Areas to live in Bolton?

[RedHorsesAreDangerous]

There's a move on the cards to Bolton for us (2 adults, quite house-trained, and 2 well behaved, clean, and house-trained adult cats) and we're just wondering about areas that might suit. (We currently live in a large seaside town in Somerset - which really isn't as idyllic as it might sound though our neighbours are mainly retired so it's pretty quiet most of the time.)

One of us needs to be reasonably close (or on a good public transport route) to the hospital, the other needs to be near good roads as they'll be out and about at various care homes and other settings. So we can't be too far out but would still like somewhere with a bit of green not too far away.

I think I have a fair idea about Lostock, which might suit us; but there are other areas (like Westhoughton and Heaton) that look as if they might be a fairly good match, but we're not sure - neither of us is a party animal and both of us occasionally work from home so Internet connections are a consideration too. We'll be renting to start until we can sell our flat in Somerset.

Grateful for any insights, thank you.

Westhoughton is probably the easiest to get to the hospital from, but the Chequerbent roundabout gets very busy at rush hour. There's a lot of building going on, or in the pipeline, around there.

As someone who lives there, don't. Town is on it's arse sadly but like anywhere there are areas of affluence insulated from the poverty.
Presumably you'll have a decent budget so agree that Lostock and Heaton are good options, Bromley cross, Egerton, Smithills, and Sharples also promising but pricey. Public transport isn't great and is expensive; where it tends to be better you are verging on less desirable areas. Saying that there's a bus directly from Smithills to the hospital (501/2). Not sure about access from other areas but most will involve 2 buses. Traffic congestion at certain times can be horrendous particularly getting onto m61/60.
The big saving grace is the proximity to decent countryside, most places apart from the south of the town are fairly close to the moors. Horwich is next to Rivington (well known beauty spot) but expanding rapidly, expensive and there are issues with lack of amenities to cope with the house building boom. Nice shopping though but not on a par with the west country 😂 Sticking factor is transport again. Whatever you do avoid parts of farnworth (near the hospital) and little hulton. Walkden is more salford way with better links to manchester but not that far from the hospital.
Don't get me wrong there are some decent areas but they come at a cost. Very few folk travel into town for a night out, it's just a bit rough and depressing.
www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/aug/22/bolton-decline-northern-town-centre-slump is a few years old but still pertinent. Saying that the people are friendly and feel a genuine love for their town but equally sadness and frustration.

All good advice @Odessafile Bromley Cross and Lostock both have railway stations don't they, so a train into Bolton then the 501 to the hospital? That's assuming that Ladybridge hasn't started calling itself Lostock... and if Andy Burnham's plan works out, the buses may improve in a few years.

Bromley Cross has a poor service. It is/was 2 or 4 carriage trains that are generally packed. However, nice area to live. Canon Slade the main school in that area but is oversubscribed.Lostock is nice but expensive (always has been) but is v.near Bolton School and motorway. @Odessafile has it about right. Edgerton/edgworth are nice but expensive and rural

I'd go for Lostock & a bike then

Thanks for everyone who's given suggestions of areas to look at (and to avoid!). I grew up in Newcastle in a very dodgy area and lived in Belfast for a bit as well (and Warrington, briefly, though that's almost 20 years ago now), so I really do appreciate the comments, they pretty much tie in with what we were thinking.

Thanks for the heads up on the town centre at night as well. Neither of us goes out partying much anyway these days (despite me growing up in Newcastle :D ). It makes me so sad (and more than a bit furious) to see what's happened/is happening to the north. Again.

And daft as it sounds, I'd not even thought about getting a bike - we'll be sharing the car so some kind of alternative transport sounds like a really good idea...

My uncle lives in egerton it's beautiful

My aunt used to live in Lostock.

I lived in Harwood as a baby - nobody has mentioned that and I wonder if that might be ok - where we lived backs onto a golf course, although not sure about public transport there - Lostock has a railway station.

Are there any areas of Manchester which might work for Farnworth coming from the other direction?

Oh I see someone has already mentioned Walkden.

Another couple of areas we'd not heard of in those last couple of messages, thank you, we'll definitely check them out. As well as the Manchester suggestion (though I worked in Manchester all those years ago when I lived in Warrington, and I remember the trains being an absolute nightmare in terms of being jam-packed...)

What sort of property do you want. There is a large private estate of Wigan Road called Ladybridge well maintained 3/4 bed houses not too far from hospital but not on direct bus link to hospital.
There is another new estate being built of St Helens Road further into Bolton is dire but going towards Atherton is OK very handy for hospital but not on direct bus route could cycle in around 10 minutes
You could perhaps consider the Bolton Bury boundary up bury Road but keep out of breightmet go into Bury new estate being built called Tudor Grange.
Good bus routes and you'd never have to go into Bolton you could go to Bury for shops supermarkets and cinema etc
It's an absolute bind to get into hospital on public transport only 2 buses serve it 501 and 557.

I would like to ask for a recommendation as I am thinking about relocating from Little Hulton to Bolton thinking about better school selection. Any recommendation if I would like to be around a place easy to have a green walk and also of walking distance to some good schools (both primary and secondary as we are thinking about buying our first home)?
Many thanks.

We lived in Horwich about 20 years ago and it was lovely. I worked in the hospital and the diabetes centre

Near the hospital I wouldn’t live, sorry to anyone who does, just not an area I’d pick
id go for egerton or Belmont but you might have to do bus into town and bus to the hospital. Alternatively my dream location is Rivington village it’s stunning but probably bad public transport

Bolton gets a bad rap, the town centre is rubbish and some awful pockets and real deprivation but it’s a very diverse place you meet all sorts of people from all over, The villages on the outskirts are gorgeous and the countryside is next level for walking and outdoor pursuits

@jacksum you will get a decent starter home in Harwood or Bromley Cross. Lots of walks, from my house you can get to miles and miles of paths and west Pennines way etc, jumbles reservoir. No bad primary schools IMO and a decent selection of high schools, couple of church schools, grammar school in Blackburn there’s a bus route to

Hi, what would be your reason for not choosing near the hospital?
I am looking for a property at walking distance cuz I don't drive and am hoping to get lodgers from the hospital too.. Please advise

Why are you suggesting to avoid parts of farnworth (near the hospital)?
I don't drive and am looking in the exact area, just in front or south of the hospital, I also hope to get lodgers from the hospital.
I have walked around there many times and it seems OK. Please advice?

There is nothing wrong with Farnworth - there are some lovely houses up there

The Exeter Avenue / Lancaster Avenue estate always used to be OK, still looks it on streetview