Spotlight on Regions - Yorkshire & the Humber

As part of our VIP Concierge Relocation and Resettlement Service, we present our Spotlight on Regions series - a deep dive into the key factors that could help your decision-making process when considering which region of the UK to live in.

In this issue, we’ll explore the benefits of living in Yorkshire. As one of the UK’s biggest regions, now split into four distinct counties (North, West, South and East Yorkshire) - there’s plenty to do, see and explore.

#10 - Cost of Living

Just like most areas of the UK, the cost of living in Yorkshire can vary depending on the specific area, however, it is generally considered to be far more affordable compared to London and the South East of England.

Property prices and rental rates in Yorkshire and the Humber are typically lower compared to other parts of the UK. In Yorkshire, the average monthly rental price for a one-bedroom apartment is £650 per month, compared with the national average of £900. House purchase prices average at £220,000 in Yorkshire compared with £290,000 nationwide.

Groceries, utilities, and other daily costs tend to be more affordable in the Yorkshire region, similar to most of the North of England.

The region offers a high quality of life with an affordable cost of living, making it an attractive option for IMG’s and their families.

#9 - Historical & Cultural Landmarks

Yorkshire has a rich historical and cultural heritage to explore.

York Minster, dating back to the 7th century, is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Europe, renowned for its stunning architecture, medieval stained glass, and historical importance. As part of your visit, you can do a guided tour to learn about the 800-year history of this stunning landmark.

Fountains Abbey, north of Harrogate is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved ruins of a Cistercian monastery in England. It’s set within the beautiful Studley Royal Park which offers a range of walking trails and gardens to explore.

Also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Salts Mill and Saltaire Model Village, near Bradford, West Yorkshire is well worth a visit. The mill, formerly a textile mill built by the famous philanthropist Sit Titus Salt, is now a cultural centre with art galleries, shops, and restaurants, featuring works by David Hockney. If you are visiting Saltaire, be sure to give us a call as our office is based within the mill and we’d be delighted to see you!

In Haworth, you can visit the popular Brontë Parsonage Museum, the former home of the Brontë sisters, famous for their literature works of Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey, now a museum dedicated to their lives and works. Haworth is also home to a famous steep cobbled street, which is now home to many independent shops and eateries – well worth a visit.

For sports fans, Yorkshire is home to a number of iconic venues including Headingley Stadium for cricket and rugby and Elland Road for football, both in Leeds.

#8 - Fresh Air & Countryside

Yorkshire is a very green region, with lots of expansive countryside, rolling hills and natural beauty. The Yorkshire Dales National Park in North Yorkshire and the North York Moors National Park spanning North and East Yorkshire are both well-known attractions for walkers, cyclists and those looking to explore the best of nature.

There is an abundance of nature reserves across the region, including RSPB Bempton Cliffs on the East Coast, renowned for birdwatching along the dramatic cliffs and Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve, a green haven just outside of Leeds city centre.

Extensive cycling routes including the Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Route and the Way of the Roses, as well as numerous walking trails including the famous Pennine Way and Coast to Coast Walk, offer stunning views for those looking to get active in their downtime. For the more adventurous, the various bodies of water over the region offer opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and sailing.

These outdoor attractions provide opportunities for adventure, relaxation, and appreciation of natural beauty, making the region a popular destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

#7 - Family Friendly Attractions

Being such a large region, Yorkshire offers plenty of fun and adventure for children and young people.

Eureka! The National Children's Museum, located in Halifax – easily accessible from Leeds and Bradford areas – offers hands-on, interactive exhibits designed to inspire and educate children through play. Best suited for primary school age children, but Eureka! offers plenty of fun for the grownups too!

For those interested in Learning about the region’s history, Jorvik Viking Centre in York provides a fascinating glimpse into Viking history with immersive displays and reconstructed Viking-era streets. York Dungeon also offers a glimpse of Yorkshire’s history through its highly sensory experience with dark spaces, jump scares, loud noises, flashing/strobe lights, pungent smells, water sprays, air blasts and jump scares – best suited for the big kids.

