UK’s ‘posh enclave’ where house prices average £532,000 named best place to live in the north

Looking for new digs? One town jokingly labelled a ‘posh enclave’ has been named the best place to live in the north of England.

Just outside of the bustling city of Leeds lies the quaint town of Ilkley – known for its independent cafés, trendy brunch spots and picturesque hiking views.

According to a brand-new list, it trumps absolutely every other single place in the north and northeast of England when it comes to various factors, including schools, transport, access to green spaces, mobile coverage and even the ‘health of the high street’ – including the likes of Hebden Bridge, Horsforth and Morpeth, which also scored highly.

The average house up in Ilkley isn’t cheap at £532,000, according to The Sunday Times’ list – while the typical UK house price is almost half the cost at £267,200, as research from Zoopla shows.

It’s not the first time Ilkley has been praised, as it was named the best place to live in the entirety of the UK in 2022. Clearly, West Yorkshire is where it’s at.

As for the rest of the UK, Saffron Walden in Essex – where house prices average out at a whopping £607,100 – came in first place, while in London, the eternally cool Walthamstow (or ‘Awesomestow,’ as locals know it) won a landslide victory.

What locals are saying about Ilkley

Both locals and visitors to Ilkley alike have long been completely enamoured with it – even if it’s a little bit ‘posh.’

Over on the r/Yorkshire Subreddit, @Ok-Fox1262 jokingly called the West Yorkshire town a ‘posh enclave,’ but noted that it’s ‘really nice, albeit a bit expensive by local standards…and you have the whole of the dales to go at if you like walking and countryside.’

For @oovavoooo, Ilkley very much resembles ‘an old money spa town’ that alongside ‘Skipton and York’ forms part of the ‘Yorkshire Golden Triangle.’ In their view, you won’t find many ‘better places to live’ in England – and the latest rankings certainly prove that point.

‘It does have quite a west London vibe to it, but with very different surroundings. It’s also full of people who have moved from or back from London,’ they added.

Elsewhere, @No_Potato_4341 branded it ‘picturesque’ as well as ‘a complete anomaly compared to other places in the Bradford Borough.’ For them, The Toy Museum and Manor House are the peak of Ilkley living, as well as the beautiful countryside.

Things to do in Ilkley

Thinking of making the move? Undoubtedly, the best thing about Ilkley is its proximity to absolutely breathtaking views – the most notable looming right over the town on Ilkley Moor, by the Cow and Calf Rocks.

Also known as the Hangingstone Rocks, they’re about a 35-minute walk from the train station at the bottom of the hill – which various locals have even been spotted running up and down in all weathers. You would if you could, right?

Tipples and roast dinners aplenty are served up at The Cow And Calf pub which is, of course, a mere seven minutes on foot from the neighbouring rocks, overlooking the Wharfe Valley.

And back towards the centre of town, who could forget the iconic Betty’s Tea Room? It’s been serving up Fat Rascals – a famous Yorkshire bun resembling a scone – since 1919, after all.

If swimming is more your thing, Ilkley Lido is found right next to the indoor pool. Opened in 1935, it was originally part of the celebrations for the Silver Jubilee of George V.

And when the weekend rolls around, it’s always nice to indulge in a spot of brunch – found in abundance at the likes of Toast House, Outside The Box, and Arlo. Hash brown, anyone?

Transport links in Ilkley

Wondering what your new daily commute might look like? Leeds and Bradford – both giants of West Yorkshire respectively – are approximately 30 minutes from Ilkley on the train (or 45 minutes by car).

And if you ever find yourself yearning for London, there’s a direct train down to King’s Cross from Leeds, which takes around 2 hours and 15 minutes.

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