To ask where in the North West England is the best place to live

[KnitsBakesAndReads]

Just that really. I'm so so fed up of London for a variety of reasons and am daydreaming about upping sticks. For family reasons, somewhere in the North West (Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, etc) would probably be top of the list.

So, tell me what part of the region should be on my family's shortlist if we do move. Only limitation is that it would need to be in, or within commuting distance of, a reasonable size city for work reasons. Part of the reason for wanting to leave London is not being able to afford a house so we also couldn't afford other very expensive areas.

I haven't lived in many places so looking forward to getting some ideas. Thanks mumsnet!

Manchester's good because the tram network links a lot of the suburbs to the city. So, plenty of choice. Personally I don't feel I could ever be far from the city because of work, so as much as we like visiting, that rules out Yorkshire, rural Lancashire etc.

I can't afford Cheshire or Chester :p I consider them way, way out of my financial reach.

Urmston? I'll assume that's a joke!

I'll add knutsford into the mix but it's a bit more expensive.

Erm no Truckingalong why would it be a joke?

Aughton/Ormskirk in Lancashire is nice. On the train line into Liverpool.

Not North West but another vote for Yorkshire. You can have countryside and city both on your doorstep, good rail links to other big cities. Lots of money currently being pumped into areas like Leeds which is changing on a weekly basis, so much to offer to everyone.

It really depends on your needs. We live in the suburbs of Greater Manchester (to the east) because we like the city, and our needs are to have quality healthcare and specialist education readily available for our disabled son, so we live within city boundaries. Your needs may be different. Your budget may be different.

Nantwich and the surrounding villages.

I'm with KinkyAfro

Lancaster it's a really compact city lots of stuff to do but has a more personal feel to it than the bigger cities

If money/job was not a consideration I would live in Chester.

If you like a good pie, Wigan is the place for you!

Ye Trucking - why is it a joke?

Wirral.
Beautiful place as others have suggested. Areas such as west Kirby, Caldy, Heswall are all lovely. Liverpool is only a couple of stops on the train and is a very friendly, cultural city and Chester is about half an hour away too. Can also get to Manchester City centre within 40 minutes.

yes to the ribble valley i grew up in Greenmount nr Ramsbottom both lovely places.

It would depend on where you will work. Don't plan to use Northern Rail for regular commuting, as they're a nightmare
Agree that Hebden Bridge and the surrounding area are glorious

Nothing whatsoever wrong with Urmston, yes it might not be as pretty as Cheshire but it's more affordable, great transport links, good schools, decent (and getting better) shops, good restaurants (especially Istanbul Grill). You can pay as little as just over 100,000 for a 3 bedroom to anywhere up to 1 million so plenty of scope.

I'm on the Staffs/Cheshire border and it's lovely. About an hour's drive to either Manchester or Birmingham (traffic permitting!).

Incidentally, I'd be v careful of the North Derbyshire suggestions - the road over to Manchester across the Peaks can be a flipping nightmare, especially in winter.

I think it depends on how much you want to spend and what your priorities are.
Chester is nice, but a hell hole for commuters, greater Manc is ok not terrific for schools in some places and also deprived and degenerated in some areas.
Lancashire, similar to Chester and and Greater Manc respectively.
I wouldn't touch Yorkshire as originate from Cheshire and dh Lancs, some really like it, can be expensive for nice parts.
Some areas of Cheshire are boring and Stepford wives/ Wag areas.

I agree with Ptolemie - the Wirral is an undiscovered gem. I grew up on the Dee side of the Wirral overlooking North Wales -a blissfully happy childhood. Parkgate and Little Neston are lovely, also Caldy and Lower Heswall. Lovely people, gorgeous countryside, good access to Liverpool, Manchester, Chester, Peak District, Lake Disstrict, Lancashire, North Wales. House prices are very affordable too.

Nothing wrong with Urmston and it has the grammar school too. Can't be bad if it offers a gs, no others do round here.

Lakes

Come further north to Scotland!

Pfft. Come to the real north! Cumbria has cheap housing, outstanding scenery.

Altrincham?

Twenty to 25 mins on the tram into Manchester.

On the edge of the conurbation so not far to the countryside.

Trafford schools are usually in the top 5 and there are excellent grammar schools and secondary moderns.

The Hale/Altrincham/Bowdon area is not dissimilar to Richmond/Twickenham where I used to live. Except that for the price of my 1 bed flat there I have a 4 bed house!

@LiefieLiefie - good choice

Tarporley is nice. Fairly close to Chester