For the animal lovers, there’s Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster - home to a wide variety of animals, including lions, tigers, and polar bears, with interactive exhibits and play areas and The Deep in Hull – a spectacular aquarium featuring over 3,500 fish, sharks, and marine creatures, with engaging educational displays.

Flamingo Land, just north of York also offers families with children of all ages a superb day out - from the Peter Rabbit Adventure for the littles, to the exhilarating rollercoasters for the big kids – and the fully fledged Zoo which the whole family will love. You can also make a weekend of it with their onsite accommodation.

#6 - Transport Links

Yorkshire is a great region to be in when considering the transport links, both nationally and internationally.

The extensive rail services connect the regions major cities of Leeds, Sheffield, York and Hull to each other and the rest of the UK. There are direct trains to Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Birmingham from the major city transport hubs, as well as plenty of local connections through the smaller towns of the region. There’s a comprehensive network of buses operating within cities and towns, as well as rural areas across the county.

The road network is well connected, with the M1 and M62 motorways running through the region – allowing residents to travel North-South and East-West around the UK.

For Air Travel, the regions airports, Leeds-Bradford and Humberside, typically serve short haul destinations. Manchester airport is the North’s major hub for long haul international travel, and it an easy commute from most parts of Yorkshire.

#5 - Health and Wellness

Yorkshire’s health and wellness offerings are extensive and varied, catering to all aspects of physical and mental well-being, from abundant fitness opportunities and wellness retreats to natural parks, outdoor activities, relaxation opportunities.

For those looking for a relaxing wellbeing experience, Harrogate Turkish Baths, Britain's most fully restored Victorian Turkish Baths, famous for its mineral-rich thermal waters provides a range of therapeutic benefits. There are also a range of standout spa and wellness retreats in the county including Rudding Park Spa, just outside of Harrogate and Titanic Spa in Huddersfield, both offering a range of treatments, hydrotherapy, thermal experiences and relaxation facilities.

The region offers a vast array of gym and exercise facilities, including Yoga and Hot Yoga classes and retreats, sports facilities like the Doncaster Dome, a large leisure complex with a swimming pool, ice rink, and fitness facilities, and top-notch gyms, accessible from most areas.

The region's natural landscapes, such as the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, are ideal for outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, and running.

As well as some of the top healthcare facilities, there are also numerous practitioners offer services such as acupuncture, reflexology, and aromatherapy across the region.

#4 - Arts & Entertainment

Yorkshire offers a vibrant array of arts and entertainment options that cater to diverse tastes and interests. From world-class theatres and art galleries to museums and literary events, there’s plenty to do and see.

For music and drama lovers, Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre, well known for its spectacular architecture, hosts major West End musicals, ballets, and operas and the West Yorkshire Playhouse is one of the UK’s leading producing theatres, offering a wide range of performances, from contemporary plays to classic dramas, for all ages.

For art fans, Yorkshire is home to a number of galleries. Yorkshire Sculpture Park, near Wakefield, is an internationally renowned and multi-award winning open-air gallery featuring works by major artists like Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. Also in Wakefield, The Hepworth is a contemporary art gallery, showcasing modern British art. Leeds Art Gallery houses an impressive collection of British 20th-century art and contemporary exhibitions and referenced as an important historical and cultural landmark, Salts Mill displays a wide array of David Hockney’s works.

For literary enthusiasts, both York and Ilkley host annual Literature Festivals featuring talks, readings, and workshops by acclaimed authors in celebration of the written and spoken word.

For insights into modern media, The National Science and Media Museum focuses on the science and culture of light and sound technologies, offering interactive exhibitions and the UK's first IMAX cinema and is a great attraction for the whole family.

