Moving to Chester (from Kent!)

[PhoebeMcPeePee]

We live in the SE but are seriously considering a move NW (currently contender villages around Chester inc Christledon) for better housing, quality of life, schooling, nearer DH's family etc.

DH is from near Manchester & all his family and old friends are still there but it will be a big change for me as I've only ever lived in the SE so will be 250 miles from my (& the DC's) friends & family which I know will take some adjusting . That said, the pros do now seem to outweigh the cons and we are intending to move in the spring anyway plus eldest DC in yr 5 so would to be settled whilst he's still in primary.
Has anyone made a similar move? Any areas to consider or avoid around Chester or feedback on schools would be great.

Not Chester but we moved from Guildford up to Wilmslow which is just south of Manchester. I'm from the south and was a bit worried but I love it up here now. In fact, Wilmslow is very similar to Guildford in terms of amenities, schools and house prices so we didn't gain financially from the move but did in terms of commute and quality of life.
Chester is very pretty but I don't know the surrounding areas really. We come under East Cheshire and you'll be West so can't help with stuff there either but there is so much to do here and my boys settled really well. Schools are excellent too. I don't miss the south at all. Good luck.

If his family are near Manchester why not look at East Cheshire? Also Trafford is fantastic for schools (grammar system) with good housing stock and green areas. We are very well served with all possible amenities round here.

Thanks M4blues it's good to hear life wasn't so different! Nantwich is also on our list but not somewhere we know very well so next visit up north at half term will include a drive around east cheshire. It would certainly be better for visiting F&F down south. A grammar area is one of the reasons we want to leave Kent so Trafford not too appealing in that sense (plus a little but too close to IL's !

Fair enough. Trafford isn't for everyone! We're a lot closer in than Nantwich so I don't know it personally. It depends on your commute really. At one point my 6 closest primary schools were all graded outstanding. Now I think it's 7 of the closest 10. We're more like a town here in Wilmslow even if our department store is a bit rubbish. But if you're looking for more of an urban village feel then south Stockport is good. Their primary schools are very good in places like Bramhall which has a nice but limited village centre. Cheadle Hulme is the next village along. Also excellent primaries in the main and their secondary school is fantastic. Really fantastic. There's also a good range of independent schools there if that floats your boat. But don't look further in to Stockport itself as its not really a nice place to live and some of the schools really struggle. Good luck with it all.

Christleton and Waverton are lovely areas to live near Chester. I would also recommend Liverpool Road which runs out of the centre towards Chester Zoo. There are some beautiful big Victorian properties on this road and fantastic schools (even the Duke Of Westminster sent his offspring to the local primary due to the reputation)

Handy for walking into the city would be either properties near the river Dee or Hoole.

Avoid, Lache/Blacon

Outside of Chester I would also recommend Lymm and Knutsford which are nearer to Manchester but very villagey.

Depends if either of you need to commute to Manchester.

I live in the South East now, if I ever had to move back to the North West it would be Knutsford or Chester for me

A couple of my favourite cheshire villages are Audlem and Tarporley. Very small places though so depends what you are after. Chester is a lovely place. Not too big but all you need really and very pretty and historical.

Chester is so lovely. As is Nantwich, Tarporley etc.

Altrincham has great schools if grammars appeal.

Hi PhoebeMcPeePee!

Just been reading through your thread on here, have you made any further developments about your move up North?!

Ive lived in Chester for 3 years now after DH moved for work and it really is a lovely area to live! My DCs go to The King’s School in Chester and I can't recommend it highly enough. Both of them are loving it and often come home talking about what they got up to which makes a change from usual teenage grumbles we used to get! My DS is 9 so in the Junior school and DDs are in the Senior school. I see your DC is currently in year 5 so they would join the Junior school at King's if you were to look into it. They have a brand new Junior School Learning Centre which I'm sure they would love, it really is fantastic (I've attached some pictures below!).

Alternatively there is Queens School, another fantastic independent school which other mums talk highly of, but on a downside it is girls only. Both are selective and so your DCs would have to sit entrance exam.

Or if you are looking for state school's for your children, I hear Christleton high school has very high standards, with great facilities.

Hope that's helped you a little bit, feel free to message me if you have any further questions!

All the best.

I live in a Chester village - really happy to be PMed if you want to ask anything. I was brought up in Surrey :)
We are pretty spoilt in terms of schools - there are some that have not such a good reputation but compared to some of the stories you hear from other parts of the country we are blessed indeed. I can't tell you about the independents but the state schools are excellent.
Christleton is very lovely indeed but so are lots of the other villages - or you might consider some of the areas closer to town as your DS will be a teen soon - it's nice for them to be able to walk in.

Did you make the move? 😁 also from SE wanting to move to Chester! X