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Leeds Live

Megan Banner

I moved to Leeds a year ago and it's the best decision I ever made

Leeds Yorkshire

I love my home town, I do. I love all its misfunctioning quirks and everything that's wrong with it but moving to Leeds was the best decision I ever made.

On March 1, 2022, I packed up my tiny little two-bed flat in the North East and moved an hour and a half down the A1 to the Leeds market town of Morley. I'd lived in Darlington my whole life and for anyone who lives in the North East they'll agree, the region is a world of its own that no outsider could never imagine - but it was time to move on.

I'd gone to uni in Leeds and fell in love with the city, at graduation I promised myself in that moment that 'one day I will move back to the city that stole my heart' and so I did.

I'd been working at LeedsLive for six months and every day I fell in love with Gods Own Country slightly more. From spending days at the stunning Yorkshire Coast to the idyllic villages in the Dales or restaurants, bars and theatre shows in Leeds city centre, I knew this was where I truly belonged..

I stood on my new doorstep as I waved my dad off in the removal van which he had rented to help me move (forever grateful Sean). I pondered in the kitchen - which felt so big and empty at the time - of my one-bedroom house in Morley; excited for what the future was about to bring, and trying to disguise the fact I was SO nervous with no clue what was about to happen.

Morley was good to me at first, the town itself has a great mix of independent retailers, an indoor market, and a range of restaurants, pubs and cafes. And there is endless amounts of working men's pubs and to be quite honest I'm thriving on it - they're a great laugh and cheap too.

And for those who aren't into the 'old man pubs', then there is Morley Bottoms which I'd heard at this time was 'the new up and coming night out in Leeds'. Of course it isn't as thriving as Call Lane but with many restaurants and bars, Morley Bottoms is a great afternoon out.

My new home was great, the summer nights started to hit and I really began to settle in and come out of my shell. I introduced myself to my neighbours (I couldn't not give yous a shout out) who soon became my best friends. It was strange at first moving somewhere new without my friends or family and as independent as I am, I had been keeping myself to myself quite a lot so my new adopted family were a godsend.

My new friends quickly made me feel at home, they showed me so many things I didn't even know existed and gave me the greatest year of experiences - all while making the best friends and meeting more and more people daily. I truly got to see Leeds for even more of what it is.

We visited endless bars and restaurants, from cheap bites to sit-down meals, and had days out - with most Friday's now being spent on Call Lane sipping double Kraken and cokes with my besties. Sunday's now consist of walks around Eccup and Golden Acre Park - kitted out in Barbour of course, I'm getting down with the Yorkshire attire. They're finished off with Sunday lunch surrounded by my best friends at one of our favourite pubs.

And this is all outside of the goings on in and around the city - it's like a new world compared to being back home - with events, gigs, Christmas markets, fairs going on all year round. You name it, Leeds has it.

I fall in love with Leeds even more every day. I'll go as far to making myself a promise, like I did four years ago at graduation, that I'll live in Yorkshire forever - perhaps not Leeds because you know rising living costs and all that, but somewhere close by.

The region has so much more to offer than just Leeds city centre, I've not even began to tell of how much I adore the Dales, North Yorkshire and the coast - but trust me I do.

I love my little house, in my little Leeds suburb, and know that I'll spend many years here making so many more memories with the people I love.

Looking back, I have no regrets from packing up that flat and taking the plunge into my new life in a new city. Don't let me fool you into thinking this was no rollercoaster ride - I had some tough times too - but I did it. I braved it and it was the best decision I ever made. I'll even go as far to say that I'm kind of proud of me.

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