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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask anyone from Manchester...

154 replies

totaketheplunge · 30/12/2023 19:40

Hi all,

Please can I have some advice? If you were a solo, 26yo old woman wanting to move to Manchester. Where would you look at moving to? Some things to consider:

• I'm a teacher so needs to be decent schools around

• I don't necessarily need to be in the middle of Manchester

• I like somewhere with plenty going on but also not keen on mega busy roads with loads of traffic

• somewhere I will feel safe

Thanks so much!

OP posts:
VickyEadieofThigh · 30/12/2023 19:43

"Decent schools"? For work, do you mean? You're planning to move there and then hope a suitable job comes up in the area you've moved to and that you'll get appointed?

MaggieNextDoor · 30/12/2023 19:46

Didsbury, Chorlton, Cheadle Hulme, Sale, Timperley, Alderley Edge, Wilmslow.

South Manchester rather than North Manchester although there are some lovely areas around Tameside, Oldham, Bolton - you need to know the area though.

Why don't you go for a week's holiday and explore the city and its surrounding suburbs.

Kellioo · 30/12/2023 19:46

Didsbury, Chorlton, Altrincham to start with. Good luck

SoOutingWhoCares · 30/12/2023 19:47

Chorlton, Parrs Wood, Didsbury, Withington are all areas my friends and I found to be decent places to live and work (or live and commute). From late 20s to late 30s, mainly all women working in education or arts. Hope that helps!

MimiSunshine · 30/12/2023 19:48

Manchester, as in the city? Or do you mean Great Manchester, the county?

im assuming the latter but people often say the former but mean both.

its a pretty big place (assuming you do mean the latter) so there are loads of options. Can you give more of an idea of what you’re looking for other than Stuff to do but no busy roads?

AhBiscuits · 30/12/2023 19:48

Surely apply for jobs first and move close to where you find one.

MimiSunshine · 30/12/2023 19:50

Consider the team lines and look along the route.

carkerpartridge · 30/12/2023 19:50

If you are working and living in Greater Manchester you will most probably be dealing with busy roads!!

Fionafaorta · 30/12/2023 19:52

South Manchester definitely.

I've lived in Chorlton, Withington, Burnage and Whalley Range. All decent areas.

I would avoid North Manchester

CheesyChipsOnWembleyWay · 30/12/2023 19:52

Mumsnet has a bit of an obsession with the Didsburys, but there is much more to Manchester.
You don't say if you're primary or secondary: but Prestwich/Whitefield has very good primaries and improving secondaries, Bury is a decent place to live and would give options in Bolton as well if you drive.

Mehmeh22 · 30/12/2023 19:55

People saying South Manchester...I'd say it could be more expensive to live that way. North being cheaper and due to development of tram lines, more accessible.

Mehmeh22 · 30/12/2023 19:56

Avoid North Manchester? For what reason? Bury is the safest Borough to live in and cheaper than the South

Fionafaorta · 30/12/2023 19:56

Mehmeh22 · 30/12/2023 19:55

People saying South Manchester...I'd say it could be more expensive to live that way. North being cheaper and due to development of tram lines, more accessible.

It is cheaper, for a reason.

I lived in Moston for 2 months, I wouldn't walk alone most times. It was actually really scary!

ncforthis129049812414231 · 30/12/2023 19:57

AhBiscuits · 30/12/2023 19:48

Surely apply for jobs first and move close to where you find one.

This OP.
I lived in Altrincham and loved it. The areas on that tram line are great, lots of schools, lots going on but not chocca with traffic.
Also Stockport, the surrounding nice estates like the Heatons Stockport has loads going on.
Sadly couldn't afford to buy in either location and so moved to Godley, Hyde. Town centre is shit but our area is lovely. Gee Cross is also a good area.
Not lots going on though. We don't care, we're always out in Manchester or Stockport.
Worseley is a nice place. So is Prestwich.

swedex · 30/12/2023 20:01

If you move to south Manchester and work in a trafford school then the 11+ is a thing and getting into a grammar school is a huge focus for many kids/parents in primary school so even more pressure!
This is turn means high house prices as people are looking for houses in catchment for the grammar schools...however I would never advise working in the same vicinity as having a house and therefore you'd have to look for a house out of the area and the traffic in and around Manchester is hideous.

Mehmeh22 · 30/12/2023 20:03

If OP is referring to Manchester City, then fair enough, North (Moston) maybe unsafe. But if referring to Greater Manchester, don't discredit Bury, Bolton, Rochdale because its not the same.

As PP have said, find the job first because public transport can be difficult if you lived in, say Salford but worked in Rochdale.

yoshiblue · 30/12/2023 20:17

Sale? In Trafford so best schools in Greater Manchester and easily on the tramline to both Manchester City centre and Altrincham.

Lots more bars and restaurants popping up in Sale town centre; a lot on offer for a suburb.

I live in another part of Trafford. Really happy but don't have the tram directly. That would be non negotiable at your age.

AmytheDancingBrick · 30/12/2023 20:18

The South Manchester air kissers would have you believe that the south is the only place to live, but there are some lovely places to the north of Manchester.

coxesorangepippin · 30/12/2023 20:19

As pps have said, depends where you mean.

Ramsbottom/ rawtenstall are nice, but quite a way out

NashvilleQueen · 30/12/2023 20:22

What's your budget!?

JurassicFantastic · 30/12/2023 20:22

I think you need to find a job first.

If, for example, you lived in Oldham and got a job in Leigh that would be quite a commute in rush hour.

Also, do you drive or would you need good public transport links?

Fionafaorta · 30/12/2023 20:23

AmytheDancingBrick · 30/12/2023 20:18

The South Manchester air kissers would have you believe that the south is the only place to live, but there are some lovely places to the north of Manchester.

Air kissers 😂

I've never lived in anything but council houses so I ain't too fancy.

I just know which areas are safer. Especially for families.

AnnieMare · 30/12/2023 20:23

As a teacher you will be familiar with pupil premium funding. Use the strategy details on the school website to find the percentage of pupil premium children in the school.
Gives a really good idea of the area cohorts through the level of disadvantage. You can use the data for finding out about any school you are applying to or any area you are considering living in.

ExtraOnions · 30/12/2023 20:24

North of Manchester is fine … some nice areas around Bury, or north of Bolton (around the moors), Chorley … nice schools, train direct into Manchester etc

Blossomingx · 30/12/2023 20:39

South of the city centre is quite nice, I can only tell you about these areas as that's where I live.
You may like Chorlton, Didsbury, Altrincham. As someone above said, Heatons in Stockport.
You may want to try Stretford, it has good transport links (tram and bus).