#3 - Food & Drink

Yorkshire's food and drink scene is renowned for its diversity, quality, and heritage, offering a mix of traditional and contemporary culinary experiences.

There’s an array of traditional Yorkshire ‘grub’ (look up Yorkshire slang!) but the Yorkshire Pudding must be the most famous – a quintessential part of a Sunday roast, these fluffy batter puddings are a must-try and you’ll find them on most Sunday roast menu’s across the region and beyond.

Yorkshire fame also extends to traditional eateries like Bettys Tea Rooms – with locations now in York, Harrogate, Ilkley and Northallerton, Bettys is renowned for its elegant afternoon tea, featuring cakes, scones, and fine teas. Don’t forget to try a Fat Rascal!

The region is also home to multiple Michelin-Starred restaurants including The Black Swan at Oldstead and Yorke Arms in Nidderdale, plus many other fine-dining restaurants including The Box Tree in Ilkley and the new dramatic dining concept from Michael O’Hare – Psycho Sandbar in Leeds.

Yorkshire's food scene is not only rich in traditional British fare but also offers a diverse array of international cuisines, reflecting the multicultural nature of the region. Bradford and Leeds are home to a huge array of curry restaurants – the most popular ones include Prashad, Akbars and The Indian Tiffin Room. Across the region you can also find great quality Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Caribbean, African, French and Greek cuisines – offering something for everyone.

For the drinkers among us, Yorkshire is home to a couple of vineyards; Holmfirth Vineyard, near Huddersfield and Ryedale Vineyard in York both offer tour and tasting experiences. There’s also various distilleries to visit including the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery in Hunmanby, East Yorkshire, Masons Yorkshire Gin in Bedale, North Yorkshire and Slingsby’s Gin in Harrogate.

#2 - Cultural Diversity and Inclusivity

Yorkshire is a region of rich cultural diversity, reflecting a vibrant mix of ethnicities, religions, and cultural backgrounds. This diversity is evident in various aspects of daily life, including festivals, cuisine, places of worship, and community activities.

According to the 2021 Census, around 18% of the population in Yorkshire and the Humber are from ethnic minority backgrounds. There are many multicultural neighbourhoods and communities, notably Bradford, known for its large South Asian population, Leeds with multiple areas rich in cultural diversity with significant Caribbean, African, and South Asian communities and Sheffield with areas known for their diverse ethnic mix, including Pakistani, Somali, and Yemeni communities.

Across the region there’s an abundance of cultural centres and Places of Worship including mosques, gurdwaras, temples, and churches - providing local access to religious and social support for those that require it.

The numerous festivals across the region celebrate a wide array of cultures, including the Bradford Mela, one of the largest celebrations of South Asian culture in Europe, featuring music, dance, food, and crafts and the Leeds West Indian Carnival which celebrates Caribbean culture with vibrant parades, music, and food, held annually since 1967.

#1 - Quality of Life

Yorkshire offers an exceptional quality of life, combining affordable living, educational excellence, natural beauty, and cultural vibrancy and plenty of activities for all to enjoy.

The region's transport links, including major motorways and railway networks, allow for easy commuting and travel both within Yorkshire and to other parts of the country, contributing to convenience and connectivity which is often of particular importance for IMG’s and their families.

The affordability of housing in Yorkshire compared to other parts of the UK enhances its appeal, allowing residents to enjoy a comfortable standard of living. The stunning natural landscapes, from the Yorkshire Dales to the North York Moors, support an active lifestyle through abundant outdoor activities.

Cultural richness and diversity and a strong community spirit are reflected in numerous festivals, historical landmarks, and local events, fostering a sense of belonging and inclusiveness that makes Yorkshire a desirable place to live for anyone.

Our VIP Concierge Relocation and Resettlement Service is free to all Indigo doctors - contact us for further information on how we can assist you:

• Email - contactus@indigohealthcare.co.uk
• Phone - +44 330 123 9665
• Book a call with Indigo Healthcare (office365.com)