We’ve always known how amazing Yorkshire is with its picturesque villages, coastal walks and beautiful countryside. But now the Telegraph has caught wind of it and named Yorkshire ‘the new Cotswold’. We’ll we couldn’t agree more, except for that for us it’s the same old Yorkshire, which has always been God’s Own Country as we Yorkshire folk know.
Writing in the Telegraph journalist Fiona Gibson writes: “Forget your Cotswolds and the leafy lanes of Kent. From zippy power couples to established dynasties, well-heeled locals know that Yorkshire is no longer stuck in the era of Hovis ads and Last of the Summer Wine.”
Six of our humble market towns and suburbs made it into the list of six of the Telegraphs hotspots to live in Yorkshire.
1. Ilkey
Praised for its green spaces, and within easy reach of both Leeds and the Yorkshire Dales. Ilkley, which sits in the moors is heralded as a great place to live. But, it doesn’t come cheap, the article states that “an average property price of £482,875, up seven per cent from the previous year.”
2. Roundhay and the North Leeds suburbs
Next up on the list is the Leeds suburbs of Roundhay and Chapel Allerton, which were noted for their “the stunning Victorian architecture and the tranquil charm of Roundhay Park, one of the biggest urban parks in Europe.”
Chapel Allerton has a range of independent shops such as a butcher’s, a fishmonger’s, a cheesemonger’s, a card shop, and the Little Bookshop. Cheaper than Ilkley, but not cheap the average house price is around £338,398 last year, according to Rightmove.
3. Filey and Scarborough
Near The Yorkshireman’s neck of the woods, these two seaside towns made the hotspots with Filey been chosen for its desirable location next to the sea.
Thanks to Scarborough#s “recent refurbished Market Hall and Vaults is a labyrinth of quirky independent shops, while other delights include a medieval castle, fabulous Victorian architecture, a funicular railway and two sandy bays.” It is known as one of “Yorkshire’s more affordable areas” with house prices averaging at £181,104.
4. Wetherby
Next up is Weatherby, a thriving market town on the outskirts of York, Leeds and Harrogate. A mixture of boutique shops and its surrounding chocolate-box villages make this a sought after place to live with a price tag of £433,518 for the average house.
5. Ripon
One of the smallest cities in the UK, Ripon is one of the most popular with movers looking for greener pastures. According to Ogden, “Ripon is riding a popularity wave.”
It’s hard to believe that it’s a city being as idyllic and quaint as it is – never mind the oldest city in Britain. You’ll find what makes Ripon unique is its small streets and snickets that house boutique shops and cafes, which it has become so loved for.
6. Skipton
Estate agent Ogden says “This bustling market town has grown in popularity during the pandemic.” The gateway to the Yorkshire Dales and its cobbled streets are an enticing combination it seems. In fact, the article points out that Skipton’s main shopping area “once beat London’s Portobello Road to be crowned the best high street in the UK.”
Read More: These Two Yorkshire Coast Cliffs Are The Best Places To Spot Puffins In The World
Feature Image Credit: Cowcalf/Wikimedia Commons/T.J Blackwell/licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
