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Original poster

Anyone know Manchester?

28 replies

Itsmomnotmum64 · 13/07/2023 18:31

Hi, my son has just graduated from University, and has accepted a place on a Graduate scheme in Manchester.

However, we have no idea what Manchester is like, which parts are okay, which parts he should avoid, and so on.

His office is based in M15 area - could anyone tell me what it is like there, is it a residential area, where should he be looking for accommodation etc.

We are inner city Birmingham at the moment, so he’s not expecting to move to posh, leafy suburbs 🙂

OP posts:
smilesup · 13/07/2023 18:41

I've lived in M15 and have lots of friends that still do (it includes bits of Old Trafford, Hulme and Moss Side). not many decent pubs in any of them though Kim's is nice in Hulme. Mostly it's grand. There's bits that are a bit ropey on the estates but probably no worse than anywhere in Birmingham! He could live in the city centre (lots of young people, could possibly walk to work depending where his work is), Stretford (looks shit but is on the up,low crime on the tramline) Chorlton (boho and expensive but lots of bars) too and get there easily.

Lifeinlists · 13/07/2023 18:48

Ancoats (M4) and nearby is the place to be for young people. Lively vibe, near city centre and plenty going on. The Manchester transport system's better than Birmingham so, theoretically, is easier to get around.

MurielThrockmorton · 13/07/2023 19:04

M15 is a varied area, it takes in most of Manchester Metropolitan University, and various social housing estates.

Fallowfield and neighbouring Withington are where students tend to live, Didsbury more popular with young professionals plus Chorlton or for city centre living Ancoats / New Islington as PPs recommended, but depends exactly where he's travelling to and whether he wants the buzz of the city or would prefer a suburb.

Original poster
Itsmomnotmum64 · 13/07/2023 19:10

Thanks for your replies - I’ve heard that there’s a good tram network, so he’s thinking that he could possibly live further out and commute to the city centre.

Does anyone know what the rental situation is like in the areas suggested?

He’s looking for a studio apartment or maybe house share. He’s lived away for 5 years whilst at Uni, but usually in Halls, or student lets.

So we don’t really know where to start looking.

OP posts:
Mushroo · 13/07/2023 19:12

Would really recommend Chorlton / DIdsbury if he doesn’t want the city centre. On the tram line and loads of young professionals in house shares. Nice areas as well.

ZenNudist · 13/07/2023 19:22

It depends on your budget and whether he has a car.

Stretford is OK and near to where he works. Safe middle / working class area with a good community but not very chi chi and in need of development which is happening now. No obvious centre to Stretford. Near the tram would be good call. Look near the arndale centre.

In town: Ancoats, castlefield, middlewood basin/locks, Salford on the irwell near spinningfields. All pricey. I'd love my kids to be able to live round ancoats when older. Bad to live in town if you have a car as a place with a parking spot is pricey.

Salford quays very nice. Also pricey. Bit soulless. Same problem as town for parking.

Some of the juniors who work for me live in Eccles or Irlam to save money. Eccles is on the tramline. Irlam just bus and train into town. Eccles not far from m15. I think eccles is a dump and not very safe. Irlam just a bit unexciting but a decent place. Better if you have a car for Irlam.

I lived in chorlton in my youth. Its got loads of bars, on the tram, kind of urban cool rather than chi chi. I loved it. I still live nearby. They're digging up the crossroads at the moment. Bloody roadworks everywhere. Including Stretford.

Firswood is a non-area right on edge of chorlton bordering old Trafford so would be near enough to work. Tram stop and easy to get into chorlton or town.

Whalley range is next to chorlton and not too far from old Trafford which is probably near his work. It's the chorlton overspill. Large houses where he could rent a room on wide tree lined streets. Very down at heel, mix of asian area and middle class white overspill from chorlton. Actually not a bad call as you're near town, his work and chorlton for a night out if you look around near the chorlton border / Seymour Grove Way rather than the other end near alexandra Park.

I'm not mad keen on old Trafford, I'd avoid. Cricket and football make it a PITA and its not great for youngsters.

I live in Urmston. I'd recommend it for families but its got a few bars and is a nice place. Train to town or bus. Parking better.

Sale is also further away from M15 also on the tramline. Great area. Very middle class. Lots of bars nowadays. Parking a nightmare. Probably not a bad area for younger people but its not an obvious choice.

