Moving to Manchester

[Craftymum123]

Hiya

We are looking to move to Manchester from the south east late summer hopefully- looking for advice on locations for families, schools, reasonable rentals etc.

All advice greatly appreciated

Thanks

[busyboysmum]

We live in Sale. It's recently been voted 4th best place to live in England. It's quite balanced I think. Good schools, good transport links, nice people. I've lived here all my life, went away to Uni and lived other places, came back here to have my family as I had a happy childhood here.

[ceeveebee]

We moved from london to south Manchester 18 months ago (I'm originally from Stockport so wanted to move back nearer grandparents etc).
We decided to live in Bowdon which is on the outskirts of Altrincham. It's a bit pricier than some other areas but has amazing schools, good transport links (I get the tram to work, about 25 mins to central Manchester but it's also very near motorways), lots of nice restaurants etc in nearby hale and altrincham. Loving it so far!

If you wanted to be nearer Manchester centre then Sale is also lovely. Didsbury great but the good primary schools not easy to get into and not in Trafford which has the Grammar schools.
Good luck!

[busyboysmum]

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/property/what-makes-sale-fourth-best-12689852.amp

[Craftymum123]

Thanks so much, will look at those recommendations

[namechangedtoday15]

If you do a search, there have been quite a few similar threads with some really good advice.

[Craftymum123]

Wondering what westhoughton is like to live in?

[ceeveebee]

I don't know North Manchester/Bolton area at all. Where will you need to get to for work?

It might be worth posting in Mumsnet local for Manchester if you haven't already?

[Craftymum123]

Bolton outskirts for work

[namechangedtoday15]

We lived in Lostock area of Bolton for a few years. Quite a nice part of Bolton, all along Chorley New Road / Markland Hill there are some lovely houses. Primary schools have a good reputation although we moved before we had children there (Beaumont / Markland Hill) but the secondary schools are pretty poor (unless you pay for Bolton School or attend church every week for Canon Slade).

Just before we moved, we rented in Westhoughton for 6 months. There are hundreds of new built houses and as far as I know, not a massive infrastructure in terms of school places / doctors surgeries to support all the new houses.

For me personally, Bolton and Westhoughton were not really young family friendly - in the sense that most young people who lived there (or returned there after uni) did so because they had family there so they had less of an incentive to make new friends / not so many young mum & baby groups (and everyone going for coffee afterwards etc). The demographic was very mixed with a feeling that there were lots of well established residents that were born and bred there rather than moving there for work / just because they liked it.

[Craftymum123]

Thank you for that information, really useful

[ceeveebee]

Actually I just remembered I have friends who live in Ramsbottom and really love it, very family friendly and not far from Bolton, maybe take a look at there?

www.theguardian.com/money/2013/may/31/lets-move-to-ramsbottom-lancashire

[kingvardos]

Sale. Safe, good schools . Affordable