Moving to Manchester

[ANGELMOTHER]

I know there are some Mumsnetters up in Manchester, so just a little advice please.
Living in the South East for some time now and finding it impossibly expensive and next to impossible buying a home of our own.

We know our financial situation here is unsustainable...renting and barely making ends meet most days.
Dh and I have been doing some serious brainstorming and as we have a little family there and we believe a less expensive existence are now considering moving to Manchester.

Anyway what I need to ask for really aside from any general advice anyone can offer is pointers on areas and kiddie friendly spots in Manchester...
I know this is vague but our plans are still very hazy.
Thanks in advance.

Didsbury is very nice but expensive, Prestwich is just outside Manchester (nr Stretford) and is also nice and fairly affordable. Just outside Manchester is Bramhall, an area of Stockport which is also nice.

I'd avoid places like Droylsden (East Manchester), I was born there and at the time it was a quiet area but I believe things have gone downhill.... Also avoid Ashton (under-lyne) which has unfortuntely fallen victim to drugs and gun crime

have you the option of commuting into manchester for work??

Chorlton!!!!! I used to live there and it is really nice, loads of deli's, bars, shops, etc etc. Good schools too. Expensive now though, but compared to London probably not. Agree with wsm, Didsbury is nice.

South Mcr is better then north I think, but I am from south mcr so thats probably why.

Let me know if you need any info on estate agents, I still torture myself by looking and have all the info

Agree that Chorlton and Didsbury are really nice and compared to London prices probably not that expensive. Also Heaton Mersey and Heaton Moor are good areas with good schools etc.

personally I love Manchester, good sized city but close to the country too.

Wow you are a speedy lot, thanks so much, no Chatee we won't be able to do the commute option but as dh is in construction and has a few contacts there we're hoping that won't be a major issue.
Schools will be imp too as dd starting sep 2004.

I'm from Manchester, moved down south for 10 years and came back up a year ago. Love it!! Can I recommend south Warrington, excellent schools, town, shopping fab, IKEA, Big M and S etc.. great family areas eg Stockton Heath. Reasonable prices and only 15 mins to Manchester, maybe the same to Liverpool!

Depends whereabouts in Chorlton (cum Hardy) you are talking about, it's not so nice just off Princess Park Way behind Southern Cemetery

We live just outside Manchester in the Peak District. DH gets the train into Manchester everyday - takes about 1 hr but quite expensive but we do live at the end of the line. We love it here and the village schools are wonderful.

My SIL lives in Chorlton and is a big fan of Didsbury. Getting a bit pricy now but probably not compared to London. She also looked at Heaton Mersey etc.

Slightly further out is Disley and then New Mills. Both are lovely as semi-rural with good bus service and train line into Manchester - NM is great with its old mills and the river running below the town.

Manchester is a wonderful lively city. Building work is booming so your DH shouldn;t have any problems in construction. Good luck - whichever part of mancherster you end up in you will have the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, North Wales, Forest of Bowland and even the Lake District all on your doorstep

Any excuse to talk about home ....

quackers -you beat me to it, i was going to recommend parts of warrington or even northwich/middlewich/winsford in cheshire are nice.
where abouts are you quackers??i'm originally from warrington and still visit both sets of parents down there reguarly!

Haven't been in Manchester area long enough to really recommend anywhere to live but am thoroughly pleased we may have a new mumsnetter with us. Can't understand why anyone lives in the south east if they don't absolutely have to.

Oh wow Chatee, that's amazing! I was born in manchester and we moved to Padgate, Woolston and then Birchwood. We moved down south for my job and then last year we came back up and then moved to the Isle of man. Love it here - it has everything I could wish for. If I didn't live here it would be Stockton Heath, Lymm sort of area, but Woolston is a great family area. Some great areas though all aroung Manc, can't beat it really! Where are you from Chatee???

penketh and my first job when i left college was in birchwood

Couldn't agree more Hilary. Much as I do love it here we have gradually moved further south out of London over the last three years and are asking ourselves why do we crucify ourselves to live in this part of the world.....when we can't afford to do anything in it.
I can't remember the last time I got into London (granted I am 31 wks pg though), and financially we seem to be constantly chasing our tails.
You ladies have really eased my mind about this move and dh is very impressed with you all

How do you find the cost of living in general in and around Manchester, is council tax as extortionate (sp) etc....

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Schools in Trafford are generally very well thought of - they still have the 11+ and grammar schools. I'm orginally from Flixton, which along with neighbouring Urmston and Davyhulme are quite nice areas. Parts of Sale are nice (though avoid the Racecourse estate!) If you are rolling in money Hale is very nice.

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I'm so jealous! I love Manchester! This thread is UTTER TORMENT!!!!!

Thank you sooooo much everyone this sort of information is priceless.
We will probably be making the move pre Xmas now, the only thing stopping us going now is I'm booked for a home birth in 8 weeks and I've put my foot down saying I need at least 6 wks post birth before a move.
However we have made our decision to go and along with all your information here we have a lot of research and planning ahead of us.

Many thanks again I'll probably be back soon to grill you all on schools when we find an area to set up home

As someone living in Cheadle ( which I like to think of as South Manchester ) am finding this thread very interesting. Think SK postcodes are cheaper insurance wise than M ones. However, it used to be the case that Manchester offered some free nursery places and Stockport didn't have any. Might be worth checking if this will matter to you.

Let us know where you end up.

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Stockport is pooooooooooooooooo, I grew up there and couldn't wait to leave for the bright lights of Mcr city centre. Then again, with child, Stockport would probably be good. Please ignore first line.

If you were willing to go that little bit futher out then Wilmslow and Alderley Edge are fantastic, but expensive. They're in Cheshire but it is only about 15 mins on the train to Piccadilly Station (the main Mcr train station).