Moving to Manchester but where to???????

[Larlyb]

Help needed ! We are relocating from Switzerland (land of no crime and SAHMs) to Manchester where i am (overly?) concerned about being stabbed and will be going back to work !

We need to be within easy (public transport 30 mins) commute to Manchester Piccaddily for me and a manageable commute to Trafford Park for DH.

DD1 starts Primary Sept 2011 and DD2 will need to be in childcare if I am working 60%.

I am from the Midlands originally and barely know Manchester. DH is from Bolton and wants to return but I am favouring South Manchester from a commute perspective (plus don't want to live on in laws doorstep)

We move in 2 weeks and husband only just accepted job so we're looking next week.....aaaaggghhhhh. Please help me. Panicking as I write this :(

we live in Newton (hyde) now and we love it (previously lived in rural Northants) Parts of Tameside are very rough but no more than anywhere else TBH and schools are very good here. 700PCM will get you a nice house if you are renting.

We have been here a good few years and the only crime I am aware of is a neighbours motorbike being stolen a couple of years ago.

another option is Glossop which is only half an hour from manc on train

I love Lymm in Cheshire, not so bling as some of it's neighbours (a good thing imo) and a nice feel about it. Good for travelling down to the Midlands as well.

Funny, I am from the Midlands and DH is originally from v near Bolton, we live on the North side now, I love it (but don't like to visit my family much ).

Meant to say...we lived in South Birmingham before we came to Switzerland but that was pre kids. Never raised kiddies in a city hence the safety concerns.

On the rural Cheshire front, again it is not an area I am at all familiar with. Apart from Lymm where should we be looking?

Have heard people saying Altrincham is nice but is it a bit pricey (hoping to rent min 3 bed for approx £1000 or to eventually buy up to £320kish)

To you Midlanders I am actually from near Northampton originally ! Great to see Northamptonians out there :-)

we lived in Pattishall

Wilmslow for Cheshire - any further out and you start to be beyond the 30 mins to Piccadilly criterion.
In Trafford, Altrincham/Hale/Bowdon - but note that none of these are cheap areas for housing.
In S Manchester, Didsbury or Chorlton or some of the Heatons (which are actually part of Stockport.
It rather depends how urban you want to be.

Hmmm..urban...as long as there is a Tesco, some green space with swings and a Rhythm time-esque music class then I'm not fussed. How my life has changed .......Ideally would love to have great resturants, bars etc but with a 3 year old and 6 month old I'm thinking this may be wasted anyway :-)

I meant restaurants !!!

Tesco, green space with swings, music classes.
Have a look at this search on rightmove
Two Tesco's, plenty of green space and kids classes of all types galore.
The search takes in Didsbury, Heaton Moor and Heaton Mersey. There are also loads of bars and restaurants.
Altrincham, Bowden, Hale and parts of Sale are also worth looking at.

Here's the thread I started when we were looking www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/695442-Moving-to-Manchester-and-I-have-no-idea-where-to

We've been living in Sale for 5 months now, and I love it. Brilliant location for schools, great parks, easy access, tram into Picadilly in 20 mins, and (I think) to Trafford Park.

I'm very happy to help you off MN if I can

I was going to say as the OP's DH will be working in Trafford Park, the Altrincham, Hale, Sale side of the city would probably be more convenient.
Trafford has really good schools and 3 or 4 state grammar schools.

Saddleworth

Just to say we were given our application forms for Reception today, so something else to add to the 'to do' list when you've decided, but I think you have a while yet. Just wanted to mention it so you'll be in the running.