Rawdon has been voted the second best place to live in the UK, missing out on the top spot to a Greater Manchester town
Helen Wilton has praised Rawdon for its community spirit(Image: Samuel Port/Yorkshire Live)
Just over a one-hour drive from Manchester city centre lies the village of Rawdon, just north of Leeds centre and known for its leafy green spaces, historic buildings, and a 231-metre-high tree topped hill, which offers up stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
Rawdon has been ranked the second-best-place to live in the country, with a population of around 7,500. It has quite the history for a quiet, suburban area and it dates all the way back to the Domesday Book and has its roots in the milling industry, reports Yorkshire Live.
Thanks to a survey by Property Finders UK it fell in second place, coming below Marple, in Greater Manchester, and above St Albans in Hertfordshire. The estate agents have said the average price of a family home there is £451,094, offering “great landscapes, panoramic views, and easy access”.
Helen Wilton, 67, is a local baker who has been running The Village Bakery for almost 39 years when she took over the business back in 1987.
Speaking about her love for her local area, she admitted that “everyone loves a gossip” and remarked how close it is to the bustling centre of Leeds.
She added: “It’s central. You’re in the middle of the countryside, not far from the Dales or the city centre. You can walk up to the Billing and see the whole of Leeds.
“The community is very friendly, and everyone loves a gossip. We like to talk about local life and local people. People try to keep the community going, we’ve got the library. A couple of years ago, people in the village got together and saved the library. We’ve got a cricket club and a rugby club. There’s a beer festival. Everyone checks on each other, they’re just here for you.”
Jude and Steve Amos own Maggie’s Tea Room(Image: Samuel Port / Yorkshire Live)
Other locals such as barber’s Fiona Dunn and Phil Moorhouse have praised the village for “great community spirit”, with lots of events to enjoy such as a Scarecrow Festival.
Local barber Fiona Dunn, 50, who opened The Rawdon Barbershop ten years ago, echoed Helen’s sentiments about the strong community vibe.
Owners of Maggie’s Tea Room on Apperley Lane, Jude and Steve Amos, serving up delicious treats for locals and visitors have spoken about the beautiful architecture that the area boasts.
Steve said: “It’s the old buildings and it still feels old. The atmosphere is still old. Here, you feel comfortable. In the whole village, everyone sort of knows you. Well, we walk down the road and everyone is sort of like ‘Mr and Mrs Maggie’.
“A lot of people that live here are quite old and they’ve lived here for generations. A 90-year-old woman comes in here and remembers getting rolls of pennies from the butchers and putting sawdust down on the floor.”
Jude added: “It’s friendly, it’s nice and clean. There’s a sense of community. We all know each other around here.”
Guiseley and Rawdon’s Leeds City Councillors spoke about what gave Rawdon “the edge”. Councillors Oliver Edwards, Sonia Leighton and Eleanor Thomson, who all represent Labour, issued a joint statement.
The picturesque views of Rawdon Billing(Image: Google)
The statement read: “What truly sets Rawdon apart isn’t just the ‘top 10’ label – it’s the fact that it actually functions like a village. While many places are losing their identity, Rawdon is thriving because of the people behind it.
“We have a unique ‘infrastructure of care’ here. You see it in the Rawdon Community Library acting as a hub for every generation, AVSED looking after our older residents, and Rawdon in Bloom making the place look stunning.
“Our edge is the balance: you can be in Micklefield Park enjoying the bowling green or football pitches, feel like you’re in the deep countryside with amazing views across the Billing, yet still have a brilliant high street and the airport right on your doorstep. It’s that rare mix of rural peace and city convenience that makes Rawdon an incredible place to live.”