Residents like to discuss ‘local life and local people’
Helton Wilton who runs The Village Bakery in Rawdon(Image: Samuel Port)
“Everyone loves a gossip” in the Leeds village that has been ranked the second-best place to live in the country, where residents like to discuss “local life and local people”.
Rawdon is an affluent village north of the city centre known for its leafy green spaces, historic buildings and Rawdon Billing, a 231-metre-high tree topped hill, which offers up stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
With a population of around 7,500, it remains a quiet and suburban area. Historically, it dates all the way back to the Domesday Book and has its roots in the milling industry.
The village was recently ranked as the second best place to live in the country in survey by Property Finders UK, 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”.
Maggie’s Tearoom, Apperley Lane(Image: Samuel Port)
Local baker Helton Wilton, 67, has been running The Village Bakery for almost 39 years after taking over the business in 1987.
Helen has said that “everyone loves a gossip” and the community strives to help each other out. The baker said: “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.”
Rawdon barbers Finna Dunn and Phil Moorhouse(Image: Samuel Port)
Local barber Fiona Dunn, 50, who opened The Rawdon Barbershop ten years ago, echoed Helen’s sentiments about the strong community vibe.
Fiona said: “There’s a great community spirit. People are friendly and like to support community events. Everybody loves Scarecrow Festival. There’s always something happening!”
Fellow barber Phil Moorhouse, 54, added: “It’s a nice place. You’ve got access to the city with two train stations within reach. Good schools. Good quality houses. A great barbershop!
“It’s friendly. It is full of nice people. I think people are happy to live here.”
Jude and Steve Amos own Maggie’s Tea Room(Image: Samuel Port)
Jude and Steve Amos, 54 and 58, own Maggie’s Tea Room on Apperley Lane. They spoke about the beautiful architecture which helps lift the area.
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 said: “It’s friendly, it’s nice and clean. There’s a sense of community. We all know each other around here.”
Landlord Luke Sullivan, of The Princess(Image: Samuel Port)
Local landlord Luke Sullivan, 34, has been running The Princess for almost three years. He thinks the what sets the village apart is the people and the professional atmosphere of the area.
Luke Sullivan said: “When I came in and sussed the place out before accepting it [the lease], you could see in a heartbeat that it’s calm, everyone seems friendly.
“It’s because the nature of the people. They’re all kind-hearted and like to support each other. They’re friendly and giving. There’s a lot of intelligent people within the area. You’re dealing with a lot of professional people. So, professionalism ties into it. You could have excellent buildings in area, but, for me, it’s the nature of the people that you’re putting in there.”
A view of Rawdon Billing(Image: Google)
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.
Their statement said: “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.”
To view the rest of ‘Best Places to Live 2026’ on Property Finders, you can click, here.
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