Horsforth is the suburb I suggest first to families moving to Leeds for work, and it is usually where they end up. It sits to the north west of the city with its own high street along Town Street, a station with trains into Leeds in a quarter of an hour, and a run of primary schools that parents will tell you about before you ask.
The housing is mostly semis and detached houses from the early and mid twentieth century, with older stone terraces nearer the centre and a few newer developments on the edges. Gardens are the norm. It feels like a town rather than a suburb, which is the point: you can do your weekend without going into Leeds at all.
Family houses go quickly here, especially in the months before a school year starts, so if a house is what you need, be ready to decide at the viewing. Flats exist but are a small part of the market.
Who it suits: families and couples who want a house, a garden, schools and a short train into the centre, and who like the idea of a place with its own high street. If you want to walk to work, Leeds Dock will suit you better; if budget is the deciding factor, look at Garforth.
Matthew Duckett · 16 years in property · updated 13 Oct 2026
What it costs to rent in Horsforth
Every bed count on the same scale. The bar is where most homes list, the dot is the typical asking rent, and the dashed line is the council-wide ONS average that covers every tenancy, old and new.
1-bed Live listings · read 13 Oct 2026 around LS18
All 1-beds listed here are flats (15).
The ONS average for all private rents in Leeds, 1-bed, is £779 a month (July 2026). New tenants around LS18 pay about 16% more.
Live listings, read 13 Oct 2026. ONS Price Index of Private Rents, Leeds, July 2026.
2-bed Live listings · read 13 Oct 2026 around LS18
The ONS average for all private rents in Leeds, 2-bed, is £970 a month (July 2026). New tenants around LS18 pay about 10% more.
Live listings, read 13 Oct 2026. ONS Price Index of Private Rents, Leeds, July 2026.
3-bed Live listings · read 13 Oct 2026 around LS18
Few 3-bed flats are listed; most 3-beds here are houses (14 houses, 1 flat).
The ONS average for all private rents in Leeds, 3-bed, is £1,133 a month (July 2026). New tenants around LS18 pay about 22% more.
Live listings, read 13 Oct 2026. ONS Price Index of Private Rents, Leeds, July 2026.
Council tax, Band D
Leeds council area, 2026-27. Your band depends on the property, so check it for any address.
MHCLG, 2026-27.
Examples, not recommendations
Nearest schools
Primary
- St Margaret's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
- Broadgate Primary School
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Horsforth
Secondary
- Horsforth School
- Abbey Grange Church of England Academy
- Lawnswood School
Distances are from our map point for Horsforth, not from any particular home. A nearby school is not the same as an available place.
Contact the council’s admissions team first. No address needed.
Source: Department for Education register (GIAS), read 8 Sep 2026.
Getting into Leeds station
Driving time calculated for a weekday 8am departure, 13 Oct 2026. Cycling time calculated 13 Oct 2026.
Nearest station or stop: Horsforth (rail), 1.1 km from our map point.
OpenStreetMap, data of 28 Sep 2026.
From Matthew
Horsforth station sits on the Harrogate line, with trains into Leeds in around fifteen minutes and on to Harrogate and York the other way. The station is on the edge of the area, so check the walk from the house you are looking at. Buses run along the main roads into the centre and to Headingley. By car the ring road is close, Leeds Bradford Airport is a short drive, and the A65 takes you out towards the Dales, but the run into the centre at peak times is slow and parking in town is expensive, so most people here use the train for work. The journey times on this page are measured from the pin on the map to Leeds station.
What to check in Horsforth
- Walk from the house to the station at the time you would use it; Horsforth is spread out and the station is on one edge.
- If schools matter, check admissions distances from the exact address; the popular primaries fill from close by.
- Houses here are mostly older, so check the EPC, the boiler and the windows.
- Ask about the garden and who maintains it.
- Parking is mostly on-street and unrestricted, but check the busier roads near Town Street.
- Confirm whether the house is let furnished or unfurnished; unfurnished is common here.
- Ask whether the loft and the cellar, if there is one, are included and dry.
- Check the broadband speed at the address, as it varies street by street.
Which part of Horsforth fits your work, budget and schools is what I work out in your Blueprint.
Your Blueprint is drawn up around your job, your budget, your household and your arrival date. Delivered within one working day of us having everything we need.
Some of the areas we know well
Other areas we know in Leeds
Not a ranking: which area fits depends on your work, budget and household.
Questions people ask about Horsforth
How much is rent in Horsforth?
For all 2-beds, flats and houses together: a typical asking rent of £1,070 a month around LS18, from 15 live listings read 13 Oct 2026. Most list between £940 and £1,250.
What is council tax in Horsforth?
Band D council tax in the Leeds council area is £2,284 a year for 2026-27 (MHCLG). Your band depends on the property.
How long does it take to get from Horsforth to Leeds station?
About 25 minutes by car, calculated for a weekday 8am departure on 13 Oct 2026.
Which council covers Horsforth?
Horsforth (LS18) is in the Leeds council area.