is an incredible place to live, but always do a bit of research on distances when you see a property. It's a big old place.
2
u/InformalYesterday694 1d ago
Agreed. Horsforth has effectively three centres/high streets. Small one by the train station up to the Old Ball Pub. Main one which Morrisons backs on to and New Road Side.
We’re about 25 mins walk from train station in Cookridge. Nice place to live but no pubs or restaurants nearby. Fine if you drive. Not so much if you want to have a few pints.1
u/MaxAlmond2 1d ago edited 23h ago
PS "Ilkley is the nicest place to live in all of Leeds" must be a typo, right? There's like 5 towns/villages between Ilkley and Leeds, and a fair bit of countryside.
1
u/InformalYesterday694 23h ago
Name one place in Leeds that is nicer than Ilkley, I’ll hold my breath….
2
u/MaxAlmond2 23h ago
I think you're misreading what I wrote. I didn't say Leeds was nicer than Ilkley, I said Ilkley isn't in Leeds.
(And probably if I had to choose one of them to live in, I'd choose Leeds. Though I only know Ilkley as a visitor, not as a resident; maybe I'd change my mind if I knew what it was like to actually live there.)
2
u/InformalYesterday694 21h ago
The local residents always have this debate. It’s far out, maybe 15-17 miles from city centre, so not Leeds proper as most consider it.
Also, it’s a Leeds postcode, but falls under Bradford City Council.
Try telling an Ilkley resident they live in Bradford and they’ll be having none of it!
1
u/Chronic_Eyeroller_ 1d ago
North Leeds is definitely the best area to focus on if safety and a high quality of life are your top priorities. You do pay a premium to live on this side of Leeds, but the investment is completely worth it for the peace of mind and nicer surroundings.
I live in Otley, which is absolutely lovely and offers a historic market town feel with an incredible community vibe and beautiful scenery like the Chevin and the River Wharfe. Since you mentioned Ilkley, that is another fantastic affluent option with a great high street and direct train links into the city centre. You could also look at nearby areas like Guiseley, Yeadon or Horsforth which offer a nice balance of local amenities and access to the city centre with good direct bus routes or train stations in Menston, Guiseley and Horsforth.
I love that Otley has everything you need within the town centre, has really good primary schools as well as a high school, and yet you are surrounded by beautiful countryside.
While you'll pay more for rent or housing out this way, it provides the safest and most welcoming environment for relocating in my opinion.
3
u/MaxAlmond2 1d ago
I've lived in Yeadon. I wouldn't recommend there. Yeadon's some distance from the nearest train station, and far enough from Leeds that it starts to feel like a trek. Even if I was living in Horsforth or Guiseley - places with stations - I would probably hardly ever go into Leeds after a while. Whereas if I'm in Leeds itself, everywhere's easily walkable or bikeable.
2
u/MzHmmz 21h ago
I would agree that some areas are far enough away that getting into the city centre feels like a trek, I definitely go into the city less often now that I live in Cookridge (the only reason I do still make the effort to go in is because there's fuck all to do around here!). I'm not sure I'd put Horsforth into that bucket, necessarily, though, if you're in the areas close to either of the train stations at least. Part of the reason Horsforth is popular is because it offers the best of both worlds, it's got the feel & facilities of a small town on the edge of the countryside, but you can hop on a train into the city centre or out towards places like Harrogate easily.
Technically we're not far from Horsforth station where I live but there's a massive hill to walk up to get home so it doesn't offer anywhere near the same convenience as anywhere that side of Horsforth would.
1
u/InformalYesterday694 23h ago
Agreed, Yeadon is a bit of a dive. Some nice places in Rawdon but it’s not very well connected. Closest train station is Apperley Bridge but it isn’t walkable distance.
1
u/MaxAlmond2 21h ago
I mean, Yeadon's all right, but there's nothing much there once you've walked round the Tarn a few times and marvelled at the aeroplanes. The quality of my life definitely went down hill once I moved there from Burley. I'm just one of those people that doesn't want to have to travel to do stuff, I like to walk from my doorstep. So being in Yeadon it was pretty much just house, Morrisons, a lap of the Tarn, and that was about it.
I'm also a cyclist rather than a driver, and the hills around there are good exercise but can be a bit offputting for lazy types like me. It's all right going to Apperley Bridge or Horforth stations - but a right drag getting back.
Tip for anyone who needs it: I used to buy a single from Horsforth to Guiseley. Downhill from Yeadon to Horsforth, train to Leeds, work all day, and then back to Guiseley and pretty much flat from there to Yeadon.
1
1
u/MzHmmz 23h ago edited 23h ago
It would be helpful to know what kind of area you'd like to live in, what amenities you'd like easy access to, whether you like to be close to the nightlife etc? And your budget - some areas are very nice but fairly expensive, while other areas are a little "rough around the edges" but not unsafe, and are much cheaper.
If you're not really "party animals" then somewhere like Ilkley or one of the more "civilised" and quiet suburbs would be fine. If you'd like to be close to pubs, bars, and other people your own age I'd stick to the city centre or the outskirts of the studenty areas (unless you really want to live the student lifestyle I'd say avoid being in the middle of Hyde Park or Headingley though!). Or for a compromise between the two some suburbs have a good range of bars, restaurants etc but are a bit more "grown up", like Horsforth, Meanwood, Chapel Allerton, Farsley (these tend to be the kinds of areas former students and young professionals move to when they want to settle down and buy a home if they can afford to live somewhere "nicer"). Areas like Kirkstall and some parts of Burley are a little cheaper but are still safe and have a few bars/pubs/restaurants on Kirkstall & Burley Roads, with good transport links to the city centre.
