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Original poster

Where should we live on the Wirral?

44 replies

luigilu · 02/09/2020 10:14

I have a job offer on the Wirral and we are looking at moving. We don't know the area well and will be going on a few visits to spend more time there and look at houses but would really appreciate any pointers to help us narrow down areas from anyone who knows it. Have heard the West side is meant to be nicer than the East but not sure how true this is anymore and the East seems to have better transport links.

We are hoping to find somewhere with good transport links to Liverpool by public transport (ideally train).
Close to good schools especially primary schools at the moment.
Easy to get to Arrowe Park where I would be working.
Not too rural, would be good to have a couple of shops/pubs/cafes within walking distance.
Good places to walk nearby. Ideally would be good to be close to a beach but happy to drive to this and nowhere is too far!

Would really appreciate any advice to help us narrow down a short list of places to visit.

OP posts:
TheNoodlesIncident · 23/09/2020 18:07

Well, you've been to view some properties. How did the areas you visited grab you? It's slightly harder to get the feel for a place at the moment, with all the restrictions in place it's just not the same as it was. Obviously it will be again sometime, but nowhere is able to present at its best and you're missing the vibrancy really aren't you. It's a tricky time to be house hunting, isn't it?

I'm just wondering really why you're focusing on the areas you have - not that there's anything wrong with them, but what do they have that appealed to you?

Irby and Hoylake are very nice too. The more affordable parts of West Kirby simply aren't as nice, there are other towns which have a more even spread of middle ground (although oddly most places have a part of them that isn't as nice as the rest, I don't know if that's typical of UK towns on the whole rather than specific to Wirral though?)

Schools are difficult to comment on, as I would only comment on the ones my dc attended or I knew from someone else's experience.

RubyViolet · 23/09/2020 18:14

This was the project, overpriced lMO.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-97196795.html

Golfinches · 23/09/2020 18:26

OP, out of the areas you have listed Higher Bebington is definitely the nicest. Echoing other commenters - what draws you to New Brighton? It's really not very nice and I wouldn't even compare it to Higher Bebington. Hoylake and Meols have excellent primary schools and lots of new bars and shops opening

RubyViolet · 24/09/2020 18:35

This is in Hoylake price reduced today. Obviously want to sell as it looks like they bought it in 2019.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-95599541.html

Original poster
luigilu · 24/09/2020 20:46

@RubyViolet thank you, some of those look really nice!

@Golfinches we liked the location, direct train to Liverpool which would be handy for DH commuting and having the beach right there would be lovely for the kids. There has clearly been a lot of investment in it in recent years and, while there were also dodgier bits, some bits were really nice.

OP posts:
Solongtoshort · 24/09/2020 21:26

I think you are missing a little section, Elenor rd area and Oxton village are lovely.

SunburstsOrMarbleHalls · 24/09/2020 22:09

I would take a look at Heswall, Pensby, Thingwall and Irby. 10 mins drive from Arrowe Park.

They don't have the train route but instead have buses every 10 minutes to Liverpool that also go via Arrowe Park Hospital. It takes roughly the same amount of time to go from Heswall to Liverpool via bus as it does from West Kirby to Liverpool via train (30 mins). The buses are new hybrid diesel electric double decker ones with leather seats, wifi, cctv and phone chargers so not a worse option by any means.

All of the above areas have good primary schools and secondaries including Calday Grange Grammar for boys.

PeaceAndHarmoneeee · 24/09/2020 22:17

I'm really surprised you liked new Brighton so much, it's one of my least favourite bits of the Wirral, horrible vibe. Higher bebington much nicer.

tobytoes1403 · 24/09/2020 22:32

I grew up in Oxton in the Wirral- it's got a lovely village fee to it and some lovely houses. Less than 10 mins to Arrowe park and within driving distance to store ton woods and lots of other good areas to walk

TheNoodlesIncident · 25/09/2020 10:38

@SunburstsOrMarbleHalls

I would take a look at Heswall, Pensby, Thingwall and Irby. 10 mins drive from Arrowe Park.

They don't have the train route but instead have buses every 10 minutes to Liverpool that also go via Arrowe Park Hospital. It takes roughly the same amount of time to go from Heswall to Liverpool via bus as it does from West Kirby to Liverpool via train (30 mins). The buses are new hybrid diesel electric double decker ones with leather seats, wifi, cctv and phone chargers so not a worse option by any means.

