Marple or Whaley bridge to live?

[Lancashirelass36]

We are looking at moving house. A family with x2 young kids. Can’t decide between Marple and Whaley bridge. Has anyone lived in either? Particularly interested to hear what Whaley bridge has to offer? Schools, community, traffic, transport etc. thank you in advance.

Both lovely places. Lived in whaley bridge growing up. Its nice but limited. Lots of pubs, the canal and a few shops. Depending on where your house is, you would need a car to go shopping because there is only the coop in the centre and tesco on the outskirts. Shops are on the main road. Trains go to manchester but only one an hour. Buses go along the a6. The main bus is 199 (twice an hour). Whaley only has primary schools. I thought taxal was the best but kettleshulme is not too far and is very good. High school is chapel-en-le-frith. They have school buses. College is either buxton (vocational) or marple (academic).

I went to marple college and i loved the town of marple. The high street is more convenient with all the shops together in a pedestrian area rather than spread out along the main road. There is a big coop in the centre. Not sure where the nearest bigger shop is. Buses are more convenient. Loads of them every hour. Train station a little out of town centre. Definitely easier to get to different places. Not sure about primary schools or high school but the college is there.

I prefer marple just because you can travel easier and the shopping area is nicer

Thank you very much, this is very helpful. Could you say anymore about the community in either places please? We are a 2 mum family, so want to make sure it’s friendly. Also safe at night and good dog walking spots ?

Thank you very much, this is very helpful. Could you say anymore about the community in either places please? We are a 2 mum family, so want to make sure it’s friendly. Also safe at night and good dog walking spots ?

Hello
I know both areas very well and both are lovely. Lots of dog walking and dog friendly areas. There are also lots of diverse families and loads for kids.
For Marple (including Marple Bridge), there are a few primaries and a high school which is good. 2 train stations and good bus links. Great precient and supermarkets, new swimming baths being built, library, parks, independent cinema and theatre, canal, bike trail etc. The downside is mostly traffic which is notorious/considerable if using rush hour times.

Whaley had a drama a few years back with the damn near collapse issues. My friend was evacuated. It's a lovely area though and a bit more remote/country ish. You're getting into the high peak area and nearer to the places like Castleton, Buxton. Again traffic is an issue especially on the A6. You would have to use a car a bit more for anything like swimming pool (one in New Mills).

Marple is in Stockport and a bit more urban.
Other similar areas worth looking at are New Mills (similar to Marple and quite quirky), Disley.

Both communities are nice although i prefered marple. Both safe at night i think. Bit of the usual be mindful but its not full of gangs etc.

Whaley is a bit more spread out. It took me an hour to walk from one end to another. Most houses are either on whaley lane or macclesfield road. But they are both big hills. Marple is more flat and has a pedestrian market place. Marple has more high street shops close together. Whaley has more independent shops, including a nice pet shop.

I think it depends where you want to go nearby. If you would rather buxton and the high peak, then whaley. If you rather being close to bigger towns and cities like Manchester and stockport, then marple.

Thank you. We have visited, but can’t quite work out what there is in Whaley Bridge if anything. I think as you say they are two different areas. Marple also seems to be expensive. The information is all useful. Thanks again.