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!

The train from Urmston to Manchester is every half hour. The 'express' (no stops between) takes about 6-8 minutes, the slower one (two stops between) takes 12-15 minutes.

YoureaFlutteringCunt

I'm with you. Got out and am never going back. However like my fellow Mancunians who left I am left with a permanent reminder I spent 20 years in Manchester. No one down here has heard of rheumatism. I have it in my knuckles. A friend, left when she was 27, it has crept up her arms and into her elbow.

First pub I looked at said you had to be over 18 just to look at the website.

I am sure it has changed a lot since I lived there but I just found it too claustrophobic and boring. I hated the idea my neighbours wanted to know everything about me.

Wow! Thank you so much for all the suggestions. We're going to be putting Rightmove through its paces. Huge old cliche but I would love to live somewhere with a sense of community and some countryside on the doorstep wouldn't go amiss either. Just hoping if we do make the move that we won't have missed the boat for getting DD's name on the waiting list for preschools for a September 2017 start. She has been on a couple here since she was tiny! Thank you again for all your help.

I'd be very careful looking at Bromley Cross or Horwich, as the transport links aren't brilliant. There is the train, but it's every half hour at best from Bromley Cross, similar from Horwich but they put a couple of extra trains on at peak times. I'd be more inclined to look at somewhere along the tramlink or up towards the Peak District.

And I'd echo the Worsley/Walkden/Little Hulton advice.

I'm in East Manchester. Not that desirable but fantastic transport links. Motorway busses and trains on my doorstep and 12mims by train to picadilly
I moved here from Scotland and love it
How about woodley. It's lovely and nice walks by the canal

I'm a southerner who moved to Newton-le-willows. Has quite a nice village feel, always do family fun days and stuff in the high street, find it really friendly with a community feel.

It's close to Manchester, Warrington and Cheshire so good for commuting. X

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52251964.html

Don't know your budget obviously but woodley is leafy and character houses

Cannot believe Levenshulme is up and coming - that's gentrification for you!

North Manchester is great. Easy tram into town, generally good schools, lots of family friendly places to go (all pubs that serve food have children's menus ime), houses currently half the price of South Manchester in most parts, easy access to motorways and countryside. It's not as fashionable or middle class as South Manchester so doesn't tend to be recommended as much on here. Though there's an organic collective supermarket in Prestwich and several hipster wine bars and restaurants opening in Prestwich and Whitefield so it's only a matter of time before it reaches peak lentil weaver!

Prestwich has just got a Farmfoods so we are a bit of a way off peak lentil weavery yet

But, Prestwich is lovely, good transport links, good schools, lots of toddler groups, Heaton Park on the doorstep. Within budget too.

Yeah Prestwich and Whitefield are both nice family friendly places (complete with pubs that children can go into ). I can't say that I know anyone with rheumatism. I prefer Didsbury to Chorlton personally but both are family friendly.

Whitefield is a great suggestion. Lots of green space, perfect transport links, good pubs/shops/lots to do.
You can get a decent four bed with a garden in your rental budget too:
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-55081354.html

Having just moved from Whitefield - one note of caution - make sure you check out the secondary schools. The primaries are OK but unless you are Catholic most of the secondary schools are not great at all. Bad enough to have pushed us out of the area.

Which part/s of London do you like, and we can give you the rough equivalent?

First pub I looked at on line wouldn't let you proceed to the site till you confirmed you were over 18.

Love the idea of gentrification. Does Longsight have yummy mummies yet

Hi, I have just moved from Urmston (due to work) and I loved it and didn't want to leave.
Prices have gone mad though which could be down to Media City in Salford creating more jobs in the area?
As someone has said there is no met.stop in Urmston but there is one in Stretford which isn't far. There are 3 train stations which as far as I know are easy for commuting. no idea of times/which stations they go to in Mcr centre.
The only time I found living in the area a negative was in the run up to Christmas when the Trafford Centre traffic is horrendous.
I know people who commute and the A56 (Washway Road) is awful in rush hour traffic. I know you don't drive but you may have to take buses.

The Metro Link is a fantastic service for people who don't drive so definitely take into account local stops if you can.

All the pubs, bars & restaurants here are child & family friendly. There's only one 'pop up' bar that has a 'no children after 8pm' and that's due to the terms of their licence. They're looking to change that when it's up for renewal.

Love the idea of gentrification. Does Longsight have yummy mummies yet

Don't know, but it's got Victoria Baths and Elizabeth Gaskell House, both of which might interest "yummy mummies".

And the pub thing is just ridiculous.

Used to have minders to meet your kids off the bus so they wouldn't be beaten up and robbed during the 100yrds between bus stop and front door

Oh dear i didn't read op correctly is see your looking to rent initially good idea suss out the area

oliversmummy are you trolling? Because you're talking absolute cap.

*crap

I was brought up in South Manchester and don't have RA and no-one had to meet me off the bus either! I have lots of family in the area still and visit several times a year.
Apart from the weather, its a great place to live. I've eaten in pubs many times with the children.

I'd recommend one of the Heatons, there are some fabulous schools and transport links are great, buses, trains and trams. (My brother lives in Heaton Mersey near Priestnall school). Not sure if your rental budget will stretch that far though.

Certainly not trolling just relating what Longsight was like.

But by your own admission you left the area nearly 40 years ago. You can't advise the OP on what it's like now if you've never been back & are basing all your opinions on Google.

Apparently gun crime is on the wain

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_crime_in_south_Manchester