Didsbury or Wilmslow? Or some other recommendations...

[k4mi]

DH, DD and I are looking to relocate from SE London to Manchester shortly which we are excited about. Priorities are:

Good primary schools

Not feeling like our life is over because we have left the big smoke...ie would like to be near some cafes, bars, restaurants, cinema, exercise classes etc but but obviously would be happy to drive a short distance to some of these things.

Garden/outdoor space for kids

Easy ish to commute into Manchester and get train to London (happy to commute up to 30 mins or so/drive that to train station)

We ideally need a 3/4 bed for approx £330-350k. From research looks like this should be do-able if we are happy to go for a more modern semi in Didsbury particularly (which we would be).

I would like to hear opinions on what differs between these two areas? is one more 'family' than the other? Also are there any other (perhaps smaller) areas / villages that would be easily accessible to either of the above / central Manchester that we should also look at? We don't know the areas that well so would value some local advice.

Thanks very much.

Knutsford is very pretty but you need to choose carefully cause it's bang on the flight path of Manchester airport.

Stockton Heath and Appleton nice suburbs of Warrington but the town centre is the absolute pits. Stay in Manchester!

@dongalong89

I spent 6 months in West Didsbury, coming from London. I really enjoyed it and could see myself living there. It felt like a lively area with nice places to eat out and good access to the city centre. Weekend markets. Easy access to the greener countryside etc. on the flip side Wilmslow seemed more removed from the buzz that I enjoy as a Londoner!

Here I am wondering how the hell the OP is going to afford a 4 bed in Didsbury for £350k when I realize it's a fucking ZOMBIE from 2014!