Is Harrogate a nice place to live

Fred Quimby · 17-11-2008, 8:28 AM

Might have the chance to move and live in the Harrogate area next year.

Is it a nice place to live.....crime,employment etc. Would you want to live there.

What are the major attractions about the place. Would be looking to pay around £250.000 - £300.000 for a house.

Zeromajor · 17-11-2008, 8:41 AM

I have friends in harrogate and from what i've seen of the town centre it's clean and the people are friendly. It's generally seen as quite a well-to-do town.

If I was to move to yorkshire i'd choose harrogate or beverley (east yorks).

There isn't much in the way of 'attractions' but you're on york's doorstep which provides loads in the way of shopping/museums/things to do

Woodywizz · 17-11-2008, 8:42 AM

I have only ever heard good things about Harrogate - I have a few clients who live there and they rave about the place. Very cosmopolitan, but I would imagine house prices are quite steep. Have a look here to view everything from house prices to crime figures - CLICKY

Pecker · 17-11-2008, 9:26 AM

It's a superb place to live.

It's clean, lots of facilities, good schools (Harrogate Grammar is one of the top state schools in the country), and is handy for both Leeds (big city facilities) and York (one of the most historic places in the UK...or the world, for that matter). Leeds/Bradford airport is only 10 miles away, and you’re right next to the A1, which at that point in the country is like being on the M1.

On the down side the house prices are extortionate by Yorkshire standards. However, if you're moving from down sought you might find the prices okay.

Steve W

OldAndSenile · 17-11-2008, 9:47 AM

Harrogate is lovely - but as the previous poster says, the house prices are through the roof!

The only issue I've ever had with the place is that traffic is completely awful - driving in and out of the place during rush hour takes ages - you're better getting a train if you're commuting in or out of Harrogate on a daily basis.

Fred Quimby · 17-11-2008, 10:25 AM

Thanks everyone,seems like a dream place to live. Shocked at the house prices though.

However things might change over the next year.

*Wild Weasel* · 17-11-2008, 11:20 AM

Harrogate is a nice place. I went to secondary school there (Harrogate Grammar actually - a sausage factory of a school with **** all pastoral care). It has the feel of a seaside town, although it's about as far inland as you can get. A tourist once asked me which way the seafront was and I told him about 60 miles one way and 70 miles the other (true story).

Pecker · 17-11-2008, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild Weasel

Harrogate is a nice place. I went to secondary school there (Harrogate Grammar actually - a sausage factory of a school with **** all pastoral care). It has the feel of a seaside town, although it's about as far inland as you can get. A tourist once asked me which way the seafront was and I told him about 60 miles one way and 70 miles the other (true story).

They had a high profile bullying problem, with one former pupil taking them to court. Since then I think they've tidied up their act. The last OFSTED report was a Grade 1 (Outstanding), and you can bet the inspectors went over the bullying issue with a fine tooth comb, given the 'previous'.

Steve W

Decadence · 17-11-2008, 11:56 AM

I like Harrogate except for the traffic, it's a nightmare!

*Wild Weasel* · 17-11-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pecker

They had a high profile bullying problem, with one former pupil taking them to court. Since then I think they've tidied up their act. The last OFSTED report was a Grade 1 (Outstanding), and you can bet the inspectors went over the bullying issue with a fine tooth comb, given the 'previous'.

Steve W

I hope so; That was back in 1994. Bullying wasn't a problem back in the 80's when I was there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Decadence

I like Harrogate except for the traffic, it's a nightmare!

Parking has always been a problem. Like most British councils, they like to discourage retail trade by charging for parking.

Junglist · 17-11-2008, 12:33 PM

I have been to Harrogate a few times and have always thought of it as a nice retirement town. The town centre is quite small but as others have said you have York and Leeds nearby.
It is one of the best places in Yorkshire to live in, clean and peaceful. It has a lovely character about it.

I took my in-laws there once and they said that they can see themselves moving from Kent to Harrogate once they are retired.

Fred Quimby · 17-11-2008, 12:41 PM

Can anyone see a 20% drop in house prices over the next year,in or around the Harrogate area.

PoochJD · 17-11-2008, 12:52 PM

Hi,

I, too, have relatives in Harrogate, and can confirm, that - for the most part -it's a pleasant town to live in.

My only issue, other than the traffic, is that getting around can be a bit of a nightmare. Buses may not be frequent enough for someone who is used to living near a major connurbation, and it is very, very hilly in the surrounding areas. So stamina and a car are definitely needed!

Other than that, it's a very nice place! Folk seem to be friendly, though that's fairly common "oop North", so yes, go live there and enjoy!

Oh, and try proper Yorkshire Fish and Chips (other than Harry Ramsden's, which has gone downhill over the years). Nowhere in the country does better fish and chips than in Yorkshire!

Pooch

Hades · 17-11-2008, 1:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PoochJD

Oh, and try proper Yorkshire Fish and Chips (other than Harry Ramsden's, which has gone downhill over the years). Nowhere in the country does better fish and chips than in Yorkshire!

Pooch

Never a truer word spoken

Visited friends in South Derbyshire once and had fish and chips there. The fish still had all the skin on, I was nearly sick

Harrogate is a very nice place to live. Where the posh folk live as we would say

As already mentioned, very expensive house prices, which reflect the nice area.

la gran siete · 17-11-2008, 5:58 PM

Naice looking place but like others of its ilk, incredibly snooty.No good going there with sarf eastern accent because one would get a look down their noses type treatment.Not my favourite place

jenic · 17-11-2008, 7:06 PM

I really like going to harrogate, its only about 50 minutes away from my house.

City is nice, traffic can be a problem at rush hour but the road system is very good, loads of nice scenic routes aswell if you want to go to skipton, york, lake district, the moors. It is expensive though.

Reign-Mack · 17-11-2008, 10:05 PM

Isnt that one of those places up north that has floods ...why would anybody by house there

Quote:

Originally Posted by la gran siete

Naice looking place but like others of its ilk, incredibly snooty.No good going there with sarf eastern accent because one would get a look down their noses type treatment.Not my favourite place

wow you seem to be generalising a pretty broad spectrum of people.