Rummikub · 13/07/2023 19:22

Salford/ Ordsall way. Lots of new flats there. Easy for town too.

ZenNudist · 13/07/2023 19:25

It's been hard for my office juniors finding a flat especially now with influx of students into the city. It can be quite dispiriting but once he gets settled he's probably going to love Manchester. Its smaller than Birmingham but I think nicer. There's good bits to every city.

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 13/07/2023 19:36

Ancoats if he can afford it - it's quite £££ now but has the best neighbourhood feel of the city centre proper. Chorlton is buzzy as well.

Whalley Range is a good shout if he needs somewhere a bit cheaper. There's not much there but it's quite green, dead quick into town, and he could probably walk to work and to all the bars in Chorlton.

IMO Didsbury's ridiculously overpriced, and a bit middle-aged as well.

LoobyDop · 13/07/2023 19:37

If he can afford it, the buzziest areas for new graduates are the city centre- Ancoats/Northern Quarter), Chorlton and West Didsbury. They’re also the most expensive for that reason, and the rental market is insane at the moment. We’ve just let our flat in one of those areas and we had five offers over the advertised rent from one day’s viewings. If he can’t afford those, Levenshulme might be a good option. It’s cheaper and rougher around the edges but it’s really popular and there’s a lot going on. Hulme is also a lot better than it was 20 years ago. There should also be some good options in the bit of Salford around the station- it’s really only five minutes walk from the city centre.

finewelshcheese · 13/07/2023 19:38

I think eccles is a dump and not very safe. Irlam just a bit unexciting but a decent place

Eccles isn't too bad - the Monton end is fine, and there's Patricroft station for getting into town.

Indigotree · 13/07/2023 19:43

My DP lives in Chorlton, M16, a posh, leafy suburb not far from Old Trafford.

It's lovely to visit, though shockingly expensive cafes compared to where I live (central London), and more wealthy families with small children than students.

When I say posh, it looks like normal terraces in north London, e.g. Tottenham , so not really posh, just compared to other parts of Manchester, and it has lovely country walks and a very friendly community. Very easy transport to the centre and to Picadilly Station too.

Original poster
Itsmomnotmum64 · 13/07/2023 19:44

Thank you all so much - we didn’t have a clue where to start, but you’ve given us plenty to investigate now.

He doesn’t drive, so I’m please to hear that the public transport network sounds reliable (unlike Birmingham’s trams, which seem to be out of action every 5 minutes).

I’m going to pass this thread over to him now, so that he can get started.
😊

OP posts:
EducatingArti · 13/07/2023 19:55

ZenNudist · 13/07/2023 19:22

It depends on your budget and whether he has a car.

Stretford is OK and near to where he works. Safe middle / working class area with a good community but not very chi chi and in need of development which is happening now. No obvious centre to Stretford. Near the tram would be good call. Look near the arndale centre.

In town: Ancoats, castlefield, middlewood basin/locks, Salford on the irwell near spinningfields. All pricey. I'd love my kids to be able to live round ancoats when older. Bad to live in town if you have a car as a place with a parking spot is pricey.

Salford quays very nice. Also pricey. Bit soulless. Same problem as town for parking.

Some of the juniors who work for me live in Eccles or Irlam to save money. Eccles is on the tramline. Irlam just bus and train into town. Eccles not far from m15. I think eccles is a dump and not very safe. Irlam just a bit unexciting but a decent place. Better if you have a car for Irlam.

I lived in chorlton in my youth. Its got loads of bars, on the tram, kind of urban cool rather than chi chi. I loved it. I still live nearby. They're digging up the crossroads at the moment. Bloody roadworks everywhere. Including Stretford.

Firswood is a non-area right on edge of chorlton bordering old Trafford so would be near enough to work. Tram stop and easy to get into chorlton or town.

Whalley range is next to chorlton and not too far from old Trafford which is probably near his work. It's the chorlton overspill. Large houses where he could rent a room on wide tree lined streets. Very down at heel, mix of asian area and middle class white overspill from chorlton. Actually not a bad call as you're near town, his work and chorlton for a night out if you look around near the chorlton border / Seymour Grove Way rather than the other end near alexandra Park.

I'm not mad keen on old Trafford, I'd avoid. Cricket and football make it a PITA and its not great for youngsters.

I live in Urmston. I'd recommend it for families but its got a few bars and is a nice place. Train to town or bus. Parking better.

