Gay Couple Moving to Manchester - Advice Needed

[hfluffy88]

Hi all,


I hope you can help me. Myself and my partner are looking to relocate to Manchester as we have been completely priced out of our hometown here in Berkshire. We are a lesbian couple and looking for somewhere to rent (rent budget £750pm maximum) with the potential of buying later on (Buyinh budget under £150k and we are looking for a 2 bed house with garden). I've been told to stick to south manc for what we are after but I really have no clue where to start as we have never been there (we plan on making a trip soon to visit areas once we have a short list).

We need somewhere that has:

• easy-ish access to city or good town for shopping
  
• gay friendly
  
• safe area
  
• open spaces for walks
  
• house with garden for 3 dogs
  
• not too secured - the town we live in at the moment has nothing going on and we hate it
  
• artsy/crafts vibe
  
• indie shops
  
• good transport
  
• we will be adopting so good schools (but wouldn't be opposed to homeschooling if that's a problem)
  
• not too bothered about pubs as don't really drink but do enjoy going out for lunch/dinner so good cafes or restaurants would be a bonus.
  
  I know this is a lot to ask as somewhere like this probably doesn't exist but if anyone has any suggestions to help narrow our search would be greatly appreciated.
  
  Thanks in advance!

[hfluffy88]

TYPO! Sorry I meant not too remote (not secured lol)

[iklboo]

Not sure about rental prices (we rent from BIL at reduced cost) but Urmston fits practically all your criteria.

easy-ish access to city or good town for shopping - good shopping centre, bus & train to Manchester
gay friendly - I've seen lots of open couples in town.
safe area - feel much safer here than previous places
open spaces for walks - lots of parks
house with garden for 3 dogs - many houses have gardens
not too secured - the town we live in at the moment has nothing going on and we hate it - good community stuff, concerts, am dram etc
artsy/crafts vibe - artisan market once a month, indie shops
indie shops
good transport - on train line to Manchester, good buses
we will be adopting so good schools (but wouldn't be opposed to homeschooling if that's a problem) - excellent schools

• not too bothered about pubs as don't really drink but do enjoy going out for lunch/dinner so good cafes or restaurants would be a bonus. - nice bars / cafes / bistros - lots of choice

[hfluffy88]

Thank you! I'm going to start looking into it now :)

[iklboo]

Something like this?

No garden but quite large yards / paved areas.

[swaying]

Old trafford if yoi vould find a housecwith a big enouhh garden. The area around seymour park and hullard park (very doggy) would be brilliant and there are local schools with a significant number of same sex parents and adopted children you could access as adopting from care even if not quite in the catchment. Great community feel, too much arts stuff to see and very close to chorlton and the city centre.

[hfluffy88]

Thanks ilkboo. What a great find!


I haven't thought about Old Trafford before. I'll start doing so,e research. Thank you!

[hfluffy88]

P.S regarding garden size - they are tiny tiny dogs so don't need that much room in the garden, but we are very spoiled at the moment and have a big garden so will be hard to give up.

[hfluffy88]

Does anyone have any opinions on Prestwich? I know it's not south but from what I've heard it's a bit like Didsbury/Chorlton which from what we've read seems like a good fit for us if only we could afford it.

[DanceTheBlues]

The Reddish area would be a good bet for you as well. It's an easy bus ride to Heaton Moor and Chorlton (both have really good cafe culture), trains from Reddish North station are every half hour and take 15 mins to get to the city centre. Rent wise you're looking at around £550-650 for a 2 bed and you would easily buy the same for less than £150k. There's a lot coming on the market at the moment as well. Try and avoid the Longford Road area but otherwise it's a nice place

[knickernicker]

Prestwich would be fine, but doesn't have the crusty vibe Chorlton has. Chorlton is the way to go. It has a lovely vegan supermarket. Monton near Worsley had a nice community feel.
If you can go out of Manchester you'll want Hebden Bridge it Todmorden.

[knickernicker]

The crustiness extends out to Whally Range, Stretford, Hulme, Old Trafford, Withington

[bluebeanie]

I second Chorlton. Lots of gay people here. I live on the borders (Whalley Range - I love the crumbling grandeur). It's more affordable, but close enough for Chorlton, city centre, bit more garden space etc.

[hfluffy88]

Chorlton did seem nice but I'm not sure we could afford it. Can you get much there for under £150k? I've heard it can be overpriced?

[umizoomi]

What about some of the Stockport suburbs ? Cheadle, Cheadle Heath etc? I am not from Manchester but it seems a good compromise on price location etc from what friends tell me.

[umizoomi]

Isn't Irlam up and coming too?!

[Yourface]

You can get a bit more in Whalley Range but it is still expensive. Everywhere is expensive. Urmston ticks a lot of your boxes and is much more affordable. It isn't cool or edgy but I think it is warm and friendly. Prestwich doesn't do it for me. North Manchester feels different to south, even though prestwich is touted as the Didsbury of that area. I live in Didsbury and would choose urmston over prestwich.

[hfluffy88]

Thanks guys. I was looking at Whalley Range and Stockport but then someone else told me to avoid those areas. It's all very confusing.

[itsahen]

Whaley range and Stockport are totally fine. I live between them and know loads of people in or around both. I also know lots of same sex couples and no one bats an eyelid.

[itsahen]

Looking at your crieteria I think'd about Whalley Ramge and Stretford. Chorlton ticks all your boxes but might be too expensive. Stretford and Whalley Range are beside it and cheaper. Good schools, which adopted children have priority for. 10-15 mins to city on the bus. Accepting culture in the area welcoming families of all make up, religion, background etc. Fantastic parks like Chorlton, Longford and Alexandra park, Chorlton Eves and water park, sale water park. Huge parks all kid and dog friendly. Trams, buses and cycle route to town.... Feel free to ask any questions as I know the area very well.

[itsahen]

I see some one else mentioned old Trafford... That merges into Stretford so yes any where round there really, so add that to WRange as Streford.
North Manchester is a slightly different vibe and less transient and cosmopolitan than the like of Chorlton and Didsbury. South and Central have huge numbers of people who work at teaching & research hospitals, universities etc too People do come and go more, which makes it tolerant area.

[hfluffy88]

Thanks so much for all this info. Will def have a look into Whalley Range again and Stretford. Would there be any areas within those two to avoid? I think near Chorlton def seems like the best bet for us, shame we don't have s bigger budget!

[Amiee]

I have lived in Chorlton for the last 2 years and I love it. It ticks all your boxes. It's got good schools, nice walks, gay friendly and the restaurant/cafe culture is great. I'm sure you could get somewhere close within budget but maybe not right next to beech rd. Good luck. :)

[itsahen]

I'd just aim to for Chorlton side but only as more is in walking distance then. I'd just look at what your budget would get. It's a great area and tons going on.

[Pengweng]

I live in Sale Moor.
It has a tram stop so only 20 mins into city centre.
It's near Sale water park/along the canal so lots of walks and plenty of parks around.
We have local shops 2 mins away and the village (about 20 shops including deli, butchers, greengrocers, chemist etc) is about 10 mins walk from me.

My house (3 bed with a decent sized garden) was £127K 4 years ago. It's now been valued at £160,000 but plenty of 2 beds in the area for less.
You could also try Altrincham which is nice but possibly a bit more expensive. I will try and find a few houses to link to in a min.

[Pengweng]

Oh and if you like Chorlton but can't afford to live there then the tram takes 5 mins so all the shops/bars etc are still very accessible.