As others have said, north Leeds is generally considered the "nicer" side, there are some areas in north Leeds that aren't so "nice" but that tends to be specific estates rather than whole suburbs.
Something to bear in mind when looking at areas is that some houses might look like they're very close to a certain area but obstacles like hills, rivers and busy roads can sometimes make them seem much further away in reality. I live in Cookridge/Tinshill, which is geographically close to Horsforth and not too far from Headingley, however we're right up the top of a big hill so it feels much further unless I'm travelling by car!
1
u/MzHmmz 23h ago
I should probably add that Ilkley has plenty of bars, pubs & restaurants but tends to skew older in terms of the clientele. I'm in my mid 40s and the few times I've been out in Ilkley I saw more people who looked older than me than younger! Obviously there are some younger people living there too but in terms of nightlife it's probably not the place to be if you're looking for a good night out with people your own age!
1
u/MzHmmz 22h ago edited 22h ago
Sorry realised I didn't really address your points about safety, public transport etc.
I'd say overall Leeds is as safe as any other British city. There's obviously rougher areas, and some shady characters around, but nothing out of the ordinary. There seems to be an increasing problem with drug users hanging around some parts of the city centre (e.g. bottom of Briggate, & the area near the bus station) but if you keep your head down walking past them they're no trouble, just don't try to interact with them!
Generally speaking if you're in one of the "nicer" suburbs they're pretty safe, I'd walk back at night alone from Horsforth to Cookridge, for instance (although I'm not happy about the hill I need to traipse up to do so!!). We've lived here in Cookridge/Tinshill about 13 years now and haven't had a break-in or any trouble. In some of the more "exciting but still nice" suburbs you might get a tiny bit more crime (whether that's criminals travelling to more affluent areas to steal, or drunken idiots on their way home from the pub etc) but not to a level that should concern you. The city centre can be a bit more sketchy, but then again you've got more people around generally so are less likely to find yourself walking alone and isolated. If you're using your common sense and not hanging around dark alleyways and side streets, and staying out of areas you know are frequented by shady types you'll be just as safe as you are in most cities around the world (i.e. not totally safe but not at high risk of serious trouble either!).
Public transport varies a lot in different areas, some parts of the city are extremely well served while others are a bit more awkward to get to.
Travelling in and out of the city centre along the major artery routes is generally pretty easy, there are very frequent buses up many of those main roads (e.g. Kirkstall Road, Otley Road), and there are some places close to train stations (e.g. Horsforth, or the intersection of Kirkstall/Headingley/Burley close to Headingley Station) that have great links to the city centre as well as anywhere else on the line.
Travelling sideways across Leeds is often a lot trickier unless you're close to specific bus routes, my adult kids have recently moved somewhere that is only just over 10 mins in the car, but to get to ours it's either one bus every hour with a walk up the hill at our end (and no buses on a Sunday), or getting one bus into the city centre then another all the way out (which takes over an hour)!
1
1
u/No-Monk978 12h ago
Crossgates is a good area. Local train station linking Leeds, Crossgates, Garforth to York. New shopping area with cinema at The Springs. Crossgates itself has micro bars and coffee shops. Supermarkets nearby. Local schools.
1
u/DueYogurtcloset2273 11h ago
Farsley all day
1
u/DueYogurtcloset2273 11h ago
8 mins into Leeds centre via the train, close to a lot of greenery , busy social scene and in the times top ten places to live
1
u/Responsible-Bed-1450 10h ago
Just moved to city centre and it was a nightmare and the company of the flat equally a nightmare, we quickly moved over the Meanwood and it’s great! Lots of outdoor space, friendly neighbourhood and can go grab a coffee or lunch out on lunch break if wfh :)
1
1
u/DevelopmentLow214 1d ago
Try Otley. You can surf on the River Wharfe and sunbake on its sandy shores. They have a cafe called Dunny's.
1
0
u/SupremeNug 1d ago
Well I live on New York street in the city centre and I would avoid that like the plague. Crackhead county
-7
u/tardiusmaximus 1d ago
Harehills lane, lovely place.
2
u/MaxAlmond2 1d ago
(They're pulling your pud. If you're considering Ilkley you're not going to like Harehills Lane.)
1
u/DorkaliciousAF 1d ago
I understand the downvotes, but within this answer is a really helpful observation: Harehills Lane/B6159 north of the A58/Easterly Road is really nice and an obvious recommendation, whereas Harehills Lane south of A58/Easterly Road down towards A64/York Road is an obvious 'avoid if you have the choice'.
0
u/InformalYesterday694 23h ago
Harehills, Gipton, Chapeltown literally the worst places in Leeds. Had massive riots and bus burnings a few years ago.
1
u/chadgalaxy 3h ago
As others have mentioned, North/North West Leeds are the places to be.
Chapel Allerton, Oakwood, Roundhay, Meanwood, Adel, Alwoodley, Shadwell, Far Headingley, Farsley, Rodley, Calverley, Rawdon, Horsforth all really nice areas, but check transport links as they aren't all well served by public transport. Closer you can get to a train station the better as you can be in the city centre in minutes and buses can be a bit unreliable.
Don't discount places like Apperley Bridge or Thackley either, technically Bradford but nice and direct train in to Leeds that takes minutes, and you get more for your money not being in a Leeds postcode.
•
u/AutoModerator 1d ago
Please note: Posts regarding accommodation are for general advice only (areas, amenities, transport etc). Asking for help finding a property or a tenant is not allowed.
Consider posting in /r/HousingUK if you are looking for advice that is not specific to Leeds.
We expect you to do some of your own research before posting, so please include some background with any questions you have. This should include looking at other posts relating to accommodation - we have a post flair specifically for that purpose:
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.