Do you prefer Birmingham or Manchester

Stratford is 40m on a direct line to Birmingham moor street? It’s pretty easy!

This. South Manchester isn't cheap.

Although I still recommend Manchester

Much prefer Birmingham. The centre had a good feel about it and it's nice and near places like the Cotswolds for a day out.

I absolutely hated Manchester. I can't think of a single redeeming thing about it.

I don't get the love for Leeds at all!

Manchester!
or even better, Leeds

Manchester. The city centre is quite compact. I don't like Birmingham much, not sure why.

Oooh. Lovely parts of South Manchester/Cheshire there and you’ve got a very healthy budget.

Alty, Wilmslow and Knutsford are fab. Alderley Edge I find a bit Cheshire Housewives.
Theres lovely national Trust properties very local. Always lots going on. Fabulous places to eat and drink. All on public transport lines to the city centre.

"We have decided we would live in Stratford/Warwick/Leamington Spa if we moved to Birmingham"

This statement makes zero sense. Leamington Spa is a good 45 minutes from Birmingham. They're completely different places.

Out of the options I'd pick Warwickshire, but more because it's easier to travel to Oxford which has better options for museums and eating out than Birmingham.

Lived in both including London.
I'd stay in London.

I'd go Solihull with that budget.

Leamington / Warwick / Stratford all have direct train routes to Birmingham.
Birmingham is great for shopping and eating. It is not so great for museums but in Warwickshire, you would be near enough for days out in Oxford which is full of great museums. Stratford is also great for a day out and come to think of it so is Leamington (decent shops, rivers, parks).
My vote is Birmingham but it will feel very small compared to London.

Between Birmingham and Manchester I'd pick Manchester, although the centre has some grotty bits.

Altrincham and Hale are lovely, a 20 minute tram ride into Manchester but close to lots of National Trust properties. The local schools are good. We have a Grammar system but the High schools are sought after too.

You may want to think again, if you think £950k will get you anything decent in
Wilmslow, Aderley Edge.
Knutsford, Altrincham, probably a 3-4 bedroom detached in a moderate area.

Yeah they’re right shit holes 😂

C’mon really?? Compared with where? Belgravia?

I appreciate that. But dh and I are now also in the habit of being out of house at weekends. We have the occasional movie day but both get cabin fever quickly since having ds
I understand that you want to be out of the house but why are you only thinking about museums and other such metropolitan-type entertainments.
You are doing the equivalent of going on holiday to Spain but insisting on eating British-style fish and chips.

Likewise, Knutsford, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge and Altrincham are in Cheshire, not Manchester

But will your activities remain the same when he's no longer interested? Or might they change to slower, more leisurely type things like a nice walk to a good pub for lunch?

Or more local, community based things?

I would just bear in mind that whilst doing all of this stuff is lovely now, in 2-3 years, your DS will have his own social life and will probably want to spend more time with his friends from school at weekends rather than walking round museums with his parents (no offence) so I personally wouldn't choose to relocate to a completely new area purely based on what you do now.

Very much this.

I went to uni in Manchester but it’s changed since then. The atmosphere is now quite unpleasant and I’ve never come across a city so up its own arse.
Oh come on. Bristol, surely?
I do know what you mean, but I still vote Manchester. Last time I went to Altrincham it was absolutely dead though. Has it got better again?

I live near Birmingham.

I would recommend visiting Manchester over Birmingham as there is more to do in the city centre as Birmingham City Centre isn’t as geared for tourists as Manchester. Birmingham has lots to do however it’s spread around the suburbs.

To live, I would say Birmingham.

Manchester area. The places you have suggested to live are great, plus you'll have Manchester, Liverpool, Chester and only a short trek to Leeds if you so desired. Lake district not too far also.

There's not much within 10 mins walk of Moor St that OP will want to do on repeat.

That's bonkers. There is SO much with in a few minutes walk of Moor Street, and it's never 45 mins on a train from Warwick. It's around 30. It's a perfect distance for hopping on a train and spending the day in Birmingham.

I moved from a small NE village to a similar area outside of Birmingham as OP is looking at. Everything was bigger, faster, more frequent, open longer etc.

OP would essentially be doing the opposite, even if she moved to where I now live. From a million miles an hour to a thousand (I went from one to a thousand!).

I love going home, but after over a decade here I do find it strange (in a good way) that things are slower and quieter.