Just off Junction 27 and 28 of the M62 is the Civil Parish of Morley. The historic market town is situated a convenient 5 miles out of Leeds City Centre and 7 miles from Wakefield, making it a fantastic spot for commuters of either city. Alongside its great networks, Morley has an array of local independent and high street businesses and a vast amount of schools making it an ideal location for families, young professionals and those who enjoy a community feel.
Things To Do
Morley is home to plenty of outdoor spaces to explore and what better way to do so than on the Churwell Woodland Railway. The 7 ¼ “minimum gauge railway was built as a community enterprise and operates every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month; a great way to explore the Morley woodlands. If you prefer to delve into local history, why not step back in time to the 1960’s and discover the history of Oakwell Hall. The Hall itself is set on 100 acres of Country Park, giving plenty of space to explore all day long. With the likes of Beryl Burton born and raised in Morley, sporting facilities in the area need to be up to scratch. The council run Morley Leisure Centre has a whole range of facilities for all ages and abilities, from badminton to basketball and family swim sessions, Morley Leisure Centre is the perfect place to get active.
Things you didn't know about Morley
There have been many famous faces to come out of Morley included none other than world record breaking cyclist Beryl Burton and the brains behind Bridget Jones; Helen Fielding.
Schools in Morley
Morley is one of the most popular areas for families due to its long list of good schools; both primary and secondary. Home to 6 primary schools and 3 secondary schools, an impressive proportion of Morley schools have been rated as outstanding in most recent Ofsted reports whilst the largest majority have been rated good, a notable outcome for a vast area with a large array of schools.
- Asquith Primary School
- Fountains Primary School
- Morley Primary School
- Morley Victoria Primary School
- Queenswood Primary School
- Seven Hills Primary School
- St. Francis Catholic School
Transport
Situated 5 miles outside of Leeds City Centre, Morley is attracting many new residents due to its commutability. With regular bus routes to the city centre and nearby towns, alongside Morleys local train station connecting to Leeds, Southport and Huddersfield; there are plenty of ways to make your commute easy and avoid city centre parking charges! Morley is conveniently located off Junction 27 & 28 on the M62 giving easy access to those who work a little further afield.
History
The name Morley derives from the term ‘Wood by a Moor’, up until the 18th century Morley was a fairly isolated village. The Revolution of the 18th and 19th century saw 3 basic industries dominate the Morley area; textiles, coal mining and quarrying.
Eating & Drinking
Morley isn’t short of places to eat or drink. For freshly prepared Mediterranean cuisine head to Kasa Rosa on Town End and treat yourself to one of their tapas style dishes. When in the Morley area, Cucina Café Bar and restaurant is a must try. Their British and contemporary style dishes are sure to satisfy all taste buds and can only be washed down with one their signature cocktails up in the Cucina Cocktail bar; Morleys weekend hot spot. If craft beers are more your thing, behind the orange exterior of Oscars on Queen Street, you can expect to find to 7 local draught beers, many of which are brewed in Frisky Bear micro brewery hidden below - you don’t get much more local than that!
Shopping
You won’t be short of places to shop in Morley, with the White Rose Shopping Centre home to high street brands including Marks and Spencer, H&M, Primark and Sainsburys on its doorstep, there is no need to venture into the city centre for all the essentials. In Morley Town Centre there are plenty of independent businesses, from beauticians to cafes bringing sense of community to the town. Thinking of your food shop, you have plenty of options, with a large Asda and Morrisons to get all your weekly groceries. Whilst taking a more traditional approach, Morley Market situated in the town centre has over 60 stalls from butchers to old fashion sweets shops, keeping a sense of history within the town.