Sale is also further away from M15 also on the tramline. Great area. Very middle class. Lots of bars nowadays. Parking a nightmare. Probably not a bad area for younger people but its not an obvious choice.

I live on the edge of Eccles near the Ladywell tram stop and have done for nearly 14 years. I don't feel unsafe but I do have a car so don't do walking around at night. This side of Eccles isn't too bad really I think. I'm happy walking into Eccles during the day to shop ( mainly pound shops and charity shops but a decent Morrisons and Wilkinson's). There are actually some very lovely Edwardian buildings ( and a couple of medieval ones) in Eccles which I like but it is a bit run down.

I feel very safe but I'd feel a bit more vulnerable if I had to walk around it later at night and in the dark maybe.
The tram into central Manchester is a very easy and relatively inexpensive way to get in, but it is quite slow. It takes about 40 minutes I think as it goes all round Salford Quays. There are direct trains from Eccles into Victoria Station which are very fast and which I have used if I need to get into that side of town.

The tram goes to the top end of M15 (Deansgate) area so it depends on where exactly his work is. Train to Victoria then one of the free buses to Deansgate might also work.

If it is further south in M15, you'd need to see if there are any decent buses or go by car.

I personally don't think living here is bad at all. I have good neighbours. I wouldn't like to be without my car though. It is very near the motorway network so useful for trips to North Wales/Lake District etc

SomethingFun · 13/07/2023 19:59

If he can afford it, ancoats in a flat share is where all the young people new to Manchester seem to end up. It’s a different city than it was even 5 years ago.

StillWantingADog · 13/07/2023 20:05

As others have said flatshare in Ancoats or if he prefers suburbia I’m sure there would be good options in Chorlton/Walley range.
That side is the city is great for getting about without a car due to the tram.

Urmston and Sale, even Altrincham, are all perfectly nice but more geared towards families than young professionals

EducatingArti · 13/07/2023 20:11

Having said all of the above, the Eccles tram is out of action because of renewing rails from this weekend until some time in September! 😂

Original poster
Itsmomnotmum64 · 13/07/2023 20:49

His office is in First Street M15.

I think it’s in quite a city centre location?

I’m feeling much more confident that he’ll find a decent place now.

I must say, I’ve never really thought of Manchester as a place to visit before, but I’ll be going up for a look around soon.

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 13/07/2023 20:58

Friend lives there, can vouch for the good tram service as when I visit I have no car. Cannot recommend any areas though.

EducatingArti · 13/07/2023 21:02

Yes, that is quite near to the city centre. Any transport that gets him in or near Deansgate will be ideal.

meemawww · 13/07/2023 21:03

Some of the towns on the outskirts of the city are rough as fuck but I believe that's the same for Birmingham so if he can live a little further out then it will be cheaper and I'm sure he'll be fine 😊

MurielThrockmorton · 13/07/2023 21:27

My DD is in Manchester and I've loved going to visit, I've done quite a lot of hanging out and mooching around by myself as well as with her.

paranoidnamechanger · 13/07/2023 21:49

I live in Levenshulme which is a bit of a shit hole but has good transport links. He can rent studio flats here for about £650 pcm. I used to live in Whalley Range which is much nicer but a bit more expensive (£750 for a studio there) and not as pricey as Chorlton. He could easily walk to First Street from Whalley Range.

I wouldn't bother with the Trafford borough (comprising of Sale, Altrincham, Urmston etc) - probably all a bit beige and family-orientated for someone of his age so I agree with others about Ancoats and New Islington (trams from New Islington to Deansgate take five minutes if he doesn't want to walk). If he still wants a student-y vibe then I'd recommend Withington.

StillWantingADog · 13/07/2023 23:15

Oh first street m15 is very central. He can live anywhere really. Ancoats or anywhere in the city centre would be walking distance. And other options mentioned above mostly easy by tram.

ZenNudist · 13/07/2023 23:17

First Street is right near the deansgate tram and train stops so lots of options for getting there. It's a fairly nice new office area with some restaurants and hotels. Tell him to try the Indian Tiffin Room! Its a fab modern Indian restaurant.

I apologise to all the eccles dwellers. I've been into eccles recently to the morrisons and get a covid jab and went past a few "massage parlours" but I'm sure there's better bits. My colleague moved there last year and is moving to find somewhere he felt would be safer for his sister walking from the car at night.

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