Under the scheme, tenants who meet the criteria are entitled to buy their home from the council at a price below the full market value. The level of discount available depends on the length of time the tenant has held a public sector tenancy and whether the property is a house or a flat.
Richmond, North Yorkshire is one of Britain's most beautiful market towns. Its 11th-century castle, fine historic buildings, large cobbled market place and many hidden corners make it a treasure trove for visitors.
The North Yorkshire town of Harrogate, known for its spas and hot chocolate (and now – low crime index of 17.44) has officially been awarded as the best place to buy a home, if you're looking for a safe area with low crime rates.
The bustling market town of Skipton in North Yorkshire has been crowned the happiest place to live in 2025. With a well-preserved medieval castle overlooking its centre, Skipton is surrounded by scenic views and is a gateway to the Yorkshire Dales.
1. Hutton-le-Hole – North York Moors. This beautiful village sits in a peaceful valley in the North York Moors National Park; it couldn't be more idyllic. Picture-postcard cottages sit contentedly on either side of a babbling beck while sheep wander about the village keeping the grass neat and tidy.
What is the most deprived area in North Yorkshire?
The most deprived areas in North Yorkshire are consistently found in the Scarborough district, particularly within specific neighbourhoods like parts of Woodlands, Eastfield, and Castle wards, which rank among England's most deprived, facing issues with health, income, housing, and poverty, with Scarborough often cited as the most deprived district overall. While North Yorkshire as a county is relatively less deprived nationally, these pockets within Scarborough show significant hardship, including high rates of children in poverty and fuel poverty.
"Rough" areas in Yorkshire aren't fixed, but often refer to parts of cities with higher crime, like Bradford, Leeds (Harehills, Armley), and Sheffield (Darnall, City Centre), though some estates like Dalton near Huddersfield are noted for being run-down but quieter, while places like Brough are considered wealthy. Generally, "rough" relates to socio-economic factors, deprivation (like Scarborough in North Yorkshire), and crime rates in specific districts within the larger Yorkshire region.
Where is the nicest but cheapest place to live in the UK?
The nicest but cheapest places to live in the UK often combine affordability with access to nature or culture, with top contenders including Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Hull, Burnley, and County Durham for low housing/rental costs, offering seaside access (Sunderland), rich history (Hull), or proximity to natural beauty like the North York Moors (Middlesbrough). Carlisle also stands out for its proximity to the Lake District and affordability.
Council Tax Band D is significantly more expensive than Band A, as bands are assigned based on property value, with higher bands (like D) corresponding to higher property values and therefore higher tax bills, while Band A properties (the lowest value) pay the least, often around two-thirds of the Band D amount. You pay more in Band D because your home was valued higher in 1991 (e.g., £68,001-£88,000 in England) compared to a Band A property (up to £40,000).
There's no single "prettiest" place, as Yorkshire offers diverse beauty, but popular contenders include Malham Cove & Gordale Scar (Dales drama), Whitby & Staithes (coastal charm), Haworth (Brontë literary village), Thornton-le-Dale (idyllic moorland village), and Castle Howard (stately grandeur), with many choosing the dramatic landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales or the historic streets of York as overall highlights.
The warmest place in Yorkshire is often cited as Sandsend, near Whitby, due to its unique maritime microclimate that keeps it sunnier and warmer than surrounding areas, even when other towns are cloudy. However, during extreme heatwaves, inland spots like Leconfield (East Yorkshire), Wakefield, Sheffield, and Bramham (West Yorkshire) have recorded Yorkshire's highest official temperatures, reaching into the mid-to-high 30s Celsius.
North Yorkshire approves Maltkiln village. The 3,000-home development being brought forward by the council and Caddick has been given the go-ahead with the masterplan formally approved at a meeting last week.
The happiest town in Yorkshire, and indeed the UK for 2025/2026, is Skipton, according to Rightmove's annual Happiness Index, praised for its friendly locals, affordability, stunning access to the Yorkshire Dales, and the ability for residents to "be themselves".
The data from 2021 is not good reading for West Yorkshire as a whole but Huddersfield is ranked as the safest place of all the major cities /towns. Leeds;Halifax and Wakefield are the 3 most dangerous places for crime.
There are safer parts of North Yorkshire, identified using the same Crime Risk measurement, starting with Harrogate which ranks as the safest area in North Yorkshire, followed up by York in second place, and Scarborough in third place.
While several places are considered posh, Harrogate is widely regarded as Yorkshire's poshest town, famous for its Victorian spa history, elegant architecture, boutique shopping (like in the Montpellier Quarter), and institutions such as Bettys Tea Rooms, often ranking high in national "poshest" lists. Other affluent areas include Ilkley, Cawthorne (near Barnsley), and Dore (Sheffield), but Harrogate's consistent reputation as the "Mayfair of the North" solidifies its top spot.
There isn't one single "most run-down" town, as it depends on the metric, but recent reports frequently cite Walsall (West Midlands) as Britain's most deprived for overall quality of life (Good Growth for Cities Index 2025), while Jaywick (Essex) is repeatedly named England's most deprived neighbourhood by government data. Other towns often mentioned for significant decline due to economic hardship, unemployment, and urban decay include areas in Blackpool, Hastings, and Middlesbrough, alongside places like Portsmouth and Aldershot facing specific challenges.
Saltburn-by-the-Sea. Saltburn-by-the-Sea is one of those rare places that feels like a well-kept secret, where the pace is gentler, the sea air is crisp, and daily life comes with a view. ...
