However, the coronavirus pandemic has seen people move away from cities, as they look for more space and access to nature.
Thankfully, Yorkshire is home to some stunning towns and villages, with many in commutable distance to Leeds city centre.
Here are 20 places that are within an easy drive, train or busy journey into Leeds:
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7. Haworth
Haworth - the home of the Brontë sisters. The thriving village is popular with tourists due to its fascinating literary history, beautiful moors, the heritage Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and the annual 1940s weekend. However it is also a great place to live. Public transport commuters can get to Leeds via Keighley, changing there to get on a direct train to Leeds Station. It takes around one hour 15 minutes. Drivers can go through Bradford to Leeds and it takes around 45 minutes. Photo: Marisa Cahill
8. Bramham
You may have heard of Bramham as the home of Leeds Festival, which is held in Bramham Park, but it has much more to offer than live music and big crowds.The town has a long history that dates back to the Romans. The oldest part of All Saints Parish Church was built by the Normans in 1150 and the town is famed for the Battle of Bramham Moor which saw nobles rebel against King Henry IV in 1408. Today the town has great two great local pubs, a primary school and a thriving community. It takes around 45 minutes on the bus to get to Leeds city centre. It takes 25 to 30 minutes to drive from Bramham to Leeds via the M1 or the A64. It is a seven minute drive to Wetherby village. It is a 24 minute drive to York.
9. Ossett
The market town of Ossett is ideally located between Dewsbury and Wakefield. The historic town, also named in the Domesday Book, was once a coal mining town. Today is still has four operation textile mills in town and is home to two real ale breweries, Ossett Brewer and Bob's Brewing Company. There is a direct bus (the 117) to Leeds but the easiest way to Leeds city centre is via the M1 and M621 which takes 21 minutes.
10. Sherburn in Elmet
Sherburn in Elmet is a quaint village to the east of Leeds, near to Garforth. The Saxon Gardens development, off of Low Street, is one of three Redrow developments which between them have provided almost 400 new homes in the area. John Handley, managing director at Redrow Yorkshire, says: “We’ve built an impressive property portfolio in Sherburn-in-Elmet. We set out to provide a wide choice of homes, helping to get local families on to and up the property ladder and also providing homes for downsizers and young professionals." Photo: Redrow
11. Slaithwaite
The village that confuses everyone outside of Yorkshire - Slaithwaite. The tiny village is nestled in the Colne Valley and lays across the River Colne and Huddersfield Narrowe Canal. It has a vibrant village centre with many independent pubs and restaurants. It is served by the Slaithwaite railway station which is on the Huddersfield line. It has direct lines Leeds, taking three stops and 36 minutes. It also has direct a direct service to Manchester which takes 42 minutes. It takes 36 minutes to drive to Leeds. Photo: Tony Johnson
12. Skipton
Nestled on the edge of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales is Skipton. It sits on the River Aire and Leeds Liverpool Canal and boasts stunning views of the countryside. Although it is in north Yorkshire, it is in close driving distance of West Yorkshire towns like Keighley and Ilkley. It was once voted the 'Best Place to Live in Britain' by the Sunday Telegraph in 2014. There is a direct train line to Leeds Station and takes about 43 minutes. It takes about 53 minutes to drive to Leeds city centre. Photo: Jonathan Gawthorpe