What is the best alternative when you want the buzz, culture, convenience, and great job opportunities that come with city living without the eye-watering price tags of the Capital? With soaring house prices which are, so far, resisting the current cost of living crisis and stiff competition for rental properties, which has seen monthly fees spiral, saving a deposit and getting on the property ladder can seem like a pipe dream for many UK urbanites.
Migrating
However, according to the thousands who have high-tailed it from London over the past 10 years, the numbers migrating north have increased by over 50% since 2013 – the northern powerhouse of Leeds in West Yorkshire is a worthy contender when it comes to affordable city living. Also named the best place to live in the northwest this year by the Sunday Times, this historic city with a modern vibe has a lot to offer.
Despite a population of nearly 800,000, which is larger than its northern counterparts, Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle, Leeds is reassuringly compact and easy to explore on foot. It takes around 30 minutes in total to walk across the city.
Now that so many of us are office based again, leaving the car at home is a definite bonus for the daily commute, and there are a number of public transport options in and around the city as well.
Planned HS2 connection to Leeds
Despite uncertainty around the planned HS2 connection to Leeds, hi-tech Leeds Station still boasts good rail links with the likes of Manchester in just over an hour, London Kings Cross in around two and a half hours, and local services to Sheffield, Doncaster, and York amongst others. There are also a number of city-wide bus services with huge investment earmarked for public transport upgrades in and around Leeds and the North West in the coming years.
Nearby Leeds Bradford International Airport can also be reached via the frequent Flying Tiger shuttle bus service from Leeds Station in around 30 minutes, seven days a week. Fans of two wheels will appreciate the city’s numerous cycle routes, and when only four wheels will do, Leeds has the benefit of the A1, the A1M, and the M62 nearby too.
With four universities in the city – The University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Trinity University, and Leeds Arts University – plus a number of further and higher education colleges, it is hardly surprising that there is a buzzing student scene in the city, one of the biggest in the UK.
The plethora of bars, clubs, theatres, museums, and galleries, the annual big hitters like the Leeds Festival, Live at Leeds, and stalwart Leeds Light Night, alongside the gastronomic delights which proclaim Leeds the ‘Foodie Capital of the North,’ mean that there is plenty going on to suit all tastes.
HSBC and KPMG
With big, international companies like HSBC and KPMG based locally, alongside a strong media presence in the form of the BBC, Sky, and Channel 4, a huge number of locals and students alike are able to stay in Leeds long after their studies are over thanks to the great employment and lifestyle opportunities on offer.
When family life or work-life balance takes priority, there is much to recommend the city, from outstanding state and independent schools to a great range of leisure and fitness facilities and family-friendly events like the Millennium Square Summer Series.
Leeds residents also have an impressive high street in the form of Trinity Leeds and the independent retailers of the Corn Exchange and Kirkgate Market, plus the tranquil 700-acre Roundhay Park or the scenic Yorkshire Dales on the doorstep when nature calls.
And, as if you needed more convincing, the average property price in Leeds as of July 2022 is £251,852, according to Rightmove. Terraced homes in the city cost around £200,000, semi-detached properties around £243,700 on average and detached homes go for around £400,000.
Comparison
This compares to a pricey £711,347 average cost in London (£1,666,816 in Central London!) and £333,393 and £303,673 in nearby Harrogate and York, respectively. Need we say more?!
For the best of a period property, check out the charming Victorian and Georgian offerings in central Leeds and leafy areas such as Horsforth and Roundhay. Sought after, Chapel Allerton is a hit with locals thanks to its bustling high street of independent offerings, a strong sense of local community, and the impressive Climate Innovation District – a new development of 1,000 sustainable homes next to the River Aire – is a hit with eco-conscious homebuyers.
For first-time buyers and families who are more budget conscious, Meanwood and Kirkstall are more competitively priced whilst still offering great amenities and proximity to the city center.
