Leeds
 

What's it like then? It seems to be very much up and coming, growing fast, yet still relatively affordable.

Anybody have any inside info? As a useless, sherry-drinking southerner I don't know it at all.

Re: Leeds
 

It’s in Yorkshire so :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: from me,

Seriously why Leeds? My preference is Cheshire. Some lovely little towns/villages. Near Manchester Airport and major motorways. Plus the weather west of the Pennines is less harsh than the east.

Re: Leeds
 

Well I think that "why Leeds" is kind of the question in my thread really. I like cities and the things you can do in them. I do like pretty villages too of course, but I don't want to be stuck somewhere where you absolutely have to drive to get anything done at all. Leeds appears to be booming. Open to all recommendations though.

Good note on the weather up there though.

Re: Leeds
 

I remember spring west of the Pennines is several weeks earlier than in the east. More rain west though. Yorkshire will always hold a special place in my heart….but I still prefer Cheshire. Easy access to the Lake District, North Wales, Staffs, Yorkshire etc and as I have already mentioned…a major airport…useful for those cheap get-aways.

Re: Leeds
 

I just Google'd cities in Cheshire, and was surprised by how similar Chester looks to Stratford-Upon-Avon. Not sure if that's the type of city you are looking for though Lion.

Can't help on Leeds either - moved around a lot as a kid, but only ever holidayed up that way (Peak District a few times)

Re: Leeds
 

I moved to a Chester from South Manchester area after we got married. We met in Wilmslow where we both worked..hubby had a house in Chester. If we moved back to the UK…I would head back to the Chester surrounding area in a heartbeat. My sister lives in a village near Warrington…between Manchester and Liverpool…M6/M56 and near M/Chester airport…also a good location. Property prices are probably better than a little further in South Cheshire.

Re: Leeds
 

Had a look at Chester too, via RightMove UK. Honestly we aren't that picky as long as it's not somewhere depressing. Would mostly just be happy to be there. Affordability is crucial, other then that good transport links, and not needing a car to do everything. I do like town/city things, more things to do and a greater variety of people. I was curious about Leeds because it seems like a booming yet affordable city about which I know practically nothing. Be nice to have some open country relatively accessible, too.

Re: Leeds
 

How long does Little Lion have to go at uni? If your UK move is not imminent, maybe best to wait and see where he lands up. That way you can choose somewhere within an easy traveling distance. I’m thinking most exstudents finish up living not too far away from the uni area.

Re: Leeds
 

He's got one more year for his BEng at Portsmouth, but he's been living in Liverpool almost all year doing uni online like most others. Not sure yet if he wants to go for an MA now or not. He likes Liverpool better, but of course the gf is there. He's only 21, so it's all anyone's guess really. We are going to attempt this for 2022, a yearish from now. It's a bit now or never really for assorted reasons mostly to do with finances, and I don't want it to be never. It's difficult, and Covid doesn't help. Many lists to be made. The mother of all lists.

Re: Leeds
 

Full disclosure…if we moved back hubby would like somewhere on the south coast…even though he is a born and bred Woolyback. Not me…I would want to go somewhere safe…somewhere I know…which would be Cheshire.

LL is your only child…I can relate to that. If I were in your shoes I would seriously look in the Merseyside/Cheshire area. I would also put feelers out throughout the UK.

Where is LL’s girlfriend from?

Re: Leeds
 

OH and I are both Southerners, me London and him Devon, but Devon is a bit expensive now and a bit far away. London is waaaay too expensive. The gf is from Liverpool, with one more year to go at LJM uni.

Yeah, feelers are going out everywhere really. One of the advantages of having lived in the US is that the distances in the UK seem so much smaller. Leeds used to look like a foreign country from London:lol:. It's only 2.5 hours on the train.

Re: Leeds
 

I hear you. I really hope you guys make it back.

Re: Leeds
 

You too, Bevs, you too, if that's what you want.

Re: Leeds
 

I like Leeds, the city centre is nice and green it has some very nice suburbs near the city centre and you are never far from lovely market towns and of course York (a city) is not far away and neither is the lovely Harrogate and the housing market for good/nice areas is better than other cities.

Re: Leeds
 

If I had to stay "Up North" and be near a city then Yorkshire has everything you can wish for, excellent accessibility to countryside or Moors and the dales a fab coastline, a load of History and also a few good airports that are not a busy as Manchester but that can be a blessing lol and your not far from Hull and the ferries to Europe and of course it's usually drier in the summer the North West has a lot of rainy days. York is a real gem much better than say Chester in my opinion.

