Moving to Manchester

[StonwEd]

Theoretically anyway. DD fancies uni there and we'd like to downsize from Suffolk.
Budget would be around £350k and we would need a 3 bed house if she was to continue living with us .
Not bothered about being in the city but would like to be within a 30-40 minute commute.
In the theory I need to get the job I've got my eye on but if all works out, wibu to move from Suffolk to the North and where should we be looking? We love the countryside but also would want some kind of community, pubs, a running group that kind of thing. We have friends and extended family in the north but more Sheffield and Leeds. But Manchester is a lot closer than we are now!
No further DC, just us and possibly DD.

Sounds like you need Kirstie and Phil!

The northeast part of Greater Manchester is pleasant - views of Saddleworth Moor in the distance - and there are some pretty towns and villages. I like Uppermill which is near a railway line and thus a very quick commute into Manchester. It's very hilly, though and beyond the end of the tram service.

Your DD wants to go to university in Manchester, is there a reason you're jumping to moving as a whole family?
Maybe she wants to go to a further away city for the experience and independence.

It's been very much discussed. She's absolutely free to go wherever she wants even if we move that way.
We've fancied the change for years and are finally in a position to make the change. Regardless of DD we will be moving out of Suffolk before long, we just all love Manchester and the surrounding parts.

This suggests that you already know Manchester? Which parts do you love, and can you not look at moving to one of those?

You might find that £350,000 may not get you much of a 3 bed in some of the rural, community village type areas that you want

Have a look at Marsden or Slaithwaite near Huddersfield.
Direct train to Manchester and nice villages, you will get a reasonable house for your budget

£350k won’t go far in the nicer bits of Manchester. Maybe Denton? Easy access to saddleworth and trains from Guide Bridge into town (albeit the timetable is a headache)
However if your daughter is at Uni and wants easy access on public transport it limits you more to south Manchester which is ££££

We don't know it well and certainly can't afford to live where my family do.
What are Salford and Stockport like?

I would be on the metro line as any other public transport is very sporadic and unreliable. Have a look at Sale, Timperley and Altrincham. I think Altrincham is the nicest and there are a few terraced houses within your budget there, Timperley is very small but is well connected, Sale is a bit bigger and have some very nice areas and some not so nice. I think Sale is improving though year by year in terms of new restaurants and shops.

Stockport has some nice suburbs if you head east towards. you might find something in Marple which has two train lines into Manchester and easy access to the Peak District

Salford is huge an a separate city in its own right.
There are some lovely bits around Monton/South Swinton/Worsley, it’s also home to several of the most deprived parts of the country. Whereabouts had you been looking.
Stockport, again, variable, traffic in Stockport is horrendous

Greenfield is nice - saddleworth area and villagey but on the train. Just about in budget. Uppermill very nice but not on train as is Delph

A lot of places are not that rural that are convenient for tram/train- so there might be some compromise- it isn't as cheap as you might think in areas I think are quite nice too.

Some bits around Rochdale aren't too bad and surrounded by nice

Salford and Stockport aren’t great. Disley is nice though- on the train line and very pretty. If you want more trendy inner city you would struggle to buy in the nicer areas on that budget. We lived in Manchester for 13 years before moving to Sheffield- partly due to the housing costs.

Some parts of Salford are lovely - Monton, Worsley. Definitely not rural though. Also some lovely parts of Stockport like the Heatons. Also not rural.

I have experience of the North of Manchester, on the edge of the west pennine moors. direct train to Manchester (25 minutes… ish), and you can be on the Motorway in 5 or 10 minutes, and then it’s 20 minutes into the city. Lots of nice long country walks, micro-breweries .. and restaurants

Rawtenstall

Thank you, will save this thread and have a good look at the areas as time goes on

I used to live in Whalley Range and loved it. Good running areas, very leafy, lovely bars. Ditto Altrincham, around Dunham Massey and an area called Oldfield Brow are gorgeous. Although they in themselves very pricey, on the borders of them they get cheaper and the area is still nice. Alexandra Park area for Whalley Range and Sale/Wythenshawe border for Altrincham.

You may be limited on some of the leafy Cheshire/south Manchester type places with £350k although things may come down in price.

If you're looking for more rural but close to a decent town and good links to Manchester you may get something in Macclesfield or Bollington within budget. This one for example https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/128371664

I think you'll struggle in Sale, Altrincham, Bramhall, Poynton etc as they're quite expensive still. Maybe better in the High Peak area. I agree with the suggestion of trying saddleworth/uppermill but again I think they've become very popular. Monton gets a mention here and there as well.

Or anywhere along the Met line - Bury, Whitefield, Oldham etc!

That is beautiful! Funnily enough when I was younger I always thought (based on pretty much nothing) that I'd like to live in Macclesfield one day... Who knows.

Stockport has some lovely areas and some not-so-lovely areas.

You may get a small semi or a terraced for £350,000 in places like Bramhall, Cheadle Hulme and Poynton (all lovely). Trains take about 15 mins from Bramhall / Cheadle Hulme to Manchester Piccadilly and about 30 mins from Poynton.

That is beautiful! Funnily enough when I was younger I always thought (based on pretty much nothing) that I'd like to live in Macclesfield one day... Who knows.

Ooh! It was meant to be!

Consider Holmfirth and surrounding areas, stunning views and lovely houses. Bus into Huddersfield, train 20mins to Manchester. Has its own little lively town centre and surrounded by lovely villages, it's so easy to get to other main places like Leeds, Wakefield, Sheffield, Barnsley, glossop, oldham, Manchester through a choice of roads. You would get something decent for your budget, further down the road is Honley and your money would go further also has a nice town street and nice stone houses.

What’s the name of this place?