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Original poster

Where to live in Manchester?

57 replies

humdrum2 · 30/10/2015 19:39

Of course, I'm afraid this thread has probably been done a hundred times before but here goes nothing!
I'll be moving to Manchester with my family (hubby + a teenager) very soon and it's time we started looking for a pleasant area to live. So far, we've looked at Prestwich which seemed alright but we're not sure where to turn next. We have a somewhat reasonable (I hope) amount of money for a house but until we save up enough, I think we'll be renting for the first few years. We were thinking about £900 max for the rent - will this get us anything in a desirable suburb?
We don't have too many conditions but we really need to be within 10 miles of central Manchester for my job and the school our child has chosen. Preferably just a nice, quiet, family area with a bit of green space (i.e. not too claustrophobic!). A low crime rate is also pretty much a must.
Can anyone offer advice on the following areas:
-Monton
-Worsley
-Prestwich/Whitefield
-Maybe south Manchester if we can afford it?
Or just anywhere else that suits our needs!
Thank you!
Halloween Smile

OP posts:
JimmyGreavesMoustache · 31/10/2015 20:36

Loreto is an easy commute from most places TBH as it's so near town. two of my colleagues have kids there, and they love it.

alltouchedout · 31/10/2015 20:41

I live in Levenshulme. You could buy here with that budget. It's a good area to live in (been here four years, no plans to leave).

namechangedtoday15 · 31/10/2015 20:43

I agree, it's worth aligning school and house. You might think a few miles between school and home would be fine but it could be really time consuming.

I've lived in both north and south Manchester (and grew up here) and there are nice areas in both. We are now in South Manchester but the driver was education - it just depends what your priorities are. It is (generally) much more expensive than north Manchester but demand is so high so landlords/vendors charge accordingly.

And actually, the crime rate here is probably quite high - don't know any statistics but the "perception" of wealthy households in parts of south Manchester -gadgets/ posh cars etc - means break ins / things taken out of garages etc. Certainly wouldn't think north manchester is worse crime - wise.

I'd suggest areas on the tramline - north or south. It is so convenient for the city centre.

namechangedtoday15 · 31/10/2015 20:46

Sorry took so long typing that I x posted with info about where your DS is going!

united4ever · 31/10/2015 21:03

Whalley range is leafy isn't it and lovely big old houses at comparatively cheap prices...maybe could become 'on the up' next.

Original poster
humdrum2 · 31/10/2015 21:11

Glitteryshoes, we're in the middle of the dreaded sixth form applications and he's also applying for Xaverian which he liked too. it's very competitive but he meets all the entry requirements for both schools so hopefully he'll get an offer from at least one of the two.
Alltouchedout we'll take a look at Levenshulme then.
Is Prestwich/Whitefield at 170k going to get us anything nice?
I am slightly worried about crime but I suppose that's part of the big city deal... Grin

OP posts:
Iamnotloobrushphobic · 31/10/2015 21:15

If you are looking at Prestwich and Whitefield then it might be worth also looking at Radcliffe as that is a bit cheaper and has some new housing developments as well as lots of older properties. I would advise being on the tram routes if going to North manchester and commuting to loreto as driving from North manchester to loreto, which is the other side of the city center, will be a slow moving nightmare each day.

ProfGrammaticus · 31/10/2015 21:32

That's going to be a nasty commute for him - into the centre then out again. Best to live near the bus/tram route to cut it down as much as possible. Is Loreto near a tram stop? I don't think it is?

ProfGrammaticus · 31/10/2015 21:33

£170k won't get you to South Manchester I don't think, maybe the parts nearer the centre but not Sale/ Timperley.

RapidlyOscillating · 31/10/2015 21:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EnlightenedOwl · 31/10/2015 21:50

I would try Saddleworth/Mossley. Easy to commute to Manchester, gorgeous countryside and for sixth form rethink and try Greenhead in Huddersfield which is very commutable from Saddleworth (train)

EnlightenedOwl · 31/10/2015 21:52

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mossley

www.greenhead.ac.uk/

RapidlyOscillating · 31/10/2015 21:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GlitteryShoes · 31/10/2015 21:56

The tram stops at Trafford Bar which is about 20 mins walk from Loreto College. Firswood is definitely worth looking at for renting - big houses, cheap and very suburban and walkable to college.

ProfGrammaticus · 31/10/2015 21:58

Yes that's what I thought. So over an hour's commute from north Manchester?

knickernicker · 31/10/2015 21:58

Come to Monton, it's lovely.

educatingarti · 31/10/2015 22:00

I live on the border of Salford and Eccles. Also not far fromMonton. I live alone but feel safe. I know many friends with children from tinies to teens living happily in Minton. I really wouldn't rule it out. Also if you are renting and really hate it, it would be quite easy to move elsewhere. I don't think you'll hate it though and there are some lovely Victorian houses in Monton.

knickernicker · 31/10/2015 22:04

South Manchester has a nightmare commute into Manchester.

namechangedtoday15 · 31/10/2015 22:23

knicker only if you're driving - but most of Manchester isn't an easy commute into the centre by car. But public transport very good - particularly the tram - but bus & train too.

tittysprinkles · 01/11/2015 07:52

Have a look at St Monica's sixth form in Prestwich. £170k would probably get you a doer upper or a nice flat.

MummaGiles · 01/11/2015 08:36

We've just sold our 3 bed in Urmston for £170k. I would still recommend looking in Urmston/Flixton for your budget.

x2boys · 01/11/2015 09:02

Greenmount,Ramsbottom ,Tottington all nice areas and Bury has the Tram so easy commute into Manchester.

Idefix · 01/11/2015 09:24

Would look at urmston, Stretford with your budget. Whalley Range has been up and coming for the last 20+ yrs and before that too, no doubt Hmm
Would really go and look round and for ds do bus/tram/train runs in rush hours esp am. As a long term public transport user in mc I would say that you would need to live along the same bus/tram line for journeys of no more than 35 mins. It used to take me 35/40 mins to travel from Stretford to mc uni - one bus.
Good luck with your search op.

JimmyGreavesMoustache · 01/11/2015 09:25

St Monica's 6th form has a very different focus to Loreto/Xaverian - much more vocationally based. The Bury equivalent to Loreto/Xaverian would be Holy Cross

mazarineblue · 02/11/2015 11:57

Stockport? You can get a house for around 170k near Aquinas college (another very good 6th form -if you fulfill the Loreto /xavarian criteria you will probably get in), lots of easy bus links too. Are you going to the Loreto student taster day/parents conference this Saturday? Perhaps you can check out where other students are coming from? Xavarian-anywhere like gatley, Cheadle heath etc all easy to commute-straight down the A34 on a bus!good luck