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Original poster

Manchester, Longsight or Victoria Park area

81 replies

MillicentMartha · 23/08/2019 17:12

My 21 yo DS is just in the process of looking for a flat/house share in Manchester. He’s just about to start his first job in September and will be moving to Manchester very shortly. He’s been up there for a week looking at properties and has decided on one in this area. I’m a bit dubious about it, it’s above a shop in this area. I’m guessing from street view it’s a 1950s or 60s council estate with solid looking red brick houses and privet hedges. It might be lovely for all I know.

Has anyone any knowledge about the area? He’ll be working in the centre of Manchester so has pretty much no restrictions on where he lives.

OP posts:
GoodJobSteve · 23/08/2019 17:20

It was fine 30 years ago nohelp

Might be a little studenty? If he's now a 'worker', he might want to live a bit further out...in my day, you moved to a flat in west didsbury as soon as you could afford it.

ChanandlerBongsNeighbour · 23/08/2019 17:23

I lived in Victoria Park for 8years, whereabouts is his property?

JacquettaW · 23/08/2019 17:28

It will be good for buses into town for him. I haven't lived in Longsight so can't comment on residing there but there is, a big Asda, a Lidl and a Farmfoods there so it's okay from a shopping point of view

Original poster
MillicentMartha · 23/08/2019 17:29

Meldon Road. The Wikipedia entry for it isn’t great, compares it to Moss Side and says lots of gang related crime.

OP posts:
Original poster
MillicentMartha · 23/08/2019 17:42

It’s near Birchfields Park.

OP posts:
Iamtooknackeredtorun · 23/08/2019 17:45

Longsight used to be studenty but not so much now. There’s nothing for students to do there tho it’s handy for town. Victoria Park better. Fallowfielld, Levenshulme, Heston Chapel, Rusholme all a bit more interesting.

Original poster
MillicentMartha · 23/08/2019 17:51

He doesn’t mind a studenty feel, he’s only just graduated, but I was more worried if it’s somewhere he might get mugged or whatever. I guess in my snobby way, I’m not worried about it being an area of poverty, more if there’s high crime.

OP posts:
Kit30 · 23/08/2019 17:51

Depends on his budget and priorities but I'd look elsewhere. Longsight was always pretty rough and there's lots of drug/gang related activity these days. Ditto Levenshulme, despite its 'up and coming' status according to estate agents.
He might want to look around Stretford/Firswood/ Trafford Park as it's less expensive than Sale/Altrincham but easily commutable into Manchester and with access to local amenities.

Borisdaspide · 23/08/2019 17:51

Its a decent place to live- those gang stories are pretty out of date. Not much to do in the direct area but transport links are good. Tell him to go to Venus foods and eat all the bakery items!

Iamtooknackeredtorun · 23/08/2019 17:55

I quite like Old Trafford, Stretford. Close enough to Chorlton so loads of places to go but cheaper.

fergusthefrog · 23/08/2019 17:58

I live nearby. I'd avoid both. Didsbury or chorlton are very nice nearby areas. Depends on his budget of course but they're not extortionately expensive.

But you are right, crime rates are high - look on GMP website for official stats. It's a fab city but important to be aware the areas vary enormously.

yellowpolkadots101 · 23/08/2019 17:59

I live and work in manchester. I would not live in longsight, it is a high crime area and can be quite a poor area.

Other side of Manchester but didsbury has a brilliant young professional community and is safe... a bit further out is withington which is cheaper. Has he considered here?

Mumsymumphy · 23/08/2019 18:02

What will his budget for rent be? Will he be driving into Manchester or using public transport?

JacquettaW · 23/08/2019 18:03

@Kit30 That up and coming is a load of shite! I live there and as much as people would like others to believe Levenshulme is a desirable area, it isn't, it's shit. There's nothing here anymore, we don't even have a bank ffs

JacquettaW · 23/08/2019 18:04

@Kit30 Just realised that may have sounded a bit rude to you, it wasn't meant to be, I agree with you

JacquettaW · 23/08/2019 18:04

@Kit30 Just realised that may have sounded a bit rude to you, it wasn't meant to be, I agree with you

Original poster
MillicentMartha · 23/08/2019 18:05

Thank you all so much for your honest opinions. My DS is a lovely lad but always thinks he’ll be fine, a bit naive, and also a bit too careful with his money. He’s looking at ‘nice houses’ that are cheap, and ending up in cheaper areas.

OP posts:
Original poster
MillicentMartha · 23/08/2019 18:11

He’ll be using public transport. He’s been looking at house shares at £450 upwards. Cheapskate! He can afford more but doesn’t want to.

OP posts:
SpeckleDust · 23/08/2019 18:16

How will he be travelling to Manchester?

I would choose somewhere slightly further out eg Didsbury. Longsight and Levenshulme are fairly ‘gritty’ and I think Victoria Park is more studenty rather than a place for young professionals.

Original poster
MillicentMartha · 23/08/2019 18:16

He’s seen somewhere near Salford uni?

OP posts:
Mintylizzy9 · 23/08/2019 18:17

Manchester born and bred and I wouldnt choose either of those to be honest. I was raised in Rusholme so not far from longsight and it’s really not a great place to live now. Has he tried any of the Heaton areas? Great transport links into the city and only a couple of miles from where he’s currently looking. If he’ll be working in town he could look at the Manchester metrolink map and see what he can get within a couple of zones from the town centre.

Ilikewinter · 23/08/2019 18:18

No no no no and no to living in Longsight, please dont let him move there.

Battytwatty · 23/08/2019 18:18

Neither of those areas. Try Withington instead.

Original poster
MillicentMartha · 23/08/2019 18:21

Didsbury is a bit far out.

OP posts:
JacquettaW · 23/08/2019 18:24

He's not going to get anywhere nice in one of the better areas for £450 tbh, he will have to look at paying more