Anyone know West Yorkshire (Leeds in particular) well?

spirit

Just as an aside - my grandparents/dad came from Yeadon. I can remember my sister and I spending our summer holidays with them. From their dining room, you could see Ilkley Moor. This was quite some years ago now, they are long since dead. I'd love to find out at some point if there are any living rellies around.

I believe this might not be possible now, did they build an airport on it?!

vuvuzela

spirit wrote: »

Just as an aside - my grandparents/dad came from Yeadon. I can remember my sister and I spending our summer holidays with them. From their dining room, you could see Ilkley Moor. This was quite some years ago now, they are long since dead. I'd love to find out at some point if there are any living rellies around.

I believe this might not be possible now, did they build an airport on it?!

They did indeed http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeds_Bradford_International_Airport

hanfrangipane

spirit wrote: »

Thanks about the question marks - I was wondering what that was all about.

Thanks to everyone since I last posted, am sneaking on at work, but will come back on when I get home. There is some terrific information/help here, absolutely brilliant, thank you. :T

My dil to-be is constantly mithering me to go up there. My son said yesterday that they would both love it and that DiL would be always at my house (I love her as if she were my own DD by the way)

My son graduated this year from Leeds Beckett and has just got a job there, Dil has also just been offered a job there. I just joked that she should get me one there too and we'll make it a family thing :rotfl:

I don't want to be in their pockets and I'm sure they wouldn't want me to. So I have to consider how easy it is to make my own friends there. I guess wherever I end up working might open up possibilities. DS tells me that everyone is very friendly there - more so than down here. For example, I've lived in my current house for 4 years and have spoken a couple of times to the neighbours, I can't even remember their names.

Hi Spirit,

It sounds like you'd be better placed being on the South Leeds side of things if you want to be close to your family. The North to South drive isn't horrendous but in my opinion it's far enough that I chose to stay this side to be close enough to my own family. I agree with the posts by MillyMolly that there are some really lovely areas to live on the Northern side and you wouldn't go far wrong with quite a few areas that side of Leeds, all of which she has given some great pointers on. On the flip side, there are some areas much closer to your family that are also nice, I know a LOT of people who have lived around our area their whole lives as they like it so much and it really does have a good community atmosphere.

It depends on priorities really and a good drive around all the areas that you're thinking of. I'm also at work at the moment but I'll try and link to a few nice houses/areas on the South side as MillyMoo has done for the North so you get an idea. The South ones that she has linked are all pretty close to your Son and DIL but she rightly points out that these are bordering on the not so nice area. I looked at a few of these myself and I think they are overpriced for what/where they are.

Just out of interest, what age are you and what kind of work do you do? Might give a steer on what areas you might like more and where might be best for job hunting etc.

And yes, people are friendly My mum's neighbour lets the dog out for her most days if the is a little late getting back from work and takes her bins in and out for her. It's been like that wherever we have lived in the surrounding area!

Keep us updated - happy to chat over PM if you want to know anything else

Errata

If I was moving to Leeds I'd buy here http://www.urbansplash.co.uk/residential/saxton

worried_jim

I had the pleasure of working in Leeds three years ago and coming from Brighton I thought it was a brilliant place- so friendly with so much to see and do. If I got asked to transfer there I'd sell up in heart beat. Lovely city, great people.
OP if you do move there I think you will be very happy. Good luck!

hanfrangipane

Errata wrote: »

If I was moving to Leeds I'd buy here http://www.urbansplash.co.uk/residential/saxton

Wow, my Grandma lived in Saxton Gardens when it was the 'before' photo - feel a bit choked up looking at that! I'd love for my Grandma to still be around to show her the change.

She was my childcare whilst my mum worked in Leeds. I used to stand on the balcony and would wave at my Mum while she was stood at her office window with binoculars. Then I'd go to Leeds market for a go on the hand turned 'Merry go round' and some fish and chips!

Looks like a great development, there are an increasing number of places like that with green living etc, if I had been looking to buy a flat I would have been into something like this. I'm glad it has been regenerated as even 26 years ago it wasn't a nice area of Leeds at all but it's all looking great now.

Errata

I have a friend who lives there and works at Leeds Uni, they have a two bedder with a balcony, it's a great place - secure buildings, secure parking, allotments, orchard, meadow, easy to walk to all the good stuff in the city centre,

spirit

grimsalve wrote: »

What sort of budget are you working on? What sort of area are you looking for? When you say commutable will it be via car or public transport?

I live and work in Leeds

Hello grimsalve, I'm looking to spend no more than £200k. I drive, but if there is decent public transport then I'm happy to use that.

kathrynha

spirit wrote: »

Just as an aside - my grandparents/dad came from Yeadon. I can remember my sister and I spending our summer holidays with them. From their dining room, you could see Ilkley Moor. This was quite some years ago now, they are long since dead. I'd love to find out at some point if there are any living rellies around.

I believe this might not be possible now, did they build an airport on it?!

"Yeadon" Airport as it is known locally is right at the top end of Yeadon, and although so close to the airport it doesn't suffer from plane noise as it isnt under the flight path, unlike Headingley and top of Horsforth which the plane come in to land over.

Ilkley Moor is still visible from some parts of Yeadon.

Yeadon is a nice place, not that I'm biased or anything.
If you want to find family check out Aireborough Historical Society. Aireborough is the old area of Rawdon, Yeadon and Guiseley before they came under Leeds City Council.

daveyjp

I'd start by renting a city centre apartment for 6 months which will then give you time to get to know the city better.