All of the above areas have good primary schools and secondaries including Calday Grange Grammar for boys.

I agree with this, I don't drive so use the buses fairly regularly. Is the train availability absolutely an essential OP, as you're restricting yourself to the outside/coastal towns only? There's still plenty options if you do of course, but the central towns are well worth looking at and the bus services are good and reasonably frequent.

We live in one of these towns. Schools are great, access to woodlands, common/heath, country parks is quick and easy and only a short drive to beaches (you're never far from beaches on a peninsula though), travel to APH easy as many buses stop there (it's like a mini bus station outside). Our village has a lovely community spirit with a friendly vibe.

A lot of people do choose to live in New Brighton, and you obviously see a lot of its positives. From experience though, as PP have mentioned, the west side is much nicer and generally more sought after. The life expectancy in Wirral is about ten years different depending on the side you live on. My quality of life has been vastly improved since moving from the rougher areas and I wouldn't choose to move back if I could avoid it.

Original poster
luigilu · 29/09/2020 10:36

Thank you, have taken on board the comments about New Brighton. We could get my dream house for within our budget which is so tempting, I love the period houses they have but need to prioritise schools etc. so not sure what to do.

We looked at Heswall and it was nice but train accessibility a factor. The bus times I have seen take much longer than half an hour too 🤔

We went to Hoylake and Meols based on the advice here, Hoylake seemed really nice with lots of nice cafes and bars etc. Meols much quieter but also cheaper and could get something nice for our budget so considering that.

OP posts:
Golfinches · 19/10/2020 13:39

OP is it you posting on the Wirral mums group?

tentative3 · 23/03/2021 21:10

Bumping this to ask about Noctorum. What's wrong with it?

SunburstsOrMarbleHalls · 24/03/2021 16:08

Hi @tentative3

Is there anything specific you want to know?

Depending on where you are looking at some areas of Nocturum (or The Nocky as locals call it) doesn't have the main train or bus routes that many of the above mentioned towns do.

Nocturum was historically a large housing estate but it has had areas of redevelopment. To the north it sits next to the Beechwood estate (used to be called the Ford estate) that historically had a bad reputation, but the local community has worked hard to change that perception with varying degrees of success. To the south it joins up with Oxton/Prenton. There is a good primary school (Townfield Primary) but the local secondary school (Ridgeway) requires improvement according to Ofsted.

tentative3 · 24/03/2021 16:34

Hi @SunburstsOrMarbleHalls thanks for the detailed reply. We've seen a house on Beryl Road, it's a lovely house. Most of the search results on here are not keen on Noctorum and I'm wary of buying on the best road in the area given some of the comments. There's a coop and Upton Station nearby but other than that is there much around? Somewhere to get a coffee or a nice pub?

SunburstsOrMarbleHalls · 24/03/2021 17:59

Beryl Road has some lovely houses and is in the area of Nocturum by the Beechwood estate but does feel like a world away because of the size and price of the houses.

Upton station isnt on the Merseyrail network so you can't get trains to Liverpool/West Kirby from there. It is an unmanned station that has hourly trains to Wrexham so is quite quiet.

There isn't much in the way of coffee shops in the immediate area and not really many nice pubs. It is surrounded by quite a deprived area so local amenities are unfortunately restricted.

Macdee48 · 22/06/2021 14:38

Wirral info wanted

Hi. My husband and I are looking to relocate to the Wirral later this summer. We currently live in a small town (a village when we moved here 40yrs ago) outside York. My husband will be retired, I have a little cake making business that I hope to transfer over with me doing celebration cakes including weddingsI. I Hope you all eat cake!

We are familiar with Liverpool as Ray’s family are there and our son lives in Aigburth with his young family.

Really excited about the move, it’s the next chapter, looking for pointers in where to look for houses. We would like a village/small town with pubs and restaurants within walking distance. Obviously schools don’t matter.

Am I right in thinking of Moels, Hoylake area but also considering Bebbington/upper Bebbington.
All advice welcome

Vwswimmer1 · 21/12/2022 10:08

Just wondering where you ended up moving to in the end?

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