Moving to Leeds
Here at Compare My Move, we want all our users to be fully informed before planning their moving day. So, before you begin arranging your Leeds house removal, let's get into the basics of what moving to Leeds entails and why it could be the perfect home for you.
With one of the most diverse employment sectors in the UK, a huge social scene, and a thriving arts and creatives network, Leeds is a thriving city that offers something for every personality type.
Leeds is the UK's third-largest city and has one of the largest economies outside of London. Shops, museums, music venues, markets and carnivals are just a few of the things that await you in this diverse city. With a mixture of medieval and modern architecture, there’s a home for everyone here.
There’s also plenty of green spaces too, with parks and open countryside just a short car ride away. Outside of the city, you’ll find rolling hills and historical sites like Kirkstall and Fountain Abbey for added entertainment and education.
If you’re looking for work, enterprise and start-ups are incredibly popular in Leeds. The city as an employment industry is experiencing a lot of development and growth, so there’s a whole host of opportunities for you, even if you’re there simply to commute.
Property in Leeds
Compared to other cities in Northern England, property in Leeds is fairly expensive. The average property price in Leeds is currently £183,707 according to the UK House Price Index. Despite this being less than half the cost of London’s average, other cities in Northern England are slightly less.
In Leeds, detached properties are most commonly found with the average cost sitting at £333,877. If you search for homes in other areas of Northern England, you will likely find this property type for much cheaper. For example, in Liverpool, detached homes average at £262,637. If you’re looking to move into a flat, the price in Leeds averages at £128,828. In Liverpool, they average at £107,289 and in Sheffield, the average is £112,253.
Generally, rent in Leeds is lower than in other major UK cities. If you’re looking to rent here, the average asking rent is currently £1,196 pcm, according to Zoopla. London’s current average is much more expensive at £2,894 pcm. In Leeds, 2-bedroom houses currently average at £710 pcm whilst 1-bedroom flats have an average asking rent of £629 pcm.
Again, this is fairly expensive compared to other cities in Northern England. The average asking rent in Liverpool is £884 pcm and in Newcastle upon Tyne, it’s £998 pcm. However, compared to the UK’s overall average, Leeds contains fairly cheap properties for many movers.
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Best Places to Live in Leeds
For further research before your Leeds move, Compare My Move has researched the top 5 places to live in the area. We’ve added the average asking price as well as the average asking rent to help potential buyers no matter what property types they’re searching for.
To help you find the location that best suits your budget, we’ve listed the areas from the least expensive asking price to the most expensive.
| Area | Average Asking Price | Average Asking Rent (pcm) |
|---|---|---|
Holbeck | £163,307 | £794 |
Headingley | £165,846 | £1,618 |
Leeds City Centre | £194,330 | £876 |
Roundhay | £274,340 | £1,129 |
Horsforth | £293,246 | £971 |
Data collected from Zoopla, correct as of July 2020
1. Holbeck
Holbeck is currently in the midst of redevelopment but is still an area considered as a popular up-and-coming location in Leeds. It is often considered as the hub for the city’s creative and media-based businesses as well as home to many quirky bars and restaurants.
The current average asking price in Holbeck is £163,307, making it the cheapest area on our list. A range of new residential properties has been built with more to come - all of which are within a short distance from the city centre making it perfect for students and commuters.
2. Headingley
Headingley currently has an average asking price of £165,846 with an average asking rent of £1,618 pcm. Many consider this area as the home for many of the city’s students, making it a lively and thriving suburb. With vegetarian eateries, unique shops and craft beer bars, there’s something for everyone in Headingley.
3. Leeds City Centre
If you prefer to live amongst the action, Leeds City Centre is the place for you. It’s a very popular location for many people and Leeds Waterfront seems to be a particular favourite for those living in the area. The average cost may slightly increase here, but the transportation links are excellent and there are a variety of bars and shops for endless entertainment.
4. Roundhay
For those seeking a bit of greenery, Roundhay is another popular Leeds suburb with access to the open space of Roundhay Park. A great selection of bars, pubs, shops and restaurants means you won’t need to leave the suburb. It is one of the more expensive areas on our list but it is often a favourite amongst families, increasing the need for larger properties.
5. Horsforth
Despite the high property prices, Horsforth is often rated as one of the best places to live in Leeds. It is a well-connected suburb that is perfect for growing families due to the variety of open spaces and some of the best primary schools in the region. If you’re looking for a home in this quiet, affluent suburb, you can expect to pay an average of £293,246.
Schools and Education in Leeds
If you’re moving to Leeds with your family, you might be looking for a school to enrol your child in. Fortunately, Leeds has a diverse range of independent and state schools to choose from. Independent schools tend to top the league tables and are generally found on the outskirts of the city.
Leeds has a number of highly recommended primary schools for children aged 11 and below, many of which have an ‘outstanding’ report from Ofsted and are above average when it comes to their pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics.
If you’re moving with older children, Leeds also contains a variety of independent and state schools for those aged 12 and above. Again, many of these have ‘outstanding’ Ofsted reports and are above average for their GCSE results. Using information from School Guide, we’ve created a list of both the top 5 primary and secondary schools in Leeds.
