A Hong Kong family consider moving to Warrington

[mgmismicgmic]

Hi all, we are a HK family and we are thinking of moving to Warrington next year.

Having a few questions, would be great if anyone can share their experience with us.

1. Are the good/outstanding primary schools easily oversubscribe in Warrington? Which areas they usually locate on?
   

1. Is it easy to find a short-term rent property in Warrington? We plan to buy one after landed, so need a "tentative home" with furnitures before we can move in.
   

1. Having browsed on Mumsnet and learned Chapelford was not a very recommending area in 2 or 3 years ago, is it getting better now?
   

1. How is Great Sankey? I knew it has a new railway station nearby, is it a safe place for kid?
   

Thank you all~!

[Toddlerteaplease]

No idea about Warrington, But nearby Liverpool is fantastic!

[itchyfinger]

Why warrington?

[mgmismicgmic]

@itchyfinger

Why warrington?

It's between Liverpool and Manchester, more likely to get a job

And.. the houses are relatively affordable

And.. we like quiet place, HK is too busy, we don't want to move to a similar place like London

And..this area is quite safe for kid, according to crime rate statistic

[LIZS]

That rather depends on the sector of work. Some areas are very expensive (footballers etc) others less so. Much of uk is "safe" statistically -even nearer London - but there will always be variation within that.

[Evelefteden]

I live in Grappenhall/Appleton which is semi rural and just outside the centre. It’s lovely and quite. House prices can be a bit steep although the closer to get to Warrington the drop a bit a bit. Amazing access to motor ways to Manchester or in the opposite direction. Great Sankey is hideous for traffic especially at peak times. The schools in grappenhall are great although we have sent ours to a private school but really did consider the local primary.

Shopping in Warrington is great too. I’ve always been a bit of a mover never really wanting to settle but I think this is where I’m going to stay now.

[Evelefteden]

Thelwall, grappenhall and Appleton to me is very safe. I grew up in Manchester and there are areas I wouldn’t want my kids to grow up in.

[mgmismicgmic]

@Evelefteden

Thelwall, grappenhall and Appleton to me is very safe. I grew up in Manchester and there are areas I wouldn’t want my kids to grow up in.

Thank you so much for your reply. Is that easy to go to Warrington town center or even further like Manchester and Liverpool if I don't have driving license?

[breadcakebiscuits]

There is a direct railway line with both fast trains and stopping trains between Liverpool and Manchester so anywhere you live on that line will make for an easy commute. However you must learn to drive as soon as you possibly can because other forms of public transport are virtually non-existent. Coming from HK the amount of time it is possible to spend in a car will be a massive shock to you.

Great Sankey is a pleasant enough suburb but the countryside around it is flat and farmed on an industrial scale, sandwiched between power stations. It isn’t going to be the rural idyll you’re perhaps imagining.

I grew up in the NW and I have both very positive and very negative feelings about it. I will say that its reputation for friendliness is well-deserved. People are welcoming, but you will need to drive the effort to integrate because extended family and friendship groups are very tight knit. If you’re even remotely religious, join a church or temple (there are several of the latter, of many denominations, across the NW). If you’re in any way “different” whether that’s your ethnicity, your sexual preferences or even just your attitude, it’s not easy to be yourself because it’s an area that’s very conformist. If you’re straight, married with children, and have a middle class profession you’ll find it much easier to find your people.

There are historic links with Asia across the NW, and an established Chinatown in both Liverpool and Manchester. Celebrations are epic and inclusive.

I can imagine your decision to leave HK is painful and frightening and I hope you’ll find safe harbour here.

[Evelefteden]

Absolutely there are plenty of buses that run up and down in to the centre where you can get a train to either. It’s about 15 minutes on a bus. Latchford is in between grappenhall but that area can be a bit run down

What sector of work are you in? Have you thought about getting your driving license?

[Lordamighty]

@mgmismicgmic I’ve sent you a PM.

[GrowThroughWhatYouGoThrough]

Chapelford is fine no issues at all. There's a new train station in Chapelford which has links to Manchester and Liverpool and it's 5 mins away from the motorway. There's some local estate agents who deal with lettings Edward grounds, Halton Kelly Rightmove probably your best bet. The primary school has also turned into an academy which is linked to great Sankey high school and barrow hall college. A new drs surgery has opened with a chemist and there's a Sainsbury's Chinese and hairdressers in Chapelford too.

[GreyGardens88]

I heard the commute on the train between Warrington and Manchester is horrible. Are you set on Warrington to me it seems like a pretty unremarkable town and as a pp said the countryside around isn't very nice. If you're set on the NW I would choose Liverpool or South Manchester

[Collaborate]

My dad lives in Kingswood, which is a 10 minute walk from Chapelford centre. Great motorway links so get your driving license quickly and you can work almost anywhere in the north west conurbation.

I grew up in Warrington but haven't lived there for decades now. Couldn't really tell you about schools other than all the good ones are going to be over subscribed wherever you go.

[lastqueenofscotland]

I’m in south Manchester and have friends in Warrington, it’s a bit... meh, I don’t think the train links are particularly great and slightly odd times outside of rush hour.

