Otley is a market town that sits on the River Wharfe, in West Yorkshire. It’s a place that has a welcoming community feel and that’s got plenty going on throughout the year.
Transport
The town is only 12 miles outside of the centre of Leeds so it’s perfect for commuters. The A65 and A660 connect Otley to Leeds making Bradford and Harrogate easily accessible. There are plenty of local bus services taking locals around the area as well as into Leeds centre (which takes about 45 minutes). Otley doesn’t have its own train station, but there’s one nearby in Menston, which is just a 10 minute bus ride away. When travelling further afield, local residents often head to Leeds train station because it has excellent national connections; for example, the train from Leeds to London takes just over two hours.
Leeds Bradford International Airport is only a 10 minute drive from Otley, opening up options to travel abroad, either for work or pleasure.
Education
Families enjoy living in Otley as they’re very happy with the level of education that’s provided here. There are plenty of preschools and nurseries available for very young children, and as they reach school age, there are several primary schools within the town. These include St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Otley All Saints C of E Primary School and Ashfield Primary School. Prince Henry’s Grammar School is a local secondary school that also has a sixth form and was established in Otley in 1607.
Shops & Local Amenities
The town has quaint, cobbled streets with a lovely range of independent stores. The local market runs in the town’s central market square, which has a gorgeous clock tower. The market dates back 800 years and it still runs here three times a week (on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays). There’s also a monthly farmers market bringing fresh fruit stalls, veg, eggs and fresh fish directly from the coast.
The town is full of places to go for a good cup of tea or coffee as there are fantastic independent cafes throughout the town. Bloomfield Square serves great food and it’s a firm favourite with the people here, and there’s also Little Corner Of The World Café & Tea Room, which has fantastic service and delicious sweet treats.
Otley has a lovely selection of traditional pubs to enjoy. The Black Bull Inn serves tasty food and drinks, The Junction Inn is very popular with locals and North Bar Social has an interesting selection of delicious craft beers. When heading out for a meal, Buon Apps River Lounge and Italian Restaurant provides a gorgeous Italian option on the banks of the river, and The Mill Bar & Bistro provides a range of tempting food dishes at reasonable prices.
Healthcare is provided locally by Wharfedale Hospital, which also has a minor injuries unit, and there are several GP practices and medical centres here too.
Activities
Local residents enjoy visiting Wharfemeadows Park, which is a lovely spot as it sits on the river and you can hire rowing boats there in the summer months. The park also has a café, a children’s play area, a skate park, a bowling club and tennis courts.
Otley Chevin Country Park is right next to the town and rises above to look over it and beyond. This large, forested hill has spectacular views, rocky outcrops, sculptures made from trees and there are many paths along it to take.
The town has a lot of sports clubs to keep people active, including Otley Rugby Club, a cycling club, cricket club and a golf course.
The Otley Show is an agricultural fair that runs every year, and it’s been doing so for over 200 years. There’s a lot to enjoy, including tractor rides, animal displays, children’s entertainment and music.