Re: Leeds
 

I'd be wary of moving to a place that had its castle some 240 miles from the city centre :lol:

Can't help with Leeds, but would agree that York is indeed a gem, speaking as a visitor, not a resident.

Good luck with all the 'fun' to come!

Re: Leeds
 

Thanks for the info. Yorkshire overall does look lovely, and so does York itself but that city seems a fair bit more expensive for housing, perhaps because it's just so picturesque. I do like cathedral towns. Also looking at Lincoln for that reason, and Norwich. Sitting slap bang in the middle, Leed does seem very accessible.

Re: Leeds
 

:lol: Had a look at Kent, but the parts of it that aren't hideously expensive seem to be heavily over-populated with retirees. It's like Shaftesbury, in Wiltshire. My parents retired near there in their 60s, and said that in doing so they lowered the average age of the population by about 20 years. I would prefer somewhere a bit more mixed. Although we have looked at Hastings old town just along the coast. The sea is always nice to have.

Re: Leeds
 

St. Leonards-on-Sea in Sussex. Or Hastings. Very reasonable prices, fabulous coast and pebbly beaches, gorgeous countryside on your doorstep.

Failing that, Campbeltown in Scotland. Unbelievably cheap property, whisky distilleries, a couple of decent supermarkets, convenient daily flight to Glasgow. Gorgeous beaches and walking.

Re: Leeds
 

Why so modest? Go for both of them!

Re: Leeds
 

Might be a bit too small & far out for you but My Mother is in the throes of moving to Richmond, north Yorkshire (to be near to my sister). About 50 miles north big Leeds and Harrogate (which is nice) is, I think, a little closer. I was impressed with the property prices, she has bought a super apartment for about £250 K. Seems a nice area. See link.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85939681

Re: Leeds
 

Hastings does seem to have its arty side, but also bucket and spade/fish and chips day at the beach side. Apparently Jo Brand lives there, or did. Mild weather, too. Housing much lower priced than I though it would be.

I looked at Campbeltown just now, and as you say stunningly cheap property and beautiful, but it fully qualifies as being "a bit far away". Really want those trains.



That's austerity for you. Can't even afford a press conference room.

Re: Leeds
 

Ah, just seen your comment about trains. Nearest train station to Richmond is Darlington, 22 miles away. Know nothing about Darlington!

Sorry 12 miles away, not 22!

Re: Leeds
 

It does look nice. I just don't want to be a slave to the car.

Re: Leeds
 

I don't know anything about Leeds so am useless for that. As you know I'm a big fan of New Brighton on the Wirral, Little Lion's girlfriend can probably tell you everything you need to know but I'm available for question if needed. Where we lived in NB was a five minute walk to NB station, which got us into Liverpool in 15 - 20 minutes. You probably already know how much there is to do and see in Liverpool.

A walk down a steep hill and across a park brought us to Marine Point, with a great Morrisons supermarket, lots of restaurants, coffee shops, cafes, fish and chips, pubs and the Floral Pavilion, which had some surprisingly good live shows. Also buses to any part of the Wirral and also to Liverpool.

If you and your OH like walking, you can walk along the promenade from New Brighton all the way to the Seacombe ferry and get acquainted with the Mersey on the way. I never did the entire walk but it would be at least good hour (or more if you stop and explore along the way). By venturing off the prom we found all sorts of treasures - little cafes with lovely coffee and cakes, inside and outside seating, and if it's nippy they put out beautiful warm rugs on each chair at the outside tables. We also found some lovely little pubs on our walks, and the Cornish clotted cream ice-cream van on the prom is a must visit, even if it's perishing! You can also visit Fort Perch Rock, a defence installation built in the 1820s, and if you're feeling playful you can have a go on the pirate ship (if the kids let you near it). Vale Park is along the prom and it's a gorgeous, big park with tea rooms.

Gawd, I do go on. Just as well you didn't ask about New Brighton, I'd have been typing all night :lol:

Re: Leeds
 

It really does look nice and Liverpool obv has a lot to offer. Where you describe is, I think, where the Travelodge is that I will likely stay in as soon as I can vist the LL so will def have a look around. They are living about 3 miles (don't see anywhere closer unless I find a decent air bnb - must have decent wifi for work) from there on Poulton Road near the Tesco Express in Wallasey. Just waiting for that early May announcement.