I agree with the other comments, I think you’d be better picking Manchester or Liverpool.

[sashh]

You said you don't have a driving licence, I would look at the tests in both countries and take the one you think is easier, you can just exchange a HK driving licence for a UK one.

Even if busses are frequent do not underestimate the sheer misery of waiting on a cold wet day for a bus, often with no shelter. The NW gets a lot of rain. A lot of cold rain. Even on a hot day the rain is cold.

You will drive round roundabouts a lot in Warrington.

I lived in the NW but not in Warrington, I just remember the instructions to get to IKEA from the motorway involved about 8 roundabouts.

Manchester has a Chinatown and Chinese supermarkets which are useful as the ordinary supermarkets don't stock that much 'ethnic' as they describe it, foods and they tend to be expensive.

Personally I love Manchester, not everyone does.

Can you come for a visit?

[breadcakebiscuits]

Can you come for a visit?

No, she can’t. That’s not how fleeing persecution works.

[Alfiemoon1]

I am in Thelwall and think it’s a lovely safe village with nice schools. House prices are slightly higher on this side of Warrington though

[mgmismicgmic]

@breadcakebiscuits

There is a direct railway line with both fast trains and stopping trains between Liverpool and Manchester so anywhere you live on that line will make for an easy commute. However you must learn to drive as soon as you possibly can because other forms of public transport are virtually non-existent. Coming from HK the amount of time it is possible to spend in a car will be a massive shock to you.

Great Sankey is a pleasant enough suburb but the countryside around it is flat and farmed on an industrial scale, sandwiched between power stations. It isn’t going to be the rural idyll you’re perhaps imagining.

I grew up in the NW and I have both very positive and very negative feelings about it. I will say that its reputation for friendliness is well-deserved. People are welcoming, but you will need to drive the effort to integrate because extended family and friendship groups are very tight knit. If you’re even remotely religious, join a church or temple (there are several of the latter, of many denominations, across the NW). If you’re in any way “different” whether that’s your ethnicity, your sexual preferences or even just your attitude, it’s not easy to be yourself because it’s an area that’s very conformist. If you’re straight, married with children, and have a middle class profession you’ll find it much easier to find your people.

There are historic links with Asia across the NW, and an established Chinatown in both Liverpool and Manchester. Celebrations are epic and inclusive.

I can imagine your decision to leave HK is painful and frightening and I hope you’ll find safe harbour here.

Thanks for your blessing, it is really heartwarming.
Heard that the power station has been closed already, just in March, is that true?

[Lordamighty]

Yes the power station has been decommissioned.

[AldiAisleofCrap]

I would choose South Liverpool rather than Warrington. There is a direct train to Manchester from Liverpool and much more to do.

[KANNET]

Great sankey is a lovely area. Nice schools and a good community feel. Chapelford is nice as well. I hope you will be be very happy there

[mgmismicgmic]

@Evelefteden

Absolutely there are plenty of buses that run up and down in to the centre where you can get a train to either. It’s about 15 minutes on a bus. Latchford is in between grappenhall but that area can be a bit run down

What sector of work are you in? Have you thought about getting your driving license?

I used to be a project executive in an exhibition, and I am a project manager of website and an app

[mgmismicgmic]

@GreyGardens88

I heard the commute on the train between Warrington and Manchester is horrible. Are you set on Warrington to me it seems like a pretty unremarkable town and as a pp said the countryside around isn't very nice. If you're set on the NW I would choose Liverpool or South Manchester

We haven't made a final decision but we quite like this place. Wonder if it is possible to rent a flat in Warrington in short term, so that I can feel the town directly.

Is it not much property willing to offer short term renting?

[mgmismicgmic]

@sashh

You said you don't have a driving licence, I would look at the tests in both countries and take the one you think is easier, you can just exchange a HK driving licence for a UK one.

Even if busses are frequent do not underestimate the sheer misery of waiting on a cold wet day for a bus, often with no shelter. The NW gets a lot of rain. A lot of cold rain. Even on a hot day the rain is cold.

You will drive round roundabouts a lot in Warrington.

I lived in the NW but not in Warrington, I just remember the instructions to get to IKEA from the motorway involved about 8 roundabouts.

Manchester has a Chinatown and Chinese supermarkets which are useful as the ordinary supermarkets don't stock that much 'ethnic' as they describe it, foods and they tend to be expensive.

Personally I love Manchester, not everyone does.

Can you come for a visit?

I afraid I don't have much time to get a license in Hong Kong despite it is earlier to get.

Not sure if you have heard of the situation in Hong Kong now, sad to tell we don't have much time to get everything well prepared step by step.

[mencken]

you won't get a short term (under six months) rental from any reputable landlord in England, unless it is a holiday let. This is due to our rental laws.

please read the document here which tells you about tenant rights and responsibilities in England.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-rent

any reputable landlord will do lots of checks on you and meet all the requirements. do not rent from anyone who does not. With no UK credit history, you will have a bit of a struggle to rent.