Relocating to Greater Manchester - advice sought!

[HeyPresto1]

My partner has been offered the opportunity to work in Manchester and we are looking into the possibility of relocating from London in the new year. However, having never lived Up North, we are absolutely clueless when it comes to knowing where to start our search for somewhere to live! Please could anyone kindly advise on areas suitable for a young family with good nurseries, preschools and schools that are commutable into the city centre? We have an almost 2 year old and are TTC so somewhere with lots going on for babies and toddlers would be fab! We don't drive, (although willing to learn!) so would want to be able to get public transport out and about and into work for DP. Looking to rent initially and eventually buy - top budget would ideally be no more than £900 per month. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated!

South Manchester is generally nicer than north. Tram goes out to altrincham which is lovely but you may struggle to get enough house for your budget. Didsbury is nearer the centre and has lots of frequent buses into town.
We live in levenshulme which is cheaper and considered up and coming.

Didsbury is fairly close and lovey, Bramhall also nice but much further out, if you are planning to commute via public transport look at the tram map and trains, put in a maximum distance or areas on zoopla, always put a minimum rent as well as maximum to get rid of the shit places, then use Street view and Google the area to see what kind of businesses there are to find out more about the area so you can get a list of possible areas before visiting.

I'd look at chorlton, Stretford (along the chorlton border), didsbury, Sale, Timperley and altrincham in South Manchester and prestwich towards north Manchester.

They are all along the tram route or you can get a bus into the city center, lots going on for adults and kids.

In terms of schools if you're in Trafford (Stretford, sale, timperley, altrincham) kids still sit the 11+ and are eligible to go to the various grammar schools in the Trafford area but you pay more for houses as a result.

Good luck with your search Manchester is a great place to live

I have lived around the areas listed. Do you have to go.

You've got a big budget so you are spoilt for choice.
You can get something very nice for that price up here.
The right on middle class areas MN tend to mention are always Chorlton and Didsbury. To be fair they are nice though. 😉
Romiley, Bramhall, Poynton, Marple bridge, Congleton.

South Manchester has its very rough areas too though. Sale is ok, Altrincham is pricey. Worsley is just to the west of manchester and very good transport links (we are 11 minutes by train into manchester victoria). South Walkden is good, and parts of Bolton are worth looking into. Horwich in Bolton is lovely and doesn't have the traffic problem that many parts of Manchester has. Fast trains, loads of shopping, affordable housing.

I live in Trafford, has really good transport links to city centre (30 minutes by tram, first one around 5am last one 1am on fri /sat), great for families, lots of good nurseries / preschools / schools. Lots of parks, cafes, family friendly restaurants. Have a look on Rightmove for properties around Sale, Timperley, Altrincham (possibly Stretford). Urmston is also good but doesn't have the tram (it does have a train into the city centre though go which is hourly I think). You haven't said what type of property you'd like?

The tram covers most of Manchester now so you won't be stuck getting out and about no matter where you end up.

Only 5 places in Altrincham on that budget all look quite small and one of them is in Timperley. There are 3 in Chorlton. Areas around there are quite expensive.

I left in the very late 70's and house prices in London were not a shock to us. Doesn't look like anything has changed.

Just had a look around where I used to live. I am looking at the equivalent houses within commuter distance (under 45mins) to London for about 1/3 the price.

Also be careful you can't take children into pubs around there. Strictly over 18s only. When we last visited many moons ago. We decided it would be the last time we wouldn't be going to visit anyone again, we found it too depressing going up the M6 and seeing the clouds gather. Anyone who has done that journey will know what I am talking about. Also we had been for a walk with dc and found ourselves having to go home than do what we usually do around here is to go and get a drink in a local pub. All we wanted was a couple of cups of coffee and to get a warm.

Also I was on another thread about grammar schools recently. Hopefully things have changed and going to the grammar school actually means you have passed your 11+ and isn't dependant on other factors

I live in Bolton, Bromley Cross in Bolton is lovely and has been voted as one of the top ten places to raise children in England.

Not sure what you mean Oliversmummy about grammar schools and the info about children not being allowed in pubs is rubbish. Sorry! Have never come across that.

Agree that Trafford is very good for schools - it isn't the 11+ anymore, different schools have different entrance exams but the grammar schools are very sought after and competition is fierce, hence the very high house prices close by. The girls grammar school in Altrincham was recently voted the best school in the country. Altrincham / Sale (Brooklands) / Timperley are all decent areas but they expensive due to the schools. Urmston is nice too (with a good grammar school) but as a pp has said, not on a tram line. All family oriented, lots of green spaces, good nurseries.

North Manchester is generally cheaper - I know Bolton - Horwich / Bromley Cross / Lostock are all nice areas of Bolton and your money will go further. Secondary schools are little bit more hit and miss though (Canon Slade has a good reputation (Church of England) and Bolton School too (private) but some others have a not-so-good reputation).

