To ask your advice about Warrington please

[loveyoutothemoonandback86]

Hi everyone

I posted a few months ago about the possibility of moving to Manchester from London and has some lovely people respond which helped a lot. Anyway we went to see Manchester and loved the urmston/ flixton area but we really wanted new builds and they aren't around in that area. The areas where there are new builds don't seem to be great or have good schools. Good schools are essential I have 4dc aged 12,10,5,2.
We looked at Warrington, great Sankey only because we saw the new build online. The area seemed really quite but loads of new builds being built so I'm sure it will develop in a few years. We didn't have much time to check all the areas around Warrington but are going up again next month.
Any help on Warrington would be appreciated, great sanjey and other areas too. Although our heart is in Manchester we loves the busyness but the prices in Warrington will leave us in a very food position financially by us having a very small mortgage so this is really pushing the decision.
The only reason to leave London is to reduce mortgage and get a bigger house and also leave crime central to be honest.
Any info on Warrington or if you've made the move from London let me know. I'm very nervous to leave London as this is where I've always lives but want my dc to have a better life. Is Warrington a busy place in the centre like Manchester ?

I wouldn’t say Warrington was comparable to Manchester City centre, but it has the benefit of being approx half way between Liverpool and Manchester. Which are both fab cities, with lots to do both adults & kids.

@Queenioqueenio not comparable but is it as busy ? I guess we would just travel into Manchester around Trafford centre etc for shopping dining etc as being in London we are very use to driving quite a bit. Haven't been to Liverpool before sound good though.
Thanks

It’s a completely different vibe than the city centre that’s why I said it’s not comparable. It’s not as busy as it’s a large town, but it has good connections and a few nice rural spots nearby too.

@Queenioqueenio yes I get what you're saying. Do you live in Warrington? Any ideas if good and not so goos areas in Warrington?

There are some really lovely rural villages in Warrington but there’s also some pretty gritty areas closer to the town centre. The commuter trains that run via Liverpool are famously rammed and everyone drives.

That said - I lived around there and now live in London and honestly it’s incomparable. You should go up and spend a few days there.

Warrington is nothing like as busy as Manchester. Nicer areas are Grappenhall, Appleton & Stockton Heath. They're more rural, like small villages rather than a city centre though

@Fivebyfivesq we are planning on spending couple of days there next month. Any ideas of good areas? Do you think it's adjustable moving from
London or we may get a culture shock ?

@MitchAPalooza will check those areas, what about great sankey? Do you know anything about that area?

I grew up in that area. There are some nicer parts and not so nice parts as with anywhere. There isn't a lot going on generally in the area though.
If you think you would be travelling more to Manchester than Liverpool great Sankey is the opposite end of town ( easier for Liverpool) although saying that it isn't such a huge place to get around but traffic isn't great.
You will get a great deal more house for your money than London but the prices vary depending on area.

If you're looking to go into Manchester a lot, Great Sankey is the wrong side of town. Have a look at Croft, Culcheth, Birchwood, Gorse Covert and Fearnhead. At night with no traffic you can drive into central Manchester in about 20 mins. You're also then handy for Birchwood and Padgate Stations for the trains.

@Hadiever i know great sankey is the opposite end but from the map it shows 30-40 mins drove to Manchester ? Does that seem unrealistic? The new builds are around break sankey high school is that a good area ?

@ProfYaffle are the areas you mentioned hood areas? I looked but not much new builds from what I can find online in those areas? Is Leigh a good area? I've seen new builds there

Some parts of Leigh are ok and maybe look at Westhoughton, Hindley and Hindley Green lots of new houses being built and around 20/30 mins to Manchester and loads of direct trains. They are small towns so nowhere near as busy but nice places to live and houses are a good price too

I'm from Warrington originally, now living in Norfolk but family still up there. I've always said if I move back it'd be to Croft or Culcheth. They're quite villagey areas but cheaper than Grappenhall/Lymm etc.

