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The local area guide to living in Barwick-in-Elmet

Barwick-in-Elmet, easily confusable with one of the two other Barwick’s within the United Kingdom, is one of few towns in England named after the ancient Celtic Kingdom of Elmet. A post Roman society that was eventually swallowed up by the nearby Kingdom of Northumbria, the town has been in existence in some form or another since even before its namesake, which collapsed in the 6th century. The town supported itself through agricultural means for centuries, before change came in the 17th century. From then until the late 20th century the town was home to miners who worked in nearby towns such as Garforth, Cross Gates and Whitkirk. Today, its status as a dormitory town is somewhat unchanged, though residents no longer work in the mines, instead finding employment in the nearby towns and cities, with Leeds and York twenty-five and thirty-five minutes away respectively. The town is somewhat famous in the area for its distinctly English maypole, which stands 80 or so feet tall in the town's centre. Taken down once every three years during the maypole ceremony, a memorable event for anyone taking part in it, the traditions surrounding the day have been kept alive for decades, if not centuries.

Information about the local residents

Many residents live in the town due to its location, as it enables easy access to the nearby cities and large towns, while still having that country feel. A quarter of the town defines themselves as being working professionals, while nearly twenty percent are managers, directors or senior officials. The town’s inhabitants originate almost entirely from the U.K., with 97% of the population hailing from the British Isles. In terms of age, health, and gender split, the town is precisely equivalent to the U.K. averages. The only true difference is the commute difference, as Barwick residents typically commute about two miles less than the average U.K. resident. There are also less students in the town than the national average, likely due to the lack of nightlife and accommodation aimed towards University attendees.

Nearby schools

The Barwick-in-Elmet Church of England School can be found in the town, serving primary school students. Some parents send their children to nearby Abeford’s instead, which is also run by the Church. Barwick’s school is rated “Good” by Ofsted, whilst Abeford’s garnered a rating of “Satisfactory”. The nearby John Smeaton School recently became an academy, accepting children from all backgrounds, with no school fees, and taking students from the age of 11 to 21, able to take older students thanks to its College facilities. David Young Community Academy, located in Seacroft on the outskirts of Leeds, is State funded, teaching students of the ages 11-18. The closest University is the University of York, located under an hour away, though closer to home is Leeds City College and the College facilities at John Smeaton.

Getting around

Barwick-in-Elmet’s residents enjoy a shorter average commute than much of the U.K., with most residents only travelling 2.5 miles on average, as opposed to the national 6.1 miles. The closest train station can be found in East Garforth, sitting on the Leeds and Selby line, and operated by Northern Rail. The M1, A1, A64 and A63 are all nearby, and offer access to the larger U.K. network. 16 bus services operate in and around the town, connecting it to the larger area. Cycle routes are popular in the region, particularly due to the upcoming Tour de Yorkshire ending in Leeds.

Local shops

The town has little in the way of high street shopping, though it does have the ordinary amenities expected from a town in the U.K. Florists, garages, general stores, a post office, several pubs and restaurants all grace the town, whilst the larger towns nearby have their own selections. Nearby Leeds is the top shopping destination in the region, thought by some to be the best in Britain, with the Trinity Leeds shopping centre of particular note, boasting over 120 stores.


