Where to live in Manchester?

[humdrum2]

Of course, I'm afraid this thread has probably been done a hundred times before but here goes nothing!
I'll be moving to Manchester with my family (hubby + a teenager) very soon and it's time we started looking for a pleasant area to live. So far, we've looked at Prestwich which seemed alright but we're not sure where to turn next. We have a somewhat reasonable (I hope) amount of money for a house but until we save up enough, I think we'll be renting for the first few years. We were thinking about £900 max for the rent - will this get us anything in a desirable suburb?
We don't have too many conditions but we really need to be within 10 miles of central Manchester for my job and the school our child has chosen. Preferably just a nice, quiet, family area with a bit of green space (i.e. not too claustrophobic!). A low crime rate is also pretty much a must.
Can anyone offer advice on the following areas:
-Monton
-Worsley
-Prestwich/Whitefield
-Maybe south Manchester if we can afford it?
Or just anywhere else that suits our needs!
Thank you!

[wowfudge]

Monton is a good area with a decent high street, walking distance from Eccles for metrolink and train station, on a good bus route into Manchester. Some pleasant walks across the golf course and along one railway line. The streets to the north of Monton Road are perhaps nicer than the ones to the south.

Worsley - very nice. Can be expensive. The area around the green and canal is lovely.

The southern part of Swinton between the East Lancs and Worsley is also a good area. The building of a guided busway is causing some traffic issues though. But the motorway network is close by.

All are good areas for plenty of local amenities.

[wowfudge]

That should read old railway line - leads to Worsley.

[tittysprinkles]

You will get more for your money in north Manchester than south. I have lived in Prestwich for the past 7 years and would definitely recommend it.

There are plenty of tram and bus stops that will take you into Manchester. Heaton Park is a lovely green space with lots going on and you are only a short drive from some beautiful countryside in the Pennines. You're also not far from Bury which is great for shopping and has a brilliant market.

There are some nice restaurants and pubs in Prestwich village, less so in the Sedgely Park end as this is a predominantly Jewish area (so less nightlife but still very nice).

I can't tell you too much about schools tbh. St Monica's is an RC high school with a very good reputation, new facilities and an outstanding Ofsted.

We're actually moving to South Manchester to be closer to family and because the schools round here are mostly denominational and we are not. I have loved living here though and would definitely recommend it.

[Twowrongsdontmakearight]

You might want to look at Timperley or Sale in South Manchester. There are Grammar Schools, or Wellington and Ashton on Mersey Schools have very good reputations. If your teen is older then there's Trafford College too.

Timperley, Brooklands and Sale are on the Metro and you can be in Manchester in about 20-30 mins. In the other direction the Cheshire countryside is a 15 minute drive away. Altrincham and Hale nearby have nice bars, cafes and restaurants.

You can buy a 3 bed semi in Timperley or Sale or even parts of Altrincham for between £250-300,000 but rentals look like they're nearer to £995 a month.

I grew up in Prestwich and Whitefield but much prefer the South side. It feels greener and leafier and is close to three big National Trust parks, Dunham Massey, Tatton Park and Styal Mill that we use a lot.

[NewLife4Me]

Worsley is fine if you have the money.
South Manchester if you can afford it.
Trafford has good schools in all sectors.
North Manchester has shite schools in general.

[NewLife4Me]

In North Manchester you can get a 4 bed semi for around £180k / £200k would buy you pretty much the best.

[humdrum2]

@wowfudge a few people have told me Monton is a nice 'up and coming' area and we've seen some lovely property there. My only query is, are the surrounding areas really as bad as people make out? Would you feel safe living there?

We were thinking about Sale and Timperley but they seem to be just slightly out of budget. Our rent budget there can only get us a small terraced house which is why we were trying to avoid south Manchester. Having said that, we haven't looked around properly but when we do, we'll compare it to what we've already seen in Prestwich (where we can get a nice semi for our money) and make a decision based on that.

@tittysprinkles I think you may have sold Prestwich to me! We did like it when we looked around and I do think it is our 'safest' option by far.

[pastaofplenty]

Have you considered Stockport way - Bramhall, Marple, Heaton Mersey, Hazel Grove?

[wowfudge]

Which areas are as bad as people make out?! I'm from the area I have advised you about - it is fine. I get a bit sick of threads on here banging on about how wonderful totally overpriced areas of south Manchester are.

[wowfudge]

I've lived in Monton and it's nice - has been for yonks. The mix of shops on the high street is what is up and coming, but it's always had a post office, restaurants, etc. My parents live about a third of a mile away and their road is sought after - the houses are bigger than many in the area (semis), catchment of best rated primary school in the area and it has good transport links.

[Iamnotloobrushphobic]

I would avoid monton.
Prestwich is nice in most parts, just be sure to be in 'proper' Prestwich and not on the borders of crumpsall.

