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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think it's grim up North?

278 replies

threefeethighandrising · 15/06/2011 23:05

We are going to relocate in the next few years, and Manchester is a serious contender for DP for jobs.

If DP was to get work there then we would live somewhere semi-rural and commutable.

But ... the only experiences I have of Manchester and the surrounding areas are though my ex. He was an arsehole of the highest order, and the many people he introduced me to (his family and friends, in Manchester & Glossop) were the most painfully dysfunctional, damaged people I have ever had the misfortune to meet.

My opinion of the area is that it's the last place on earth I'd want to live, and my skin crawls when I think of the time I spent there.

But it can't all be like this can it? Surely IABU and my experiences with my ex are clouding my judgement? Surely there's a good (great?) side that I've just not seen?

Can you sell it to me?

OP posts:
mankyscotslass · 16/06/2011 11:51

Manchester is fab, I moved fer 13 years ago from Scotland and love it!

Glossop is also lovely, I want to move to Old Glossop.....can't afford the 450,000 for the house beside Manor Park I want though! Grin

I think you are letting your x boyfriends family & friends cloud your judgement.

BillComptonstrousers · 16/06/2011 11:53

I never saw the programme! It's a long time since a I used to play drink white lightning and smoke on street corners with my friends there....

sherbetpips · 16/06/2011 11:57

oooh no not glossop, league of gentelmen was filmed there - not a fan of the derbyshire side of things - to farmerish for me 'local pubs', etc. No thanks.
Stick to the cheshire side of things, Wilmslow, Cheadle Hulme, Didsbury or further out to Nantwich, etc. Great towns, good commutor links and the sort of lifestyle/shops/restaurants that you will be used to whilst still being close to or in the countryside.

Lilymaid · 16/06/2011 12:10

I lived in Wilmslow for several years. A friend of mine, from South Africa, visited me there and commented that she'd never seen so much gold this side of Jo'burg.
But, there's lovely countryside in Cheshire and you can get out to the Peak District or North Wales easily (and the schools were pretty good).

munstersmum · 16/06/2011 12:11

OP, you are missing the main point: Oooop north no-one does a 1.5hr commute. It's just not necessary.

Insomnia11 · 16/06/2011 12:13

Lots of nice semi-rural places to live within Greater Manchester/Cheshire area.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalybridge 18 minutes to Manchester on train

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marple_Bridge 25 mins to Manchester on train.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilmslow less than 1/2 an hour from Manchester on train

Stupid to say all of Greater Manchester is grim - have you any idea how big an area that is?

All my friends from school lived in London for a time but decided after a few years they'd rather go back to Manchester - people do actually choose to live there!

The weather is shit though - that's why I live in Kent :)

Mabelface · 16/06/2011 12:15

League of Gentleman was actually filmed in Hadfield, not Glossop itself. Glossop isn't necessarily just a 'local' place. I moved here 5 years ago and love it here. Great place to bring up kids and a good rail link to Manchester. Avoid Stalybridge - it's nicknamed Stalyvegas. Only downside is the lack of decent secondary schools.

ipswichwitch · 16/06/2011 12:27

i've relocated to the north east and love it here, and am def not entertaining any thoughts about moving back down south again.

stealthpolarbear, i'm in co durham :)

LadyClariceCannockMonty · 16/06/2011 12:32

I'm in London and I think it's grim outside Zone 2 ...

GrimmaTheNome · 16/06/2011 12:33

Each to their own, Lady.

(god, its like those poor caged animals who freak if you try to free them) Grin

Original poster
threefeethighandrising · 16/06/2011 12:38

Thanks those of you who've posted with suggestions, some great food for thought here Smile

OP posts:
Insomnia11 · 16/06/2011 12:38

You don't have to live in the middle of Stalybridge- lots of nice places around there. I thought Stalyvegas was a compliment!

Original poster
threefeethighandrising · 16/06/2011 12:43

To those who are accusing me of North-bashing, I'm sorry I really didn't mean to offend anyone. However, I wonder if you've actually actually read my posts? If you do I hope you'll see that I'm well aware that my prejudices, are based on very limited experiences, and I'd like like those prejudices to be dispelled.

Believe me if you'd had the experiences I'd had with that man it'd cloud your judgement of a place too!

My intention is to encourage good stories about areas around Manchester, definitely not to North-bash, you see?

OP posts:
CharlotteBronteSaurus · 16/06/2011 12:44

i'm a londoner living in manchester - same bit as pippi i would wager

it's great here: proper family sized houses on normal people's wages, good schools without the ridiculously small London catchments, great access to the national parks and coast, diversity of people, fab arts scene, and most importantly cheap and fantastic fish and chips (i cannot believe how much cod and chips twice is in The Smoke).

you should stay on the lancashire side of the pennines though as folk are much friendlier than over the border

Indith · 16/06/2011 12:47

Oooh ipswich where are you? I'm just down the road from SPB and almost as nosy as she is Grin

The North is great, I love it. I grew up in Hull, a lot of bad stuff gets said about Hull but Easy Yorkshire has some lovely countryside and some very affluent areas. The city itself has a fair bit going for it too, there are some very vibrant and lovely areas. I came to Durham for university and never left.

My sister and my BIL both live in Manchester and love it. They both use dot live in Didsbury and loved the villagey feel of it. Now BIL is in Stretford which is pretty nice, convenient for a lot of places and you can get a lot of house for your money.

PotteringAlong · 16/06/2011 12:48

I live in the North East.

It's most certaintly not grim up North... :)

LadyClariceCannockMonty · 16/06/2011 12:50

Grimma, I feel the very opposite of caged in London. But indeed, each to their own!

PotteringAlong · 16/06/2011 12:50

and I agree about the commute - the idea of a 1.5 hour commute is really not necessary in the North. Mine's 20 minutes and that seemed long after I moved jobs...!

StealthPolarBear · 16/06/2011 12:51

All the hidden NEers are coming out on this thread Indith :)

Lol at easy yorkshire!

StealthPolarBear · 16/06/2011 12:51

And PotteringAlong...where are you?

GrimmaTheNome · 16/06/2011 12:52

you should stay on the lancashire side of the pennines though as folk are much friendlier than over the border

I've lived in Yorkshire and Lancashire, and my parents are one of each so I'm not biased - but yes, I'd agree. I think its because Yorkshire people know they are better than anyone else Grin

munstersmum · 16/06/2011 12:53

Loving the idea of Easy Yorkshire Grin....but that's what it is this side! Soft rolling Wolds, quiet roads, light Hockney compares to Californian and homes that are affordable.

MuddlingMackem · 16/06/2011 12:58

Emptyshell

When were you last in Sunderland? It's where we live and we love it.

Good public transport, beach and a few good parks nearby. Decent schools.

Wouldn't want to live anywhere else now. :)

MissMap · 16/06/2011 12:58

Manchester is fabulous, the area around it is so diverse. I would not want to live anywhere else. We have every amenity within a stones throw. Even year round snow for skiing. (indoor) It does rain a lot though!

Indith · 16/06/2011 12:58

Ooops! East Yorkshire although I can certainly see the appeal of Easy.

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