Residents in one of Leeds’ wealthiest areas have opened up on their plans for Christmas and their most extravagant gifts.
Some say that you wouldn't even know it was one of the wealthiest areas in the city and that their children would be happy "playing with cardboard boxes".
Lavish mansions are dotted around with luxury cars parked up in the driveways behind the electric gates, along Manor House Lane and Wigton Lane in Alwoodley. House prices in Manor House Lane averaged out to £2,675,000 over the last year, according to Rightmove, with Wigton Lane’s average house prices coming to £635,000.
Read more: Leeds Domino's pizza worker who couldn't afford to buy lunch now a millionaire
Last year when we visited the millionaire neighbourhood, visitors said they were made to feel “unwelcome”. So we returned to see if the festive period made people feel less frosty. A married couple claimed the atmosphere couldn't be more different, with a "friendly" and “crazy” vibe.
'There's not much going on'
One resident said it's not actually exciting in the area at Christmas. A doctor at York Hospital, who didn't want to be named as she feared she would be teased by her colleagues, claims you wouldn’t even be able to tell it was Christmas on the wealthy street.
She said: “Usually it’s quite quiet. There are a lot of walkers on Christmas Day.
“Sometimes you don’t even know it’s Christmas as there’s not much going on and the house are quite far apart. It’s quiet, it’s not like in Meanwood or the city centre where everything is going on. Some of the house have lights on, I suppose.”
'The two-year-old plays with boxes'
Chris Clarke, a recruitment director who lives on Manor House Lane, said residents don’t tend to mingle in festive cheer on the day.
Chris said: “People stay in. One neighbour puts lights on his tree, they’re still on there from last year. We don’t really do much. We do socialise together in the courtyard but whether we all do anything on Christmas, I don’t know.”
The father-of-two stressed that Christmas was a “very specific family thing” however, and says that he has grand plans for his Christmas tree this year. He’s looking to purchase and enormous 8ft tree.
Chris, originally from Cheshire, said: “I chucked away the artificial tree last year so it’s a real tree this year, I don’t have anything planned particularly grand yet. I’m thinking 8ft high maybe, just to hit the ceiling.
“We’ll pretend Santa has come on the morning. Am I going to dress up [as him]? No, probably not. We’ve got a four-year-old and a two-year-old so it’s perfect for them.
“The two-year-old plays with boxes and the four-year-old won’t want anything specific.”
What will you be doing for Christmas this year? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
Read next:
Strictly's Helen Skelton shares new message to Gorka after deleting Instagram post
Over £3,000 raised for family of 'kind and genuine' Leeds man killed in bike crash
Asda named cheapest major supermarket for premium Christmas shopping
Leeds mum's cheap green Christmas with loo roll crackers and houseplant
