Where to live in Chester?

[MrToad]

We're going to relocate up to Chester and I'm after advice on which areas would suit us best to rent then buy in!

We'd like a 3 bed house with character (ie not new build or boxy), with (any size)garden near to the city centre - we're moving from london and like being near town.

Thanks for any advice on the best areas to look at!

Hoole and Handbridge are both walking distance from the city centre.

Thanks sauvignon, funnily enough they are the 2 areas DP likes!

What is the area near the university like? Is it all rental houses and noisy students ? I've seen a few nice houses there but bit worried about living in student land (I recall being a student neighbour from hell myself when I was at uni!)

Mostly student land, you can do better than that.
You could check out Wesminster Park but IMHO it's not a patch on Hoole or Handbridge.
Are you looking at schools as well?

Yes, DS will start reception next year. can you recommend any decent schools?

Not my DD's! That's near Hoole, it was excellent when DS started there but a change of head makes all the difference.
I think my primary school info is too out of date as recent research has been concentrated on high schools.
Check out Hoole All Saints and St Marys Overleigh in Handbridge.
You'll get a lot more for your money up here. When I re-located from North London, I saw studio flats advertised in Golders Green, where I was living, for the same price as I paid for a 3 bed semi!

Yes, i agree with Hoole and Handbridge. They're both in great locations for the city centre and will have the kind of house you're looking for I'm sure. If you did widen your search, commuting is not bad at all, and certainly not compared to London! Tarvin is a lovely pretty village with a primary school and pubs, shops etc, ten min drive maximum to the city centre, and there's a bus service. Also Kelsall and Tarporley and Bunbury are fantastic too. Just a thought...
I don't know about the schools in Chester I'm afraid, only the ones around Tarporley.

Good luck with the move

We moved from London to Chester two years. We moved to Queens Park which is next to Handbridge so that we would be close to town. We're about 5 min walk from town. We looked at barn conversions and stuff out in the country but thought that it would be too much of a jump from suburban London to field in one move!

Overleigh St Mary's for a primary school - has really good reputation.

Could also look at Curzon Park.

May have just outed myself here....

That's great advice everyone, thank you.

Claricebean, we're thinking exactly the same as you, from London to village will be too drastic for us! Can I ask if you are enjoying life up in Chester after leaving London?

Sauvignon Am also at how much house we could buy for the price of our small London flat

gd I have a friend who lives in Tarvin, it's just lovely isn't it?

Life in Chester compared to London?

Hmmm...

Chester isn't really a city but a large town .
You have to go to Liverpool and Manchester for culture
I was lead to believe Chester shopping was awesome - quite frankly it's a bit average but Waitrose and White Company are coming!
Traffic is lovely - everyone gives way and lets you in!
You can walk everywhere
Everyone has time for you and generally more polite that London
You have to book anywhere for dinner on Sat night - even Pizza Express!
Going out is BIG - need to dress up big time
20 mins from mountains of Wales for walks and mountain biking
Lots of farm shops and good food and gastro pubs at not ridiculous prices

It has been a rocky couple of years and it is hard making friends as we're out of primary school/school gate thing but we are getting there and London only 2 hours away.

Cheaper - I don't pay to park anyhere and a lot more house for your money!

Thanks Clarice, I'm glad you are getting there. Sounds like a very mixed experience.

One thing we will have is a ready made group of friends up there as a lot of DP's friends and their partners live up there. I hope that will make it easier for us to settle.

Hurrah for Waitrose arriving, I'll have to tell MIL, she'll wet herself with excitement!

Boo for dressing up, have already noticed that, DP took me out for a drink to a pub in town and everyone was in little dresses and heels, felt very underdressed!

Waitrose is coming!

Claricebeansmum tell me more, I've missed that!

I feel Chester has more of a small town mentality, I wouldn't have liked the nightlife when I was young but was happy to move here with young dcs.

Sauvignon - Apparently Waitrose has bought the Boughton Retail Park - where Maplin is out on the A51 if you are going to Tarvin out of Chester.

Another Chester-ite here....

I'd say Handbridge - it's all mums and buggies!! then you're in catchment for Overleigh nursery and school - excellent, but very big. Smaller schools - Dodleston, Eccleston, Belgrave - all lovely. Also there's a nice little parade of shops - deli, coffee shop, grocer, chemist and a new park and fab bar/restaurant, The Ship.

We live about ten mins out of town and love it - country life but really close to town. Moved up from London around 5 years ago...

Claricebean and SauvignonBlanche - hello!

Another school to check out - Merton House, a private school, has applied to become a free school Sept 2011. If you were based over that side of town - some lovely houses down Liverpool Rd then that could be your local school.... Millview very good too... that's in Upton.

Wave at Mirrorball!

Waves to Mirrorball

You are all so knowledgable! Thank you Chester ladies for your advice. I think it's going to be Hoole or Handbridge. Not worried about a school being too big (our local primary here is enormous) so Overleigh would be great. Will check out the free school too.

Waves to Chester massive!

Love hoole and hand bridge, definitely a boho feel to them, although posh boho.

Check out the villages too, particularly immediately to the east of chester off the a51.

Spoiled for choice for good schools - the ones mentioned are great, as are the village ones above, Tarvin, tarporley. Some good private provision too.

Nightlife and restaurants great. Lots of fab shops, too many really. So close to the country too for lots of jolly trips out.

Am in Cheshire but other side of county to Chester,but am delighted to hear about White Company!!

hi I work in the city centre (I do homeless outreach and support) and see the city in all hours. If you find a place and want to know proximity of detox centres, soup kitchens, drug use areas I can help

There are some georgous period houses and areas.

Sorry if that sounded negative/ wierd- it is a genuine offer though.

Oh and welcome to Cheshire.

Thank for that kind offer Mrs Vidic! I currently have a crack den at the end of my road so am sure I'll be fine with a few Chester homeless/ drug/ alcohol dependant folk passing by my new pad !

If it all gets too much for me I'll slink off to Waitrose...........

Another Handbridge mum here!

I think it's a great place to live - we moved up from the south-east just over 2 years ago, and I have already told dh that this is our "forever" house - I want the kids to be educated here.

I love living in Handbridge - we are walking distance to town, river and meadows. Edgar's Field, Appleyards Lane and Grosvenor Park within walking distance, and Overleigh St Mary's School and St. Mary's nursery all good options. Only 10 mins from the Welsh border and some fab days out. Liverpool and Manchester are a reasonable distance away, and we are close to the beautiful Wirral, with Church Farm, Thurstaston and Wirral Country Park.

Queens, Kings and the Catholic High School are all close for secondary options, as is Queens Park High, although I don't know too much about it.

If I was to choose somewhere else to live, I'd probably have a look at Westminster Park. The children's playground is fab, and it's close to town. Belgrave Primary School is said to be excellent too.

Keep us posted!

Thank you Zhen, sounds like you love Chester which makes me think us moving may not be as scary as we think!