The Best Places to Live in Yorkshire

Yorkshire is known for its stunning landscape, rich history and strong community feel. From vibrant cities to peaceful villages, Yorkshire has a lot to offer residents and there’s really a location for everyone. Below, we explore just a selection of some of the best places to live in Yorkshire, to give you some inspiration to find your new home.

Skipton

Skipton is a market town in North Yorkshire, that often features on lists of the best places to live in Yorkshire. Skipton is known as the “Gateway to the Dales” due to its location close to the Yorkshire Dales, which makes it popular with residents and tourists alike. The town also has plenty of green open spaces within the local area, including Aireville Park and Skipton Castle Woods nature reserve.

Skipton has a huge range of independent shops, which contribute to its unique character and community feel. The town also has plenty of well-known retailers, so residents find they have everything they need right on the doorstep.

Skipton hosts an annual gala every June, with a procession through the town featuring floats and a marching band. The gala has been going on since 1901 and raises money for local charities. The town also hosts an annual Christmas market which sees over 50 local retailers set up stalls in the high street, open for pedestrians only. The Christmas market also has entertainment such as live music and a funfair for people to enjoy.

Beverley

Beverley is a market town in East Yorkshire, nine miles north-west of Hull. It’s a relaxing town with an upmarket feel, filled with stunning historic architecture, high quality restaurants, trendy bars, and characterful cafes. There are over 40 public houses in Beverley and the majority are over 100 years old. One pub – the Sun Inn – dates back to around 1530 and has become a tourist attraction in its own right.

Beverley hosts a number of events throughout the year, including a literature festival, kite festival, food festival, and an ale and cider festival. The town has a welcoming, friendly feel, which extends to our four-legged friends. Many shops and cafes around the town are dog-friendly, even putting out dog beds and blankets. Another factor that makes Beverley a great choice for dog-lovers is its proximity to the Yorkshire countryside, with a huge number of walking trails and hikes within easy reach.

Beverley is especially popular with commuters. Driving to York takes around an hour, and to Hull takes just 20 minutes. Beverley railway station has regular services to York, which take around an hour and a half, while trains to Hull take around 20 minutes.

Boston Spa

Boston Spa is a village in West Yorkshire, around 14 miles north-east of Leeds. It recently featured on the Sunday Times Best Places to Live in the UK rankings, with judges calling it a “handsome village” with “buzzy restaurants and bars, upmarket shops and even a gin distillery”.

The village has a welcoming community spirit and is especially popular with families, thanks to its choice of good quality schools and family-friendly activities. There are plenty of parks and playgrounds, as well as a skatepark. The village is located on the River Wharfe, with a riverside walking trail, plus a vast amount of picturesque Yorkshire countryside to explore.

For a small village, Boston Spa has plenty of amenities available, including a small supermarket and independent bakery, pubs and restaurants. There’s also a GP surgery and dental clinic in the village, plus a gym and a choice of sports clubs. For everything else, Leeds is just a 30-minute drive away.

York

York is a city in North Yorkshire with a rich history, gorgeous architecture and unique character. It’s another Yorkshire location which frequently features highly in rankings of the best places to live in the UK, thanks to its vibrant community and cultural scene. York has numerous art galleries, museums and theatres, as well as a busy live music scene, which has led it to become part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a city of Media Arts.

The city has a huge array of independent boutiques and eateries, with many offering spiritual and witchcraft-orientated wares and gifts. York has a reputation for the supernatural and has many ghost tours which take tourists and residents around the “haunted” parts of the city. As well as a full range of shopping and restaurant choices, York has plenty of green spaces to relax in and enjoy nature, such as Walmgate Stray and Hob Moor.

York is extremely well-connected, being around halfway between London and Edinburgh on the East Coast Main Line. Trains from York to London take just two hours, with many services throughout the day, and York to Edinburgh also takes around two hours. For services to closer locations, trains to Leeds take less than 30 minutes and to Sheffield take less than an hour.

Ilkley

Ilkley is a spa town in West Yorkshire around 12 miles north of Bradford, and previously has won the Sunday Times Best Place to Live in the UK. Ilkley is located on the southern side of the Yorkshire Dales and provides easy access to the beautiful, rugged moors, perfect for hikers, cyclists and ramblers.

A key draw of Ilkley is that it can offer the best of both worlds, providing the peaceful feel and stunning views of a rural town whilst having ample amenities available. It has busy and varied shopping opportunities, offering everything from fine wines, fashion and art, as well as day-to-day needs. There are plenty of independent shops as well as High Street brands, plus cosy tea rooms, quality restaurants and traditional pubs.

Ilkley recently won a campaign to get part of the River Wharfe to gain Designated Bathing Status, helping to keep the waters clean for the many people who enjoy swimming in the local area every summer. Ilkley also has a famous Victorian Lido and indoor pool which has a quaint café and picnic area.

Moving to Yorkshire?

If you’re moving to Yorkshire, find your local Yorkshire removals office for all your removals needs. You can contact Britannia Olivers for North Yorkshire removals, Britannia Willis for Yorkshire removals, and Britannia Appleyards for South Yorkshire removals. All our Yorkshire branches provide professional, flexible removals across Yorkshire and further afield, with decades of experience and a wealth of local knowledge.