As an antidote to south Manchester:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-44013219.html
Walking distance from the tram, half an hour tram journey to central Manchester.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-61849364.html
Considered a 'nice' area. Buses into Manchester. Heck of a journey but some people think its worth it.

I live in Timperley which is in Altrincham. Trafford is the Education Department. Trafford schools are top of the league tables. There are plenty of excellent nurseries in the area. Many local primary schools have pre-school nurseries attached but don't guarantee you a school place so you must make sure you are within catchment if you want you child to go to a specific primary school. Looking further ahead to secondary schools ... best Trafford non selective school is Wellington. And of course the Grammar schools which are among the best in the country. Living in catchment is crucial if education is on your list. Look at WA15 and WA14 postcodes.

As far as transport links go you wont go wrong living here either. I don't drive but it's never been a problem. I can walk to the nearest Metrolink station in less than 5 mins and I'm in Manchester in around 20 mins.

Timperley/Altrincham can be pricey but if you look carefully you will find somewhere in your price range. It is a good, safe area - popular with young families and you will find plenty of parks, nice shops, cafes and things to keep the whole family happy.

My advice? ...Don't.

Yours sincerely,
A Mancunian for 31 years.

Heatons?
Heaton Chapel, Heaton Moor, Heaton Mersey

East Didbury is lovely but overpriced.

Why Flutteringcunt?

Uppermill is gorgeous OP and Greenfield is just down the road and easy to commute into town from on the train. Very popular though so houses get snapped up quickly.
If you aim for somewhere like that you have a bit of town and country.
One day when I can afford it I'd love to live there.

Lots of nice places out of the inner city.

Also be careful you can't take children into pubs around there. Strictly over 18s only

This is absolute and utter bollocks. Ignore. And google somewhere like Jacksons Boat if you don't believe me.

If I were you I'd move to Saddleworth - Dobcross, Uppermill, Greenfield are all semi-rural and very lovely. But everyone commutes into town.

Chorlton and Didsbury are trendy and on great transport links, but pricey. You get more for your money in up-and-coming Levenshulme.

Sale and Altrincham are good places to live,some fab bars in Altrincham. Lots of young families too and lots going on. Bear in mind there's still the grammar system in Trafford too - hence higher house prices.

I love Manchester and would move back in a flash.

We live in High Peak having previously lived in Stockport. It's a beautiful area with excellent rail and bus links to the centre of Manchester. The Peak District is on the doorstop. I can't advise on the schools, but these threads always recommend the very expensive areas of south Manchester and there's more to the place than that handful of suburbs around Altrincham.

You're right, wow - places on the train line into the Peaks are often unfairly overlooked. I'm thinking Marple, Chinley etc. Lovely places, fab links to the city centre as well as the Peak district, good facilities - and cheaper than most of south Manchester.

I hate the line trotted out on here that South is nicer than North. I disagree - and will add my own stereotype that the whole of the south is full of yoghurt weaving, lentil sewing hipsters. Can't stand south Manchester.

Manchester has its good and bad intertwined.

Monton is lovely and close to the tram / train line for west Manchester - plus places to walk with toddlers / baby, and classes.

Worsley wouldn't be great for a non driver, I wouldn't do Walkden unless you know the area well. Often little Hulton is palmed off as Worsley / walkden and it's not somewhere id want to be.

Newton Le willows is a bit more in the sticks, but has a great train line for Manchester and Liverpool. Plus lots to do on the high street.

What do you like OP? Open countryside, trendy bars, easy transport links, shopping?
There's all that but depends what you want. I'd head east to the peaks, personally. Marple, Stalybridge, Saddleworth etc because I like the stone houses and the countryside. It's still easy enough to get the train into town, or Sheffield which has its own vibe going on.
If you like bars and restaurants, more of a going out scene, then Chorlton, Didsbury might be more your scene.

Actually, there's nice places in Cheshire on that Newton-le-Willows line.
Frodsham's lovely, and has everything OP lists.

I have lived in chorlton, didsbury, glossop, and saddleworth.

I think it depends on your age, in my twenties didsbury was amazing, lots of bars, easy access to the city. Chorlton was very similar.
What I would say about didsbury is schools..its a nightmare unless you live on beAver road.( It was church admission I think when I lived there.) in all honesty I moved because I wanted to buy, I think whilst it's a cool place to live when you are in the pub all the time, there are better places when you have children.

Glossop is lovely and has good access to trains and the peaks. No idea about schools.

Saddleworth, Dob cross and the surrounding areas are a great mix of country, lots of playgroups and some good schools. Good train, access to motorway. Good access to walks etc.

Sale, timperly, altrinham never floated my boat, I found sale scruffy, I worked in timperly for a few years and it was boring. ( sorry to any residents, plus it may have changed) it is just a mass of suburbs.

What are you looking for, do you have any hobbies? What do you do at weekend now?

I live in East Manchester which is much less desirable than the areas mentioned. I love Manchester, it's an amazing place to live. Transport links are great and it's really diverse.