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 ?

Ok so another question we are a Indian / Pakistani family albeit born here, are there many Asians in the areas mentioned ? Don't want to feel the only ones

To be honest I think we will probably spend a lot of weekends in Manchester I think as there's more to do
With kids. I think weekdays are so
Busy anyway with school runs then homework dinner etc that the day has gone . We will only really feel
The difference on
Weekends. As long as my kids and I make friends ideally in the new build area where I'm
Guess will be a lot of young families I'll be happy

I've just looked at the secondary schools in Warrington on the gov UK website. The 3 schools that are above UK average for 5 GCSES above grade 5 including Maths & English are Cardinal Newman RC, Bridgewater & Kings leadership. The other secondaries are below average. I'd be looking for a house in the catchment area of those schools.
Manchester has a mixed bag re secondary schools, 11+ some areas and quite difficult to buy a house with the expectation of being in a good catchment area for secondary. Lots of pot luck & grafting required.

@Acdmad thank you for that, what would you say about great Sankey. Oh where is busier than thy but also a nice area with good schools? Very vague sorry

Lymm & Culcheth High Schools get above UK average GCSES scores too but they're a bit further out of town -surrounding Cheshire county.

Also what about golborne?

I like warrington, it’s busy enough to have things to do but not a city!

It’s like anywhere and has it’s good and bads obviously but generally I find it very friendly.

Your culture wouldn’t be an issue either from what i have Seen.

@Sirzy that's good to hear. Do you live in Warrington? Any ideas of areas you
Would recommend

Your culture should not be a problem. Although largely white it is multicultural. You should not struggle there. Likewise there will be no issue re WiFi or takeaways.

Great Sankey is fine. Try and go a bit further away from the town centre/Sankey bridges area as you can get the smell from the tip otherwise. I am east Warrington so don't know too much about the area other than to avoid Chapelford. That is the new build area near to Chapelford farm. It is between Sankey, old hall and Westbrook. I don't think the area is too bad but the transport links are better the other side of town.

If you are after the cafe culture, nice bars etc then Stockton heath is the place to be. Older houses but it does have a nice vibe. Lymm likewise but both those areas are pricey and possibly outside of your budget. However as I said previously you have the option of trains into Manchester very frequently.

Re schools Kings has a wonderful reputation but the catchment is tiny. You need to look at Padgate or woolston for any chance of getting into there. Bridgewater covers south Warrington so looking at Appleton, Grappenhall and Stockton heath there. Cardinal Newman covers the east of Warrington as the only Catholic school this side of town.

Warrington doesn't have the vibe of London or Manchester. It is mainly Victorian buildings close to the centre followed by suburbs. The new builds are at the edges mainly but the poor transport links means driving is essential.

Have a look at winnick. It is north Warrington but there is a new build estate there. Very nice and nowhere near as expensive as lymm, Appleton etc. The primary school round there is lovely but I don't know about secondary around there.

For example in woolston you can get a 4 bed for under 300k. It is just a suburb though with no cafe culture etc. But you could drive to the Trafford centre in 20-30 mins. On the M6 within 5 minutes.

@Acdmad thank you

No worries at all. I have just had a quick scan and if you are looking at a new build on Sophia drive, great Sankey that is the omega development. It is right next to the M62 and a huge warehouse complex. The only other thing I know is that the local primary school has been massively oversubscribed even though it is a large school.

If it is a brand new build you are after then have a look at Appleton thorn. South Warrington but very nice. Or Newton le Willows. If you are happy to take a pre-owned new build then there are lots around Warrington and surrounding areas. Nearly all will be just houses though meaning a drive/walk to shops etc.

The only place that has a supermarket etc and isn't on the outskirts is Chapelford. I would avoid. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

South of the ship canal or nothing.

Can you not compromise on the new build? All the best areas around there are already established with not much new building happening.

I think you would need to think about what is most important. Spanking new home or an area you will be happy with?

Another vote here for south of the canal. I’ve lived here for years and it’s lovely.
Traffic is a nightmare. Easy enough to catch the train into Manchester or Liverpool but the trains are always busy.
Great schools near me - look at Stockton Heath, Appleton or Grappenhall.
They are building new houses in Appleton Thorn, looks like they will be pricey though.
I moved here from Wales and always loved living here, but at risk of sounding like a snob I avoid the town centre unless absolutely necessary

Does it have to be Warrington? Have you looked at Tudor Grange new build in Bury. Not too far from town centre Bury is definitely multicultural if you want mosques and food that's not typically English. Metrolink into Manchester is easy and Bury town centre has cinema and reasonable shops etc. Has Bury Grammar if your looking for private schools and good comprehensive state schools

Swerve

Sorry I went out for a bit.

Haha yes my parents live in one of the small villages obviously. That’s not the norm experience, just an example of what it’s like if you go rural. You’ll be able to get a pizza in Sankey 😂 I hear they have Uber as far as Worsley now too.

I just feel like for what you want - why Warrington? You’re coming from one of the busiest, buzziest cities arguably on earth so anywhere is going to be a change - there are a million other places, and that’s saying it as someone from there!

I always thought I’d move back there when I had a family but we’ve put down roots now and I’m London for good - I wouldn’t swap.

The very best of luck to you OP!

Ps. For what you want If I were you I’d move to south Manchester. I have a lot of mates who are very happy there.

I second South Warrington. Stockton Heath, Walton, Appleton, Grappenhall, Thellwall. Also Stretton and Appleton Thorn.

Thellwall and Appleton Thorn are a bit cheaper as further out but still in catchment of great schools.

Lymm too.

Great Sankey and Penketh are ok but not as good as south side.

Avoid Golbourne (sorry Golbourne). Culcheth and Croft are lovely.

I lived in Appleton, good schools and lovely area, property prices are sky high there now, the same for Stockton Heath.
However within 5 mins you can be on the M56 in 5 minutes. The traffic to Manchester is awful in the mornings as early as 7am. Around the M62 going towards the M6 is terrible as they are converting it to a smart motorway.
The centre of Warrington for shopping is all mainly an indoor shopping centre, everything else has shut or is shutting down.

I remember your post! I live in South Warrington - I love it. I lived in London before and much much prefer it here. Go for Grappenhall, Appleton, Thelwall. You can be in Manchester at weekends - it's all on your doorstep. I'd avoid Gt Sankey too tbh. South Warrington is the nicer place to live with good schools.

I used to work at Great Sankey High School and it was very nice.
The area itself is quiet. It's near the Gemini for some shops and only takes 20 mins or so to drive to Liverpool or 35-40 to Manchester.
Both Liverpool and Manchester are great places to live.I live in Didsbury but am from the Liverpool area and lived there for many years.
You can't go far wrong wherever you choose!

Also wanted to say - where I live there are lots of families who have moved into South Warrington from Manchester, London etc