Ilkley is a ‘very, very pleasant, very, very desirable place,’ Patrick McCutcheon, head of residential at Dacre Son & Hartley, tells me, as we talk about the town’s appeal.
With a buzzing town centre, excellent schools (Ilkley Grammar was rated ‘outstanding’ in all areas in its last Ofsted inspection), and fantastic countryside nearby, Ilkley is an attractive option for buyers.
‘I think there’s a very strong sense of community in a relatively compact, quality environment in terms of town centre facilities ‒ everything is here, but you’re surrounded by beautiful open countryside,’ says Patrick.
‘Community, connectivity and countryside,’ he adds, highlighting Ilkley’s rail links.
In terms of house prices, he says there is ‘still very strong, still discernible price growth’ in the first-time buyer and core family sector – properties ranging from around the £200,000 mark to £750,000 ‒ and often strong competition for traditional and larger family homes.
And he says the £1m price tag ‘seems to be becoming more mainstream’.
‘There seems to be more and more stock justifiably priced around that sort of price level,’ says Patrick.
A VIBRANT TOWN
Ilkley often features on ‘best places to live’ lists – Hollywood A-lister Stanley Tucci even visited earlier this year.
It’s a town with an abundance of places to explore, shop, eat and drink, from unique independents, including its own cinema, to well-known high- street retailers including Whistles, Jigsaw and Oliver Bonas.
Those looking to indulge in retail therapy will find many gems. Put a visit to Attic Womenswear on Crescent Court at the top of your list. The curated boutique stocks eye-catching pieces from brands across the world.
On The Grove, Covet, Nora’s, Oaks, and Fig and Willow are all worth a visit. On the corner is Lister Horsfall ‒ the family-run fine jewellery and luxury watch store is an official Rolex retailer. Pop behind The Grove for clothing store Porters and art gallery Palette, opened by David Hockney’s nephew, Nick Hockney.
When it comes to food and drink, an impressive mix of cafés, bars and restaurants add to Ilkley’s vibrancy – the Three Little Birds Bakery on The Grove is one of the latest additions – while two names are perhaps synonymous with the town ‒ Bettys and The Box Tree, which has recently undergone a major £500,000 refurbishment.
LOCAL LIFE
Tucker Zendah Picture: Heidi Marfitt
Tucker Zendah runs Moor Fruit & Veg on Leeds Road, a greengrocer with sustainability at its heart.
You’ll find Yorkshire suppliers and a range of dairy, pantry staples and gourmet items.
Tucker says: ‘Running Moor Fruit & Veg has shown me how much Ilkley values community-minded businesses. I opened the shop in December 2025 with a simple aim: to bring the town a warm, sustainable greengrocer focused on seasonal produce, connection and reducing waste.
‘Ilkley’s popularity is rooted in its strong sense of community and its support for independents ‒ something we feel every day, through customers choosing loose, packaging-free produce, engaging with us on social media, or backing local suppliers. Being part of a thriving cluster of independents has made our corner of the town a “shop local” destination, and we’re proud to contribute to Ilkley’s character.’
Emma Bell, of Anna Morgan
Emma Bell is chief designer at Anna Morgan, a home interiors brand with a showroom on Church Street.
Anna Morgan is a long-standing name in Ilkley, and Emma says she’s ‘never once regretted’ opening there. ‘As one of England’s beautiful spa towns, Ilkley carries an elegance in its bones.’
Emma highlights the town’s good connectivity. ‘It’s close enough to Leeds and only a three-hour train journey to London, where many of our clients work,’ she says. ‘What makes it special isn’t just the setting, though. It’s the people and the businesses ‒ independent, discerning and genuinely invested in their community.’ After many years in the town, Emma says Ilkley is ‘still a fantastic place to live and work’.
She says the town isn’t just where Anna Morgan calls home ‒ it’s part of how the team designs: ‘Trusting, considered, and quietly luxurious.’
Suzanne Watson. Picture: Supplied
Suzanne Watson is the owner of Ilkley-based SW Communications, an associate trainer for global people development company Dale Carnegie Training and a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.
She says: ‘We never imagined how much living in Ilkley would change our lives.’
Suzanne says there’s so much more to Ilkley than its ‘obvious beauty’. She adds: ‘Just below the surface there’s a network of volunteers, of businesses, independent retailers and local groups who come together to make events happen, provide support to older generations, to younger families, to individuals and to business owners.
‘With so much going on and so much generated by the community itself, Ilkley is feeling more and more like a festival town and a food and drink and retail destination. ‘All while maintaining its character.’
FOODIES FINDS
Martinez, The Grove
A long-standing independent wine bar and cheese shop. Look out for its cheese-and-wine nights and calendar of live music events. Martinez also has an online shop. martinez.co.uk
Lishman's
Lishman’s, Leeds Road
An award-winning butcher, charcutier and deli, Lishman’s Ilkley store is foodie heaven. With a hot counter, bottle shop and pantry stocked with artisan treats, it’s the perfect spot to fill your basket. lishmansbutchers.co.uk
Emporio Italia, Railway Road
This family-run, highly rated restaurant serves up authentic Italian dishes in a charming setting. Expect a menu featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients and comforting bowls of pasta. @Emporio Italia
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
The riverside at Ilkley (Image: Nick Bamford/T&A Camera Club)
The panoramic view of Ilkley from the Cow and Calf Rocks is breathtaking. The rock formation ‒ one large and one smaller ‒ is made of millstone grit and is where some truly spectacular views of Ilkley and beyond can be found. Local folklore adds to the appeal. According to legend, the giant Rombald split the Calf from the Cow while fleeting an enemy. His angry wife ‒ the enemy ‒ dropped the stones from her skirt, forming Ilkley Moor’s Skirtful of Stones.
It’s just a short drive from the town centre to the Cow & Calf cafe and car park on Hangingstone Road, which can be used as a base to explore the moor’s brilliant walking trails. Ilkley Moor is also famous for ‘On Ilkley Moor baht ’at’ ‒ known as the unofficial anthem of God’s Own Country. Be prepared to feel a swell of Yorkshire pride as you look out across the landscape.
Back down in Ilkley, Riverside Gardens park ‒ running alongside the River Wharfe ‒ is a lovely spot for families, with its walking routes and children’s play area. Load up your picnic basket with tasty treats in the town centre and tuck in by the river.
FOR LIT LOVERS
For culture vultures, one of the town’s most impressive assets is the Ilkley Literature Festival – the north’s longest-running and second oldest in the UK. It has been bringing together the very best writers of contemporary fiction, non-fiction and poetry with book-loving audiences for more than 50 years. Each autumn, 14,000 readers and over 100 writers head to the festival for its huge programme of events ‒ UK Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, who will be at the festival this year, describes it as ‘a landmark occasion in the literary year’.
Since 2002, The Grove Bookshop, on The Grove, has been the official bookseller of Ilkley Literature Festival. The beautiful bookstore should feature on all Ilkley itineraries. The store regularly holds events and book launches.
Ilkley Literature Festival, October 2 to 18, ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk, grovebookshop.com