The 5 Best Primary Schools in Leeds:
| Primary School | Location | Age Range | Most Recent Ofsted Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
Meanwood Church of England Primary School | Meanwood | 4-11 | Outstanding |
Beecroft Primary School | Leeds | 3-11 | Outstanding |
Bramhope Primary School | Bramhope | 4-11 | Outstanding |
Hillcrest Academy | Leeds | 3-11 | Outstanding |
Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School | Leeds | 4-11 | Good |
The 5 Best Secondary Schools in Leeds:
| Secondary School | Location | Age Range | Most Recent Ofsted Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
Allerton High School | Leeds | 11-18 | Outstanding |
St. Mary's Menston | Leeds | 11-18 | Outstanding |
The Morley Academy | Morley | 11-18 | Outstanding |
Roundhay School | Leeds | 11-18 | Outstanding |
Otley Prince Henry's Grammar School Specialist Language College | Otley | 11-18 | Good |
The city is also home to 4 universities and over 55,000 students. Leeds University is ranked in the top 100 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2021 and was even awarded The Times and The Sunday Times’ University of the Year in 2017. A high number of graduates remain in the city for employment with the local economy proving fruitful for many.
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Where to Work in Leeds
The average salary in Leeds is currently £28,000, according to PayScale. For comparison, TotalJobs offers another average, stating that the yearly salary for full-time jobs in this city is £23,000. However, they are only comparing the jobs and salaries that they have advertised on their website at this time.
Employment sectors in Leeds have largely moved from manufacturing to the service sectors and the area currently has a workforce of 1.37 million. Outside of London, it is one of the UK’s largest financial centres offering many forms of employment. Companies such as Leeds Building Society, First Direct and Orange are based in Leeds. ASDA and the famous hair care brand GHD also have their headquarters situated in the city.
Financial and business services are the most popular business sectors in Leeds, with a total output of 38% according to the Leeds Government website. The retail sector follows closely behind with other key sectors including leisure and the visitor economy, construction, manufacturing and the creative and digital industries. Leeds has the third-largest jobs total by local authority area, with 480,000 in employment and self-employment at the beginning of 2015.
Transportation in Leeds
Leeds has excellent transportation links, with a monthly bus ticket costing around £60. If you prefer taking the train to travel, you can buy weekly, monthly or annual tickets from Northern Rail or request a Smart Card to travel with.
Leeds Railways Station is the second-largest in Britain, other than those in London. There are plenty of connections that take you to England’s capital if you wish to commute and Leeds Bradford Airport International is situated just outside the city centre. There is also the Free City Bus which has its daily circular route.
For those cyclists moving to Leeds, you’ll be relieved to hear that the city is also bicycle-friendly. However, be mindful of your safety as there is more work needed on some of the major roads.
Entertainment in Leeds
As one of the top 10 largest cities in Britain, there’s definitely plenty to see and do in Leeds. There are several museums to explore as well as the famous Leeds Art Gallery. There’s also a number of cinemas for the latest films, 2 bowling alleys, an indoor climbing wall and also an indoor go-karting track for those looking for a little more adventure with the family.
If you're moving to Leeds and you enjoy art and culture, there are several theatres and music venues to enjoy. Average food and drink bills are similar to the rest of the UK with a fairly inexpensive meal out at just £10 per person. With a large student population due to the nearby universities, there are also a number of clubs and bars like the Call Lane club for further entertainment and a lively nightlife.
Trinity Leeds Shopping Mall is the perfect place for some retail therapy as well as the Victorian Centre and the bustling Leeds Kirkgate Market. There are over 1,000 stores in the city centre, ranging from designer labels to unique and quirky local supplies. There are also lots of cuisines to choose from so the foodies of the family will also enjoy exploring the area.
Leeds has everything you could possibly want from a city, including entertainment, culture, and even nearby countryside for you to enjoy when you need to escape city life. Properties are more affordable than other major cities in the UK, and if you’re moving for work, there are several sectors of employment offering many opportunities.
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Crime Rate in Leeds
Leeds is a very popular British city with many movers choosing it as their new home each year. However, like any city, it does have its issues and its own personal crime rates.
Travel Safe Abroad has labelled Leeds as a ‘medium’ risk overall as, despite its charm, there are often issues with regular pickpockets and people consuming too much alcohol. Whilst the city has been labelled as ‘low’ risk for factors such as natural disasters, scammers and risk to female travellers, it has a ‘medium’ risk of pickpockets and mugging.
There are many patrolling systems, communication systems, safe transportation and excellent health services in Leeds to counteract these issues. But, like in any area, there are places to avoid. For example, Hyde Park seems to experience a higher amount of crime during the night, making it an area to avoid when walking alone.
For further information, Leeds Observatory has a regularly updated crime report that compares Leeds to other English cities and calculates the most common types of crime. Between June 2019 and May 2020, it states that around 96,943 crimes were reported in the city with the most common type being “violence and sexual offences”.
Compare My Move in Leeds
We hope this article has greatly informed you about your future move to Leeds. Remember to use Compare My Move to get connected with verified local removal companies to make your move to Leeds as stress-free as possible.
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