Best area to live in Leeds

CraigC94

Hi,
We are in the process of looking into areas in Leeds to arrange viewings, and despite working in the city for 6 years, I have no idea where the ‘nice’ areas are to live, originally being from Doncaster! 

I have found during research and talking to a few friends that North Leeds is generally considered safer than the South, particularly areas like Adel, Alwoodley, Otley etc. However, I know all nice areas will have rougher parts. 

Does anyone have recommendations for specific locations, even street or village specific which would be ideal places and which areas near those to avoid? We have been looking at Adel, Horsforth, Rothwell, Pudsey, and Otley in particular. 

My main concern is crime (I know this will fluctuate one village to the next) and any particular issues around same sex crime. I am aware most people keep to themselves these days, but my partner would like to at least get to know the neighbours! 

Thanks in advance
Craig

rubywhatashmoo

It depends on your budget really - alwoodley and horsforth are lovely but expensive, North Leeds also has the student areas - a lot of headingley falls under that which I wouldn't consider safe but depends on your definition I suppose. Your best bet is to decide what you want from the area - if a low level of crime is your only criteria do a google search and pick a house there. I lived in South Leeds for 9 years and didn't feel unsafe - but there are areas of it I would avoid after dark, same as the rest of Leeds. I live near Pudsey now and there's bit of that I wouldn't wander alone in after dark (but I'm a woman and it's lockdown so you know, there's always extra factors to consider!!). Have you had a drive round any of the bits you're interested in to at least get a feel for them or see hoe close the nice bits are to not so nice bits?

MaryNB

I made the mistake of moving to Headingley when I lived in Leeds. I didn't find it unsafe but there were just too many students.
I didn't live there but Chapel Allerton seemed to be very popular with young professionals. A lot of my colleagues lived in Horsforth and really liked it. I was told to avoid living in Chapeltown, Harehills, Beeston or Holbeck. I'm sure there are people who live there and find it fine, I'm just going by recommendations I got when I moved there. 

teachfast

Isn't this a bit like asking, "When is the most fun time to have a funeral"

Turtle

Rothwell is south Leeds but lovely. Holbeck is the only place in the country to have a managed 'safe zone' for sex workers...

daveyjp

How important is access to the city centre? What is your budget?

coffeehound

CraigC94 said:

Does anyone have recommendations for specific locations, even street or village specific which would be ideal places and which areas near those to avoid? We have been looking at Adel, Horsforth, Rothwell, Pudsey, and Otley in particular. 

If driving into the city, it's worth checking the commute times as the routes in/out from the north get congested (don't know if that will be better in the post-covid era).  Somewhere with a railway station might be handy if you don't want to drive.  Horsforth ticks lots of boxes.

daveyjp

Horsforth also has a negative.  Aircraft noise, especially when the aircraft take off towards Leeds (which is often the case at weekends over the summer, nice early wake up on a Sunday!) so you need to choose the street wisely.

This also applies to Cookridge.

Noseybear38

I think you also need to think carefully about your commute. Lots of lovely places out on the train line to Ilkley like Guiseley, Menston and Burley but you might not want that more village like location. I wouldn’t want to drive to central Leeds from those locations as the traffic is bad so train would be the best option.

Chapel Allerton has more bars and restaurants and independent shops as well as  good bus links to town. However lots of people move out of this area once they have families because of the style of houses and schools. 

Otley is popular with families but not the easiest to get to central Leeds as no train and traffic is busy again. 

CraigC94

Thanks for your replies so far. I would say our budget is upto around £250k, and I would say I’ll be commuting probably twice a week at minimum into the city post Covid. I have wondered whether there is any other areas out of Leeds to consider, towards the nicer villages of Wakefield (Stanley etc). Does anyone commute in from outside of Leeds? 

jennyred

CraigC94 said:

Thanks for your replies so far. I would say our budget is upto around £250k, and I would say I’ll be commuting probably twice a week at minimum into the city post Covid. I have wondered whether there is any other areas out of Leeds to consider, towards the nicer villages of Wakefield (Stanley etc). Does anyone commute in from outside of Leeds? 

I live in Huddersfield, near junction 24, and commute to Beeston in Leeds everyday. It takes me approx 23 mins to commute. Takes some of my colleagues, going from 1 side of Leeds to the other, twice that.

Leeds is pretty congested traffic twice, even during COVID.

Where I live in Huddersfield is beautiful and you'd get much more for your money outside of Leeds.