Where is the school your DS had chosen? Can he definitely get a place? Is it an independent with a shuttle service?

The heatons in south manchester are mainly nice (not heaton Norris though). Sale is also nice as is timperley but a bit pricey due to the excellent local schools.

Whitefield is nice, just avoid being near the estate known as whizz field.

[wowfudge]

Why would you avoid Monton loobrush? I don't think it's helpful to make a broad brush statement and not explain why.

[MummaGiles]

Take a look at Urmston

[Iamnotloobrushphobic]

I would avoid monton because it is close to Eccles. In fact I would avoid most of Salford or areas that border Salford. Salford crime rates over the years have been terrible and it's history of gang related activity over the past two decades means I would avoid living there.

[wowfudge]

Have you ever lived there? I have, for over 30 years - I am a Salfordian. I have never experienced a crime or anything gang related. Salford covers a large area. There is a lot of variation between areas of the city. Ellesmere Park is in Eccles and is very nice so I think saying no to Monton on the basis that it's close to Eccles is short sighted. Monton is really nice - especially around the green.

[JimmyGreavesMoustache]

all of the areas you've listed are very pleasant, family friendly areas with excellent schools. Just depends which one you like the feel of the best. Prestwich probably offers the best commute into town.

Although you're bound to get the boring old mumsnet orthodoxy that you simply MUST live in Hale, Didsbury, The Heatons, or Wilmslow. Chorlton, Sale or Stretford might do at a push. Everywhere else be dragons .

[Iamnotloobrushphobic]

wowfudge no I haven't lived there but I have worked within the criminal justice system and spent most of my time working on Salford based criminal cases. I have lived in other undesirable parts of Manchester and wouldn't recommend those either but the OP didn't ask about those areas so I didn't feel the need to mention them.
It us natural to be defensive about an area you have lived in for 30 years but it doesn't change the recent the criminal history of the area. There is a reason that housing in many parts of Salford is cheap.
Some areas of Salford are nicer than others but IMO monton is not one of the better areas.

[tittysprinkles]

I have to echo wowfudge, Salford gets a really bad reputation but there are some nice areas. The bit of Prestwich I live in is technically Salford. In 7 years we've had no trouble at all, have had lovely neighbours and enjoyed everything the area has to offer. You're well positioned for the city centre, the motorway, heaton park, can get to the countryside and the Trafford centre etc easily.

Places like Crumpsall and Cheetham Hill (although we're talking Manchester rather than Salford now) get a bad rep in the media but they're actually OK. We often get our food from the Asian supermarkets there and the curry houses are the best in Manchester (and I used to live in Rusholme). There's a bit of a vibe there - people of all communities together, African, Asian, middle eastern, Jewish, Eastern European.

I think North Manchester does have a lot to offer, it has really grown no me. The only unknown entity is the schools but I would certainly make my own mind up by visiting them before writing them off based on Ofsted reports etc.

[Twowrongsdontmakearight]

Hi humdrum it would probably help to know which school you have chosen. If you can avoid crossing the city centre in the rush hour it would be best.

[Georgethesecond]

If he's going to MGS look at the bus routes and live on one.

[Twowrongsdontmakearight]

If MGS then you might look at Cheadle. Very handy for John Lewis but not sure about trams.

[humdrum2]

Hi, thank you to everyone who's replied. We've been thinking and have decided we might even try to see some houses for sale. We don't have a big budget - 170k max. It seems that this rules out most of south Manchester but Prestwich seems within budget. So, if you had 170k to find a 2-3 bedroom house, where would you buy?
I know about Salford's bad rep but I'm sure there are lovely areas as wowfudge and tittysprinkles have said, we'll have a look around Monton and see if there's anything we like.
As for schools, ds will be going to sixth form and all the schools we've looked at have told us they don't have any defined catchment areas, as opposed to lower school. He'll be able to drive in year 13 too. He really liked Loreto College which seemed to be in a not so nice area so we're not desperate to live close to school (as long he can catch a bus and be there in under 35 minutes, he says he'll be happy!)

[sooperdooper]

Keep an open mind until you've visited the areas and viewed some properties :)

I moved to Salford, nr Monton about 5 years ago having rented in South Manchester for years and I've had no issues with crime etc and feel perfectly safe, plus I first moved here alone and tbh had more problems with crime and unsociable behavior in Chorlton, which most people would only describe that area as trendy and Sale where my car got nicked two weeks after moving here

[GlitteryShoes]

People travel to Loreto from all over, - has he got a place? it's very competitive.
Stretford and Old Trafford are close to Loreto, on the tram route and also close to Chorlton. Definitely worth looking at while you rent and get to know the area.
If he likes Loreto he should also look at Xaverian.