Leeds - moving to the city, where to stay?

[DanceLikeAMon...]

Further to my posting a few weeks back about my fear of redundancy, the good news is that I have just found out that I've got a new job working for a much better company that pays a lot more money (and I don't have to touch a penny of my big bag of severance cash)

It's in Leeds and I'm in Newcastle so I'm going to have to relocate. I've booked into the Novotel for the first couple of weeks, but for the following 6 months I would be looking at renting a flat - then if all goes well I would sell my place up here and buy a house there.

I know nothing about the area and my only visit has been when I went down for an afternoon to have the interview.

So.... anyone get any opinions of where to stay?

For the flat I want to pay between £500 and £600 a month and want to be right in the city if possible. One bedroom will do, don't want to share and don't want to be surrounded by students.

For the house I would be looking for somewhere within 4 miles of Leeds station and would want to pay around £150k but could go to more for the right place. I know that's quite a bit in the future but I want to do some forward planning with my money.

Cheers chums

[VTRkemshell10...]

does it have to be city centre? have you looked at a bit further out of CC like Morley, or even towards wakefield? cheaper to rent and get more for your money!
____________________
Past Rides: Sym Jet Euro X, Gilera DNA, Aprillia RS125 (Spains No1 Replica), 1991 Honda NSF, 2006 Honda CG125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, 2000 VFR800 FY-I
Current Rides: 2001 VTR1000 FIRESTORM

[Jodie]

Agree with Kemshell.

I'd stay out of the city centre, I'm from more Wakefield/Pontefract side and they are fine as is Methley/Rothwell/Garforth etc.

You'll be able to rent a house with garage for £500 ish I reckon and the commute should be no probs, bit of a pain at certain times.

Hope for your sake parking comes with the job as that's expensive.

Good luck

[VTRkemshell10...]

[iooi]

Where abouts in Leeds are you working. As living at one side and working at the other can be fun.... Even on a bike....

Armley is a cheap area, although not the best area.

Just avoid the likes of Cross Gates and Seacroft area's......
____________________
Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[DanceLikeAMon...]

Thanks, but I definitely want to be in the city centre for the first 6 months as I'm not taking any transport down with me and don't want to be travelling on trains or buses.

When I come to buy I'll want a house outside of the city but for now it's the city live for me!

Snip: Just saw this "Where abouts in Leeds are you working". It's on the business side I think. It's near the Yorkshire Post building (that's the only thing I remember from my fleeting visit)

[Jodie]

Chapeltown's nice


I don't know anywhere nice to be honest in city centre apart from the newish flats on Granary Wharf.

[phantomtek]

[iooi]

YEP is not really in city center. Most flats are Clarance docks.. (ouch land) and that side (other side of city center) of leeds. Out towards Yep you are looking at a heavy student area, as its very close to both Uni and LGI hospital.

Still easy walking distance.

You would be looking at Kirkstall, burley and Headingley side of Leeds
Again avoid Woodhouse moor area......

Something in this area is close to that area. or this
____________________
Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[DanceLikeAMon...]

Cheers guys. It's really hard to know what an area is like from a photo and agents description, so I guess I'll just have to wait until I get there.

Thanks anyway chums!

[DanceLikeAMon...]

[TUG]

[DanceLikeAMon...]

Got to go where the jobs are. It's just another Newcastle anyway (just slightly warmer)

[TUG]

[Nexus Icon]

Used to take me over an hour to commute into Leeds from Pontefract, by car and that's only 12 miles, 10 of which are on the motorway. I can't recommend NOT doing that enough.

However, from my time working in Leeds I can't remember passing any nice residential areas at all.

I'd seriously consider living just outside the city centre, not so far as to incur the hellish commute but far enough to avoid the inner city shambles.
____________________
Greetings from Shitsville!

[Ol]

[iooi]

[Charlie]

Can help with student accommodation and general information about Leeds. Lived in Hyde Park and now in Woodhouse. You could probably join the motorbike society as well
____________________
Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[DanceLikeAMon...]

Thanks Charlie, but I defo want to stay away from student accommodation!

[Charlie]

It's not as bad as you think! Honest
____________________
Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[ZRX61]

Headingley, it's where all the student totty is
____________________
They're not one night stands, they're auditions.

[kawakid]

I used to commute from Halifax (Fax to locals) to Leeds on a daily basis.

The traffic was horrendous a journey that would take 20mins at the weekend, took over 1 hour. (This is by car).

However the trains now are really good. I've recently been on a course in Leeds and the train took me 30 mins and the train station is only about 10mins from my house by foot.

I always said I would never go back to working in Leeds, but having the train now I would.

Leeds is a really nice place, be sure to pop in to J&S and Hein Gerike, they are both across from each other. About a 10 min walk from Leeds City Centre, look for the market, head towards the back where the bus station is and turn left.
____________________
I've a twin and a 4.

[DanceLikeAMon...]

Thanks for that. At present I only live 4 miles from work so was thinking that I have to live somewhere as close as that, but I guess if the trains are decent if I do end up buying a house down there I could get more for my money moving somewhere like Halifax.

[Clanger]

From the looks of all your responses, it won't be hard to find some people to meet up and ride out with either!!

We used to go to Leeds about 3 times a year (during our teen years) just for a change of scenery from the offerings of Scunthorpe or Lincoln.
____________________
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[DanceLikeAMon...]

A couple of posts recommended the Kirkstall area, does anyone know if these are decent enough areas to live? They look alright on the photos, but you never know what horrors are in hiding!
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-34176554.html?showcase=true
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-30221464.html

Second one costs more, but would work out the same sort of price as I can walk that one (2 miles by my reckoning)

Cheers