Where to move North England (maybe West)

[ThePerkyPlayer]

Hello, just a quick question is there anywhere that you'll recommend to live in-North England. We are looking for a nice area but also for some diversity as we are a mixed race family I'm thinking south Manchester but it's also quite pricey

Yes thank you I will look

Agree but Ramsbottom isn't very diverse. Bury a little more so, but not really apt. There are much more multicultural places around Manchester on this thread that'd be better to focus in on.

Thank you I'm thinking areas nearby Altrincham

Stratford/Urmston/Davyhulme?
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/157211339#/?channel=RES_BUY

Thank you I'll have a look

Lancashire is enormous and has maybe 10 MPs. Some are Labour, some Tory etc. We have Labour.
I would say Liverpool or Manchester if you want salons etc. Though as others have said some people live in mixed ethnicity areas (but with a small Black minority) and travel to Manchester for a salon.

The Wirral

They really aren't! North East Manchester has a very high Black African population. When were you here?

https://hummedia.manchester.ac.uk/institutes/code/briefings/localdynamicsofdiversity/geographies-of-diversity-in-manchester.pdf

Duh 🤦🏼‍♀️ Stretford (damned predictive text!)

if you’re looking between Manchester and Altrincham, follow the tram line- Stratford, Sale, Timperley, Altrincham.

Thank you

Not really. If you want diverse stick to Trafford rather than Warrington or Cheshire East. Areas close to Altrincham but outside Trafford in this vicinity are unusually friendly but not diverse. They are becoming more diverse but still are very white (I know people who have had the odd comment). Altrincham (Trafford generally) is attracting a more diverse demographic in part because of the grammar schools.

You say you are a family. How old are your kids? If you are looking to transfer schools you will struggle in Trafford. There is a problem with school places. The age of your kids would be the thing that matters most in terms of your options imho.

Thank you I'll look at Trafford too and we have a 2 year old so school isn't for a few years yet!

2 year old gives you more options, as you don't have the worry of transferring in.

If you go with Trafford then you need to consider catchment areas closely AND be aware of the grammar school system in Trafford.

Many kids are tutored to get into the grammar schools and the grammar school system means you don't always get the closest high school. It's really competitive and getting more so.

If you don't get into a grammar school some of the comprehensives don't have a great reputation. I know that because of the way they've allocated this year, there's one area which ended up outside the catchment for the most local high school, with a bunch of kids instead being allocated Broadoak in Partington which is a real trek. It's also not got the best reputation, so they parents have kicked off. They won't get anywhere because the schools are all so over subscribed in Trafford ATM.

The schools outside Trafford don't do the 11plus. You can opt to do it and some people do travel in for the grammars but it's much harder to get in to the Grammars if you are outside Trafford now.

But there are some really good high schools just outside Trafford, which don't have the same pressure to get into because they don't have to do the 11plus. You DO have to consider the catchment area and be in the right primary school for some of those though!

So my advice is definitely to do your research carefully if you don't want to move again at a later point (potentially needing a primary transfer in the process). Do you want to go through the stress / cost of tutoring? Do you want a single sex high school? Or do you want to hedge your bets on schools and go outside Trafford into areas which are slightly less diverse?

There are some very nice places in the wider area to live, but it really does depend on what your biggest priority is. If you are looking at the Trafford area, a budget of £500k is starting to look on the tighter side too now and you may find yourself having to consider compromises on location/size (again look at those catchment areas). Just outside Trafford was generally more expensive but this has changed in recent years - largely driven by the demand for grammar schools and better public transport.

You will have to compromise on something at some point if you are set on this area.

Thank you for letting me know, I think it's best not to stay in Trafford if the schools are competitive, just need a good school without the stress of tutoring etc

Didsbury and Chorlton are both fabulous - great transport, schools, lovely local shops and cafes and regularly feature in Sunday papers’ nice places to live. Didsbury is just starting to be diverse and is within 3 miles or so of specialist hairdressers etc. West Didsbury is also excellent and has some great independent restaurants. East Didsbury is cheaper but close to the Mersey so liable to flooding and with fewer twee shops. The top of your budget should get you a 3/4 bed in Didsbury Village. Good luck, you’ll love it up here.

The area I gave before in Stretford is good for schools because you're in the catchment for Chorlton high and Chorlton High South as well as the grammar if you want. Also great choices of primary schools

If you have a 2 year old that will be a lower birth year, I would have thought, but who knows in any given borough what they will do with the schools once the years start getting really small.
(I have a 10 year old and over 80% of her year got their 1st choice of secondary schools, and the population per year is going down as you go down the ages after her, but at some point they will need to close classes and even schools).

Thank you

Manchester maybe try whalley range / cholton/didsbury at the top of your budget possibly

Manchester or Liverpool for sure