Advice about moving to Manchester -help!

[DevonMumOfTwo]

We currently live in the southwest and are considering a move to Manchester. Any advice on great places to live so I can nose around Rightmove?! I have no idea where to start! We'd be looking for somewhere a 20-30 minute commute from Oxford Road (working at the uni), with good schools. We live pretty rurally at the moment so somewhere with some green space if possible! Budget is 400-500k. Does such a place exist?? Thanks in advance.

Didsbury easy to get to city centre and some nice houses nice place to live. For 500k you will get a lovely house .

Thank you that's really helpful, will have a look. Is bus the best way to commute from Disbury?

The best schools are in Trafford so maybe have a look around Sale Altrincham area. Of course it depends if you want to be in a grammar school area but if your child has passed the eleven plus then the grammar schools are amazing. And free.

The tram goes straight into Manchester as well and goes through Altrincham Timperley and then Sale.

Thanks, our kids are currently in primary school but need to plan ahead for secondary, so great to know about the Grammar schools.

No problem. I grew up in Sale then went away to uni and then came back and lived in Didsbury and Chorlton for a while but moved back to Sale when we decided to have children just because I thought it was a really lovely place to grow up and so wanted to raise my children here. The schools are all really good and I think Sale people are a nice balance. Of course I am completely biased.

House prices are also cheaper than Didsbury because Didsbury is more fashionable for the media people. But I'm not sure what the schools are like in Didsbury because I've got friends who live there who tutored their kids and put them in for the grammar schools so now they have a long bus journey every morning to come to the Trafford grammar schools.

I have just had a look at Sale and it looks great, schools and tram line! I am guessing the schools are really oversubscribed so could be a challenge, but looks like a good option. Thank you, so great to get a feel for a place from someone local.

Another vote for Sale, Altrincham, Timperley area. It's a really great place for families and all 3 are on the tram line. Remember that at morning rush hour you want to be as far down the tram line as possible, some days there are no seats left by Navigation Road and by Sale sometimes they're so full people can't get on a busy tram

Sale, Altrincham, Timperley ARE on all on the tram line - but the university is not! So if you need public transport to uni best look on a bus route.

Ah ok thank you. Looks like it takes quite a while on the bus to the university from Sale so will ponder further! Thanks for the advice really appreciated.

The 142 and 143 buses go from Didsbury into Manchester via Oxford Road and the university. £1.50 each way. If you are working at the uni then Didsbury is easily the best option

Tbh if you are buying a 500k house buy a car as well. I wouldn't drive into the city centre but I would drive to the uni and lecturers can get parking.

Yes I don't think you'll get much for £500k in Didsbury however probably only a very basic three bed semi.

How much house do you need?
Didsbury is eye watering but whalley range could be a goer?

Have a look at hale, altrincham, sale, urmston.

A bit quieter but bramhall is lovely and so is poynton but the a6 is a very very busy road!

My preference would be hale or altrincham! Urmston is also great and right near the Trafford centre, train line in the centre and not far on the bus or on the tram which you can get at stretford

Urmston is a nice area in Trafford with a train line running straight into Oxford Road when they're not on bloody strike. Near the Trafford Centre, lots of shops, bars and places to eat. Good schools including the grammar school.

Also the train from urmston goes to directly to Oxford road (a short 15 mins on the train)

Monton
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E66193&insId=1&maxPrice=550000&googleAnalyticsChannel=buying

Oxford Rd station still a goodly walk to some parts of the uni though. Depends which department.

Monton is gorgeous but pissing ages away from oxford road

You can drive from Monton thru Trafford Park and Hulme to Oxford Rd area very quickly as long as there are no roadworks

Or get the V bus from the park and ride on the East Lancs - 10 mins drive from Monton Green.

You could get a decent house for £500K in Cheadle Hulme - local state/private schools are excellent and parts are also in catchment for Altrincham grammar.

Trains to Manchester Piccadilly take 20 mins, bit longer to Oxford Road.

Driving to Manchester Uni would probably push you over 30 mins depending on travel times but the route is pretty heavily congested.

Don’t get too hung up on the grammar school system, it isn’t for everyone. But the high schools in Trafford are also very good so there is choice. Catchment is important as it is an increasingly popular area. Houses in Sale sell very, very quickly.
You could also try Lymm and Stockton Heath. Lovely round there.

We are going the opposite way, Manchester to Devon!

Thank you all so much for the advice. Have done lots of research this evening looking at the suggestions, lots of options! xx