By Katie White, Leeds North West MP
It’s always nice when your home patch gets the recognition it deserves. Last week, The Sunday Times named Horsforth one of the best places to live in the UK – and honestly, I can’t say I’m shocked. If you already live here, you’ll know exactly why.
Horsforth is one of those rare places that gets the balance just right. It’s got all the perks of city living – just ten minutes from Leeds by train – but with a proper community feel, fantastic green spaces, and a pace of life that means you can actually enjoy them.
It’s a town where you can start your morning with a bagel from Slow Rise Bakery or breakfast from Pooky’s, grab a coffee from Woodlawn, and settle in for lunch at Hooleos.
You can spend your afternoon wandering through Horsforth Hall Park (maybe even the Japanese gardens, if you fancy feeling a bit cultured) and then finish the day with a glass of something good from Once Upon a Vine.
And if that wasn’t enough, Bavette serves some of the best French food in the country – officially, according to The Good Food Guide.
And let’s not forget the social scene. Where else could you go from a stand-up comedy night to a pub quiz at a local craft brewery, all in the same week? Horsforth Brewery makes that possible, and it’s just one example of the way this town brings people together.
There’s also the monthly farmers’ market, two brilliant cricket clubs, and even a new WI group – Sisters of Horsforth – proving that community spirit is alive and well here.
Of course, it’s not just about great food, drink, and entertainment. Horsforth’s schools are among the best, its transport links are excellent (though I won’t pretend the ring road is anyone’s favourite place), and the broadband speeds are faster than you’d expect for somewhere that feels this green.
But if The Sunday Times really wanted to get it right, they might have looked beyond just Horsforth.
The whole of Leeds North West is the best place to live – though maybe I’m biased.
Where else can you enjoy a weekend walk up Otley Chevin with views across Wharfedale, take in the beauty of Golden Acre Park – a true jewel in our patch’s crown – or visit Abraham Moon & Sons in Guiseley, a Yorkshire institution weaving some of the finest fabrics in the country?
And let’s be honest, if you haven’t had a steak pie from Morton’s Butchers or fish and chips from Murgatroyds, have you really experienced the best of West Yorkshire?
So, yes, The Sunday Times has confirmed what we already knew. Horsforth is one of the best places to live in the UK – but if you want the full picture, you’ll have to explore a bit further. I promise, it’s worth it.
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