Looking for a village

[scottdrafting]

My wife and I are both wanting to move to the uk, I am a first generation Canadian with my mother being born in Stock port. I am considering any number small villages in the cheshire or lancashire areas. We have to children in primary school and are hoping to find a balance of good schools closeness to a larger metropolitan area but still have that in the country village feel. any input would be helpful to help us start out search of our new home.

Is there a reason why you are set on Cheshire/Lancashire area and can you give an indication of budget roughly?

its where my mother was raised and i have heard nothing but good about it from her. I'm hoping to find a place around 200k or less. even if suggestions are not in those regions I would be happy, just want to get a feel for what locals think of their home villages and towns.

If you have primary school aged children it's worth getting a list of schools with places available in their years from the council. The last thing you want is to find the perfect home then realise you can't get a place in the village school.

do you know where I could get such a list?

I would check it has mains gas, all electric Heating is pretty miserable in this country even in houses

You would have to contact councils to find out about school places.

I'd suggest tbh your best bet is to pick a town with some school places and rent for a while, accept that you may end up moving the kids to a different school again when you decide on an area but you can't really choose a permanent home from abroad. If you choose a medium sized decent town with several outlying villages then it gives you a bit of choice and the possibility that if you move to an outlying village you can still manage the school run to the town until you get places in local schools for your children.

Perhaps look on facebook for local groups or the local boards on here or, dare I say it, netmums which has a more active local side for opinions of schools and nice areas for families.

Try Macclesfield (town), Bollington (village), Poynton (large village) for starters. You should find a 3-bed house in all these places for your budget.

Lovely part of the world!

Starting with Macclesfield, Bollington & Poynton is an excellent idea, it should help you decide on the town/village question and all are fab in their own way.

are either of you locals in that area and if so could you tell me a bit about why you like it there?

I live in a village called Brinscall which is beautiful. It has 2 village pubs, a shop, post office and a fabulous Victorian swimming pool next to a lovely playpark and lodge. Fantastic woods to explore.

Or you could try just over the boarder into the High Peak area of Derbyshire - Hayfield, New Mills, Chinley, Whaley Bridge areas.

Bollington
Knutsford
Macclesfield
But... A lot of nice villages around thre are expensive _if something's looks amazing and seems cheaper check flight path position for Manchester airport

Have a look at some of the villages around Preston.

Grimsargh
Garstang