Experiences of Harrogate please?

Fraise

What's Wetherby like in Harrogate?

ConfusedofYorkshire

Wetherby is lovely. So is boroughbridge.

pleasedelete

Boroughbridge doesnt have a trains station which limits it. Its a bit of an older profile-both our neighbours sold up and retired there. If you want a market type town then there are better imho. Wetherby is in Leeds- quite a mixed demographic.

Skipton is too far to commute except to Lancashire/Burnley etc. No good for Leeds. When the road gets blocked due to landslides every so often the diversion routes add hours to journeys.

The Duchy used to be much more expensive than the rest of harrogate. When we moved in 2006 I could have bought a mid terrace (big and Victorian) but basically mid terrace with no back garden on the Duchy with the money I had. Few houses ever went on the open market. A couple of years ago a lot sold in a short time (it is only a few streets really). If I sold mine not on Duchy now i could afford more up there than I could in 2006 which suggests that prices there maybe havent done as well as other areas (only my personal view). It is very handy for town. Interestingly it backs onto the area which everyone is saying to avoid! Harrogate really is a street by street town.

It used to have more bars and pubs per head of the population than anywhere in the UK I believe. It has dozens of restaurants. Carluccios and Jamies both under construction at the moment as well. Money used to come from the conferences but these are much less. It baffles me where the money to support it all comes from- that said there were over 30 hens in 3 groups on the train in this morning- lots of weekenders (middle aged couples and older brides).

bagpussbear

Really helpful info folks, thanks ever so much. We will certainly consider the other areas mentioned too now.

trailingspouse

Just one more thought - the traffic around Harrogate is horrendous, especially in the summer.

We lived in Hebden Bridge for 3 years, and I agree it's lovely if a bit hippyish. Handy for the station, but because the town is dominated by independent shops there isn't a big supermarket, and opening times can be a bit hit-and-miss. Also, it suffered massively in the floods of 2012 and some shops are still empty sadly.

We're now in Bingley, which I feel is up-and-coming. Again, handy for the station (19 minutes to Leeds), and a better selection of 'ordinary' shops (tea rooms and gift shops are great if you're a tourist but for ordinary day-to-day living you need other things!). Within half an hour you can be in Bradford, or Halifax, or the Yorkshire Dales.

minx1985

Hello

My parents moved me and my brothers to Harrogate from Bradford when we were small (20+ years ago now) for a better education and quality of life.
I now live in Bolton and only now do I appreciate the sacrifices my parents made to put my brothers and I in the best place they could afford. The council generally get things done, it is very clean with a thriving shopping precinct, good schools, beautiful green spaces, a good local hospital, little anti-social behaviour and good transport links.
Of course, this comes at a price, with Harrogate house prices way above average for northern England. Best areas are Duchy and the HG2 8/9 postcodes. The latter is close to the 36 bus route to Leeds and less than 20 mins walk to the train station. Avoid Starbeck, top of Ripon Road and parts of Kings Road. There are also lots of bed sits and a hostel for troubled youngsters off Cold Bath Road so may not be what you are wanting. 200k would be more realistic if you're wanting a 3 bed semi with garden and off road parking.
Good luck x

minx1985

Just as a quick aside, if you cannot find anything suitable in Harrogate, have you considered north Leeds? Harewood, Moortown, Roundhay, Shadwell and Chapel Allerton are all lovely with excellent facilities, green spaces and transport links, and 3 bed properties are more affordable than Harrogate. Hope that helps.

pleasedelete

trailingspouse wrote: »

Just one more thought - the traffic around Harrogate is horrendous, especially in the summer.

It is horrendous show week to get in or out but fab if you just want to drive about within Harrogate. The new M&S is causing traffic issues at the moment but generally it is pretty traffic free with the exception of Skipton Road at school pick up times. when Tesco build next year it will probably be worse but the traffic is nothing compared to leeds or the horrific Bradford traffic.

newsgirl

To get the 'best' schools in Harrogate you probably need to go to church (St Aidan's CofE and St John Fisher RC). However Rossett is also good. Housing will be your biggest concern with 2-bed terraced homes selling for up to £170k.

Expect to pay about £189,000+ for semis in the New Park / Bilton area which is the cheaper side of town. Jennyfields is cheaper but does have social housing on one side so it's less popular.

Ripon is nice but houses not a great deal cheaper and there is no rail line as there is in Harrogate. Wetherby is just as expensive as Harrogate, it's part of the "golden triangle".

Harrogate is nice and you do pay more for homes here but I think it's worth it if you can manage it.

pleasedelete

newsgirl wrote: »

To get the 'best' schools in Harrogate you probably need to go to church (St Aidan's CofE and St John Fisher RC). However Rossett is also good.

Or live the the Harrogate Grammar School catchment which is less compact than it was before since the rural passport ended.