Re: Leeds
 

Liverpool really is fabulous. Two of the most gorgeous and astounding cathedrals anywhere. Beautiful museums. We never got out to Port Sunlight, to visit the Lady Lever Gallery, not to mention everything else in Port Sunlight. Next time!

Re: Leeds
 

I was just talking to my sister, and she's chafing at the bit to go and see the Lady Lever Gallery.

Re: Leeds
 

The Wirral is really a very nice area, you feel like your kind of in an Island at times....as "scouce" said NB has a load to offer, I habe done the walk from NB to West Kirkby which is my favourite side of the Wirral"overlooking the estuary and Wales, I love to be able to see hills in the background and the Welsh vista from there is fab. If it were not for the weather we would of considered moving there ourselves (as I love to see the sea) but if that does not bother you then "The Wirral" or "Lytham" further up the coast would be great places to live. Norwich is just lovely and the city centre is very nice and your not far from the coast. Lincoln was nice but way to small for us the coast is also very nice, I like a city with history and cathedrals etc and either by a large river or near the coast) Worcester is very nice and cheaper than say Salisbury, Winchester. We visited Durham just before lockdown (we stopped off on our way to Northumberland) it seemed nice but a small city although you do have Newcastle for a bigger city about 25miles (ish) away. We use visit our son when he lived in Bristol and we loved Bradford upon Avon, Bath and neater the cost Portishead and Clevedon were very nice. Hope this helps

Re: Leeds
 

Yes I agree with brits1 about Durham. On the plus side, it’s on the main London to Edinburgh railway line, so easy access to Newcastle, York & Darlington - in fact London & Edinburgh are only a few hours. On the minus side, it’s too small to have a real city vibe. Cathedral and castle are good, though.

Thinking of Tyneside, if I was to move there I’d think seriously of Whitley Bay or Cullercoats. (I think neighboring Tynemouth is a bit expensive.) Great seaside & beaches and teashops, fish & chips etc. But also excellent buses and metro. (Tyne and Wear Metro.)

Re: Leeds
 

Here’s a couple of pictures of the beach at Cullercoats. I expect the local girls really do dress like that.

https://www.visitnorthtyneside.com/a...es/activity/9/

The American connection -

https://eclecticlight.co/2016/02/25/...ose-and-place/

Re: Leeds
 

Thanks brits. I'm reasonably familiar with places in the south and south west, but growing up and as a young adult, life ended at Cockfosters apart from the odd foray to Cambridge and my uncle and aunt who lived near Fressingfield, so all info about more northerly places in particular is very helpful.

Re: Leeds
 

I had no idea about the Winslow Homer thing, but you can def see the Turner influence. We would probably prefer to bea bit more south, but nothing is ruled out. Finances will have a tight limit so other things must remain flexible.

Re: Leeds
 

One of these days I’ll actually visit Cockfosters. The station building, especially the train shed itself, is said to be spectacular. But sitting on a Piccadilly train from LHR to KX is excruciating enough, it would take a certain amount of grit and determination to sit there for another 45 minutes for Cockfosters.

Christ Church in Cockfosters looks really interesting. It was built in 1839 which was a really interesting time in church architecture. The church is now “conservative Anglican evangelical” which sounds pretty dire.

Re: Leeds
 

I haven't been there for a very, very long time. I do like tube stations though, in fact the whole Tube. This is Cockfosters, a very 1930s vibe. Staying well away from evangelicals of any stripe.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...987e4334db.jpg



https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...1e8f98db90.jpg

Re: Leeds
 

Moving from Cockfosters back to Liverpool, here’s a brilliant story from the BBC about food.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-57006178

I could definitely find something to eat on that menu.

Re: Leeds
 

That is interesting. I wonder if they will be reviving the Sweetbreads and Peas. I didn't know there was a freshwater sole in England.

Re: Leeds
 

They don't! The menu says "river sole" which, in the case of the Mersey is not the same thing! :lol:

Re: Leeds
 

What is "river sole" exactly? It sounds like some sort of euphemism like Rocky Mountain oysters.

Re: Leeds
 

I shudder to think, probably relates to discarded shoes.

Just noticed that autocorrect changed my original Mersey to Jersey!