Birchwood and Gorse Covert are new town areas, just about 100% new build! Think there's been a big development around GC recently.

I don't know Leigh personally but I do know it has a poor reputation locally.

I wonder if it might be too much of a shock.

My parents live in a beautiful old house but the public transport is poor - their only bus stops at 730pm (!!), you can’t really get a takeaway, the WiFi is rubbish, there is no local shop. Guess it’s whether those things even matter.

Have you considered the Manchester suburbs? I’m sure you’d like Didsbury, Chorlton, non studenty bits of Fallowfield - there’s a great mix of city and suburbia.

Agee for Manchester side of Warrington look at Croft, Culcheth, Winwick, anywhere on the 19 bus route, or go for Appleton, Stockton Heath, Grappenhall if you drive.

But if you’re used to the tube and London buses, put public transport out of your head for anything but infrequent trips - there are buses but they are infrequent and take forever. For that you’d be much better in the Manchester area.

I would also consider Altrincham (as they have a metrolink to Manchester)

I agree with @Yaffle - given the choice Leigh wouldn’t be on my list. Worsley would though.

I live in Warrington. Personally I would stay away from the Chapelford area (lovely houses but there is a lot of antisocial behaviour at the moment) and the Edgewater area of new builds in Latchford. I don't know too much about the Omega development near M62 and the development in Padgate is very nice but quiet.

Warrington overall has a large town vibe but doesn't match Manchester or Liverpool. It will seem very quiet compared to London. It is quite run down in parts and the town centre has suffered over the years. They are doing a lot of renovation at the moment in the centre so the vibe may change. However you can be in the centre of Manchester in 20 mins on the train and the links to other parts of the country are good. It depends what you want on your doorstep.

The areas of Grappenhall, Stockton Heath and Appleton are absolutely lovely (generally areas south of the ship canal are nicer although pricey). There is talk of a small new build development in Appleton but it will probably be really expensive. Culceth has some very nice areas which is a large village north of Warrington with decent travel links but no train station. Also consider Newton le Willows as there has been a lot of new builds although parts of it are very run down.

One thing to consider is the fact that Warrington is gridlocked daily during rush hour. It can take an hour plus to travel across town so bare in mind commutes when looking for houses. Buses are expensive. Personally I would look at north/east Warrington as it has the better connections to Manchester/Liverpool at the moment if you can't afford south Warrington. There are some good schools but again it can be hit and miss. They are developing a train station in Great Sankey at the moment which should be opening soon so there will be better links in the future.

Hope that helps and I am happy to answer any questions about areas or schools.

Loads of new builds in Newton le Willows. And a few 'good' possibly 'outstanding' primary schools nearby (can't remember all the details from Rightmove as ended up not moving there).

I've posted on another thread about how rubbish our public transport is, here in Liverpool.

That will be a Culture Shock. So will the limit on what's on in the Cinema/Theatre. I go to London just to go to the Theatre.

There's enough going on in Manchester and Liverpool, in general, but not as much as London.

You'll feel the difference, but a better house, less pressured lifestyle might make up for it, especially as you get a bit older.

Omega - that's what I was trying to remember in Gorse Covert!

Try Standish? Outstanding primary schools lots of new builds and the high school is the best in Wigan.

@Fivebyfivesq is that is great sankey you're saying? Omg obviously I know it's quite quiet but weekends we can travel and do things out of Warrington but no take away delivery and no good WiFi
May just be a deal breaker😮

Wow there's loads to think about, I'll
Check all the areas mentioned. Is omega complex in a good area?

@winterisstillcoming where about is Standish?

Can't find omega in gorse covert online ?

It's up the m6 junction 27. On the Wigan/Chorley border.

I'm not sure where fivebyfive is talking about but it's not usual for Warrington! Warrington's a big town, no worries on the takeaway or wifi score, public transport is about a million times better than where I live now (not as good as London though)

@ProfYaffle I was getting worried for
A moment. I'm not worried too much about public transport as I drive