Stretford, Manchester- opinions please

[floppybit]

Hi all, I'm a single mum of 2 DS aged 13 and 11 and I'm thinking of moving to Stretford. Would love to buy in Chorlton but I can't afford it and Stretford seems to be on the up. I would love to hear from anyone who lives/has lived there about what it's like. Is there much community spirit? Is it safe? What are the different parts like and which which streets should be avoided? Is it a good place to raise teenagers? Looking forward to your responses, many thanks 😊

I live in housing association property and have been trying to get out for over 24 months.

If I won the lottery the first thing I would do is leave South Manchester.

A quick Google tells you all you need to know about crime in Manchester

I live in a different part of Manchester currently and I have to say we suffer with all of these problems, I think it is Manchester generally that suffers from a particularly high crime rate. I work all over the North West so could move to another city completely, but I just don't really fancy anywhere else at the moment and I lot of my work is in Manchester so it's handy to be based here. Decisions, decisions......

Stretford is fine, I have colleagues who live in Firswood and they love it. Close to Longford Park, Metrolink, Chorlton etc. Stretford Arndale has finally been 'done up'! Fairly frequent buses to Manchester and Altrincham. Local leisure centre a bit run down but hey ho, it does the job. Don't forget match day parking though which I imagine is a PITA.

Have you looked at other sides of Manchester, Swinton, Eccles, Failsworth, Prestwich etc. All close to the city centre and reasonable schools

Meant to add, I have a couple of friends who live close to Stretford Town Centre, behind the Arndale Centre. Both of their houses are lovely, but you can hear noise from the M60 when you are in the garden. That would drive me mad.

No pun intended numb 🚗
I work in the area and have friends that live in Gorse Hill, they like it! My DH used to live in firswood and I'd definitely consider there. Sure they call all this Chorlton borders now! alternatively there's the area between Chorlton and Didsbury that has some better value ex-HA stock for sale, Darley Avenue and Nell Lane the main roads through with Chorlton water park nearby and Barlow Moor Road Metrolink stop.

What keeps you there @floppybit if you could go anywhere? I don't regret moving away one bit as my dc have a better lifestyle here.

@MustDust I'm from the South East originally and I've been here for 12 years, it feels like home now I guess. If I went to another city I wouldn't know anyone, which I don't particularly mind, I just don't know where else I would want to go.

Family originally from Stretford, as pps have said, Stretford is a really big area. I would have said the Stretford / Urmston border might be worth a look and parts of Firswood. If you can make sure that you're close to the tram line, that will make life much easier and everything else accessible. The tram doesn't go to Urmston but the Trafford Centre line is opening shortly.

As for crime, I do think Manchester as a whole has an issue - like any big city - but I've lived in Manchester on and off for about 30 years now and I don't feel unsafe.

If you want to live in Chorlton but can't afford it, have you considered Todmorden (Chorlton in the hills)? It's the next town to Hebden Bridge (Didsbury in the hills). Both places are packed with Mancs these days.

@Joloh hahaha yes, you've pretty much summed it up. Both good suggestions (but not sure about the commute back into town), thanks!