Where to live near Manchester?

[Mirrorxx]

We were looking to move from salford quays before lockdown but the last few months have changed what we are looking for. We will now be able to work at home more so are considering moving further out. We have been looking in south Manchester but you don’t get much for your money.
Has anyone got any suggestions of nice areas/towns that are max 1 hour commute by public transport? We need 3 bedrooms and ideally don’t want to spend more that 450k.

We live in Marple and love it! It's got some great country side on the door step which we have rediscovered on our regular lockdown walks. Plus 35 minutes to Manchester on the train but plenty of bars and restaurants to pick from in Marple too.
There appears to be lots of houses coming on the market here at the moment meeting your requirements.
Good luck!

I live in Altrincham and have 4 children. If I knew what I knew now regarding schools, entrance exams etc... I would not live here. I would go for knutsford or Lymm. No tutoring, no entrance exams just straight from primary to the local (very good) secondary.

*i know now

Nearly everywhere anyone has suggested on here with the exception of Macclesfield is on a local (poor) frequent stopping train line. The train service around Manchester is unreliable and over crowded on all the lines heading towards Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Cheshire and Lancashire small villages.

I'd suggested following the tram lines or going smaller and buying in Audenshaw, Droylsden, Whitfield, Bury, parts of Oldham near the m60.

Denton is also nice.

You don’t get much for your money in South Manchester true but you’d still get a 3 bed for your money. My childhood home in Sale just sold for 400K (mum sold - for about half that - years ago, I just noticed in the paper is all) - 3 bed detached, corner plot with garden all round, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception, loft conversion, lovely park at the end of road, choice of several outstanding schools. To think I couldn’t wait to get away 😂 would love to move back to that area now but well beyond our budget.

Flixton might also be a possibility- not on the tram but there’s a train into Manchester.

I grew up in Denton and wouldn't recommend it, despite its proximity to Manchester.

No train station, reduced bus services mean it can take over an hour to get into Manchester despite actually only being 30 mins away max.

Not much going in terms of decent shops - there is a small retail park but has gone downhill in recent years.

For last 12 months I was looking at Greenfield, Marple, Romiley. Greenfield has access to excellent schools if that's important to you.

Would avoid Glossop if schools are important as secondary school was/is in special measures and has always been iffy.

Love Bollington and Macclesfield but for my budget (230k) what I could buy was too small.

Ended up buying a house in Leek (Peak District/Staffordshire border) and bloody love it!

I’m in Glossop - my commute is an hour door to door (including walking either end). It is a stopping train service but still only 35 mins and generally fine.

My parents are in Sale and Sale Moor. There are good schools in Trafford where you don’t need to do entrance exams/11+ etc. We expect that Mum’s house (3 double bed semi) will go for ~£400k. Houses on that street range between £300k-£400k.

We have family in Macclesfield. People at work live in hebden bridge (trains dreadful tbh), wilmslow, Stockport. Apparently Urmston is up and coming!