Torn between locations in Cheshire!

[miracle0812]

Hi all!
Wondering if anyone can give me any advice or opinion over places in Cheshire we have shortlisted? They all have positives for me and my family (DH and 3 DD’s) but trying to get a perspective from someone who knows these areas! (Work no issue can do anywhere but we will need a decent primary school and secondary!) We will be renting and would ideally like 3-4 bedrooms. Somewhere good for an almost teenager as well as our toddler in terms of things to do is also important.
Thanks in advance.. here’s the list

Knutsford, Nantwich, Tarporley and outskirts of Chester!

[quote miracle0812]@StoneColdBitch the wirral has come up a few times I’m quite overwhelmed and wouldn’t know where to start in that location deffo need to research it more! Any particular parts to look and avoid? Cannot wait to leave the South![/quote]
Heswall on the wirral.

Avoid Nantwich.

I love Knutsford. Lovely little boutiques and gorgeous restaurants.

Around Delamere is gorgeous if you're an outdoor family but you have to travel a bit for supermarkets etc.

Lymm is also nice.

Frodsham? Really good schools.

Knutsford is by far the nicest place on your list. Lots of things to do for every age and safer than Chester for your teen.

I live in Nantwich, it's lovely. Good schools, lots of family events and festivals running. Not far from Chester or wales. Lots of lovely countryside around. Knutsford is also nice but under the flight path for Manchester airport so noisy and much more expensive rent / house prices

@crochetcrazy1978 That’s nice to hear as Nantwich is top of our list! Knutsford comes in second. Rent prices in Knutsford are so cheap compared to down here in the south! Anywhere is Cheshire is much cheaper than here and much nicer

@underneaththeash yes it’s a lovely place just put off by a couple of things.. have been house hunting online since feb and not a single house I like has come up in the area which is annoying!
I’ve also been told that the supermarkets aren’t in Knutsford but a different town and at the moment I have to drive quite a way to get to anything so that wouldn’t be great to have to do again. Did love it there though!

@rallytog1
Ooh heard of this place a couple of times but not been! Is it a village or town? Does it have schools and amenities etc? Thanks

@Othering
Thank you!
Why avoid Nantwich I really liked it there and only ever heard good things about it? Have I missed something?

@swimster01 thank you, no don’t need to commute we can work from home

There's a Booths in Knutsford and an Aldi... I live nearby and Knutsford gets my vote but then I would rather be closer to Manchester.

@BiscuitsUnited thank you! I agree having an older child it’s much nicer to stop being taxi and giving them more freedom too!
How did you find the move from down here? Seems so stressful most houses I like are key agreed within 24hrs don’t even get a chance to view!
Glad you’re enjoying your new life you give me hope

Thanks @CheshireLife

@Rollercoasteride well I’m in a very small village now and really miss having things on my doorstep so either large village or town with shops and schools all close by would be great! Love green space too!
Down in the south is much more expensive than all of those places to rent it’s crazy! If I picked up my house and moved it to Cheshire East I would save £500 a month in rent as well as the huge travelling expenses I have with nursery, primary and secondary school runs! I spend 90 mins every morning in the car just doing drop offs and then again in the afternoon for pick ups it’s not a great way of living

Knutsford is lovely if you don’t mind the flight path. Walk in access to Tatton Park, just the right amount of shops, near enough to Altrincham to make use of the tram.

Nantwich itself is lovely and has quite a lot of amenities but it’s proximity to Crewe is a bit off putting and a it’s in an odd situation in that it’s between Brum, Chester and Manchester but not actually close to any of them. Good location if you need to be up and down the M6 though, and direct trains to London from Crewe.

I really like Chester as a city but no idea what the outskirts are like.

Don’t know Tarporley well at all.

In your shoes I’d go for Knutsford if I had the budget, but you’ll get more for your money in Nantwich.

Knutsford feels much more like an outpost of Manchester, though it's a bit Footballers' Wives/fur coat and no knickers.

Absolutely an outpost of Manchester and as a PP pointed out, right in the flightpath of Manchester airport and also on the edge of the M6 so extremely noisy, polluted, and also very congested. County Lines is also an issue.

@miracle0812 some would say it's a large village, others call it a small town

A lot of people think it's too close to the motorway and local industry, but they are missing out imho! It's a lovely market town and plenty of the town feels gloriously semi rural. Very family friendly with a lovely high street and several new restaurants and independent shops opened over the last few years. The schools are brilliant.

@miracle0812 also direct trains to Manchester, Liverpool, Chester and sometimes even Leeds!

Holmes Chapel is nice and you would get something lovely in your price range.

I'd pick Knutsford off that list - as others say it's on the flight path but you get used to that and, in my opinion, it's the nicest place on your list.

The Aldi there is dead posh and Booths is lovely too, no idea why you were told otherwise!

It's such a great location for a town and so beautiful too.

[quote miracle0812]@BiscuitsUnited thank you! I agree having an older child it’s much nicer to stop being taxi and giving them more freedom too!
How did you find the move from down here? Seems so stressful most houses I like are key agreed within 24hrs don’t even get a chance to view!
Glad you’re enjoying your new life you give me hope [/quote]
We bought a house rather than rented as we know Chester quite well and we're sure we wanted to settle here so it was quite stressful trying to sell and buy a house over 200 miles away plus schools for DC1.... with hindsight renting would have probably been better! I'm so pleased we did move up to the north west though, it's a lovely part of the world- great cities, beaches, countryside, fab schools all on your doorstep.

Frodsham is lovely - great rail links to Liverpool, Manc and Chester.

Frodsham also near to Delamere Forest, good walks nearby too. Schools well rated

@rallytog1 @QS888 thank you I’m going to have a look at Frodsham too! I do love a market town

From your list I'd go with Nantwich. All of the kids I've known who have gone to Bribe Leas have been spot there.

Thanks everyone much appreciated