Commuting to Manchester - where to live?

[littlesunbeams]

Hi, I'm considering a new job in Salford - we currently live in another part of the country in a rural village with a good school which is near a city. We don't really want to move to the suburbs, and really would prefer a village/small town. Any suggestions of where would be commutable please? We love the Peaks - is that doable? Where else could we look? Thanks

I live in Glossop - 12 miles out - and commute to Manchester by bike. BUT the train service is VERY reliable - takes 40 mins into Piccadilly.

Traffic is bad as we are at the meeting point of the Snale and Woodhead Passes. It's still doable if you avoid rush hour. Took 45 mins yesterday at 4pm departure.

Rain, meh. Obviously MIL must live in a select area away from all traffic noises - all you can hear from her house is the rain falling...

I can't comment on villages but I live 3 miles from the Quays and it takes us 25 minutes to get there in the mornings! The issue is you're stuck with all the people heading into Manchester City Centre.

Our record for the journey home is 2.5 hours. I got out and walked and DH drove the car back. The traffic is horrendous, make sure you check public transport options wherever you choose.

The East Lancs is a traffic nightmare but the new guided busway is really frequent and seems well used, so maybe look along there?

Thanks everyone, lots of good suggestions to research. Sounds like the traffic is worse than London!!

Seconding Uppermill. Good train station

For schools I would say Trafford schools. They are very highly regarded within the area.

Didsbury, Trafford or Chorley 😊 I love Manchester. I worked in Wythenshawe hospital for a couple of years and travelled from Chester, that was about 40 mins (it was shift work so I missed rush hour traffic) I loved the job and would've moved closer but DH wasn't game.

Chorley is great until the rmt calls the the 38th day of strikes..... So I'd say fab place but only if you can work from home occasionally (at least twice a month)

Glossop is great, and the trains are really reliable. Good primary schools too.

The centre of Chorley isn't somewhere I'd choose to live (did once, for a year and its pretty grim). Its a busy train line too.

Another vote for Uppermill or nearby Saddleworth villages). I work in Salford and traffic can be busy - easier if you are not fixed to 9-5. As others have said, train (and tram) an option depending on where you work.

Clitheroe or Barnoldswick are lovely.. Clitheroe 50 min drive and Barnolsdwick 25 to Salford Barnoldswick quick on public transport but an hour and half roughly from clitheroe

Didsbury is a suburb really, if you look at Chorlton-cum-Hardy, West Didsbury, Withington and Didsbury on Right move, you will see that the property prices are higher than lots of other areas of Greater Manchester. They've always been popular areas but justifiably so - something approaching a village feel with a 30 minute commute to the centre or Salford Quays (my husband works there).

I know you said you didn't want suburbs but worth a drive around and a browse on Rightmove.