Moving to the UK, possibly Manchester

[user1468007267]

Hi, This is my first post so I hope I am doing this right...
We are a family currently living in Switzerland and hoping to move to the Manchester area next summer.
I would love recommendations on rural villages outside of Manchester with good transport links into the city. Good secondary schools that offer a 2 year GCSE programme. Some seem to offer 3. Good colleges that offer the BTEC sports course, and Head hunters or job agencies specialising in International sales.
I am asking a lot I know, but I am sure someone out there has info on one of these questions perhaps? Many thanks.

Do you like hills or more arable, rolling countryside? You could look at the Saddleworth area to the NE of Manchester, which is several large villages with old stone houses and rolling hills with moorland on the top. Very pretty with good links to the city, but can be quite wild weather in winter and some parts are getting very built up nowadays.

Bury is nice and has a tram straight into Manchester.

Chorley has brilliant train services to Manchester. Good bus route and motorway connections. Excellent schools both secondary and primary. A busy market town with beautiful countryside very close.

Trafford has grammar schools. And the teams are great.

Honeyroar, I don't think I've thought that far. Countryside of any type really. I like a village, not keen on towns, definitely not a city girl.
I will have a look at Saddleworth, thanks.
So far I have only vaguely looked at the South of Manchester, not the North at all. Forgot to mention, my husband is likely to need to travel, so near enough to the airport would be good, although under the flight path doesn't sound great.

I will have a look at Bury, thanks.

I will take a look at Chorley. Thank you.

Glossop is lovely with a great train service to and from Manchester. It's a bit shit for driving as there is one road in and out but it's got a lovely village everyone-knows-everyone feel without being small or isolated. It's semi-expensive house wise but has lots to offer. You're not far from good transport links to major cities/towns and you're literally walking distance to some beautiful scenic areas.

A friend of mine once said that if you have a choice of anywhere, move somewhere where there are no shutters in shops and I think that's kind of true.

Not sure my son would get into a Grammar school as they are selective. He has been studying in French, so might not be so easy for him.

What’s your budget? South Manchester is generally seen as more ‘desirable’ - it’s where your typical middle class would tend to live - see wilmslow, knutsford, Lymm, bramhall, Cheadle.

Trafford is south Manchester and has fabulous schools but will be pricey. Best areas are hale / Altrincham but both will feel more suburban than true countryside.

In an ideal world I would prefer real countryside, but that being said I have 2 teenagers who presumably will want to get into Manchester. I would rather they were independent so I don't have to worry about being a taxi service.

Cheadle is lovely.
Cheadle Hulme and Bramhall are on the train line into Manchester and have excellent schools.

Forgot to add ... all the above are 20 minutes from the airport.

Have a look at the Rossendale Valley/Ransbottom. Countryside and direct bus route into Manchester

Cheadle Hulme has some nice parts. Good proximity to airport. Good schools.

Bramhall and Cheadle Hulme are nice. Not really rural but right on the edge of the conurbation of Greater Manchester. You can walk from the centre of Bramhall into fields in under ten minutes. Mixture of Victorian, Edwardian and 30s house nearer the centre and more modern housing estates further out.
Bramhall has more of a village centre with independent shops and many restaurants and coffee shops, however Cheadle Hulme High School is much better - really excellent results - if you're looking at state schools. If private, you have a choice of Stockport Grammar or Cheadle Hulme School.
Used to be 20 minutes to airport but with the new link road it's more like 10 mins now.

Knutsford is really lovely with a charming town centre but farther away from Manchester.

Wilmslow is an attractive town with good transport links. Good range of houses .. modern or Victorian/Edwardian. I think Wilmslow High School is especially good for sport.

Poynton has a nice town centre and I believe the local high school specialises in dance .. or used to.

Alderley Edge is a pretty village but rather Footballers Wives in atmosphere and house prices reflect this.

To get an idea of houses available, go on Rightmove, put in your budget and search Bramhall, Cheadle Hulme, etc and see what you think. There's loads on the market at the moment.