Moving to Manchester- where?

[riverbat]

Advice please? DH has accepted new job in central Manchester, we don't know where to start looking for a house. Have lived in Bristol for past 15 years and don't know Manchester at all.

Budget - £450k, poss £500k.
Min 4 bedrooms ideally.
DH needs to access central Manchester within 1 hour, can drive if needed.
Ideally in catchment of good/excellent state primary and secondary schools.

Ideas for where to start looking?

OP if grammar schools in Trafford are on your radar, have a look at the elevenplus website, there's a forum there specifically about Trafford. AGGS rarely goes out to catchment (8 miles from school) - I think they only offered to 5.6miles this year. Also AGSB is (probably) joining the consortium exam from this year, rather than having its own exam. If you do go down the private route, don't think its private v state + tutor. From my experience, 99% of children taking the exams are tutored whether they're in state or private schools.

Greenfield and Uppermill are both really lovely with plenty going on and a reasonable train service into Piccadilly. Mossley is one stop closer to Manchester and is a bit cheaper with an Excellent high school (Mossley Hollins) and I think all the primaries are Good. Lots of community spirit, but you have to like hills!

@Liverbird77 I've pmed you

As PP said Romiley and Marple are nice and very close to countryside. Trains to Manchester are good.