Need Advice on Moving to Northwich ,Cheshire & good Private schools in the area

Queen's and kings schools are good in chester

My mistake! My rare trips to Cheshire generally also include a visit to Altrincham so I think of it as being part of Cheshire.

Don’t know what your priorities might be, @EbeMbakara but if I had to move to somewhere in roughly that region I might look over the border into Wales. Hawarden in particular - though I have no idea about the schools. Chester would be your nearest town.

I don't know of anyone that has left Altrincham for Northwich, but a couple of friends' children have bought first homes there as the Altrincham area is unaffordable.

I second Knutsford as an alternative. Lots of independent shops, a Booths, mini Waitrose and an Aldi.

Various friends DC have thrived at Knutsford High School and you still have a slight chance of getting into a Trafford Grammar.

Just to add for balance my SIL lives in Northwich, they have a 1 year old and love it so everyone’s different! They do have things like a play cafe, baby swim etc and naff family events throughout the year. However they’re both from a working class background and they were able to buy a fairly big family home there which they couldn’t afford anywhere else in South Manchester or Cheshire.

Really? I live in Altrincham (which is in Trafford, Gr Manchester, not Cheshire) and wouldn’t dream of moving to Northwich nor do I know anyone who has! They’re very different places.

OP Northwich isn’t rough but it isn’t a desirable place to live either. It’s one of the most affordable places to live in Cheshire because the town centre is a bit run down, there isn’t much there and it’s mid-Cheshire so it’s not easily commutable to anywhere. It’s on the slow stopper train to Manchester and Chester. It feels more like a town that’s been forgotten and left behind with not much going on or to offer young families.

I’d suggest looking at Knutsford which isn’t far from there but much prettier, with more to offer and closer to Manchester with access to the same schools. It’s more expensive than Northwich but still affordable compared to the nicer areas of Manchester like Altrincham and Didsbury.

Macclesfield also has some lovely areas and is fairly affordable although Macclesfield town centre isn’t great (but still better than Northwich).

I love living in Altrincham but the great schools have pushed prices up so much that you really don’t get much for your money unless you’re willing to live in the less desirable parts or further out from the town centre.

I really wouldn’t call Northwich rough. It’s where the residents of Altrincham move once their kids have finished with the grammar schools. I know quite a few people at The Grange. They’re very happy there, it’s very nurturing but it’s not academic at all (it tends to be where kids who struggle with mainstream or who can’t get into the other privates go) - it really depends on what it is you’re looking for. I believe there’s a good Catholic school there too though I can’t remember the name now.

Some friends of friends have children at The Grange and seem very happy with it - particularly the rowing opportunities.

I’m ambivalent about Cheshire - obviously it has some super pretty villages stuffed to the gills with billionaires’ cottages. But those villages are a bit overcrowded - and for every resident there are three expensively kept dogs, which you may or may not find tedious. The non-billionaire housing is depressing.

Northwich town centre itself is beyond grim. One of the most depressing places to spend a Saturday afternoon there can be in the entire UK. Good Waitrose, the rest is awful.

If you must live in Cheshire look towards Altrincham, which is completely delightful.