Relocating to the North West

[Looweesie]

We’re relocating to the North West and need advice around nice areas to live. I’m from South Manchester originally, however, we may need to be within commuting distance of Preston (upto 40 mins). We need to be south of Preston, and ideally somewhere with good transport links to Manchester or Liverpool.
We currently live in quite a built up area so wanting to move somewhere more suburban but still with things going on for families and a nice park would be ideal! Any tips would be much appreciated!

Leyland might fit your requirements? Some lovely parks like www.visitleyland.co.uk/worden-park
(Love the hedge maze!)
Are you looking at schools?

A bit further south so you would need to check commute times, but Irlam, Croft, Culcheth, Northwich, Grappenhall are all nice, all different but good transport links.

Thank you! Yes, will be looking for schools for my son to start next year.

South Ribble, round New Longton/Hutton might work? Also Parbold worth a look, it's lovely round there are great for both Manchester and Liverpool, just off M6 J27 (Preston is J29-31)

Yes, to Parbold. Around Ormskirk is nice. I think it still has train links to Preston but certainly Liverpool as well.

North of Bury there's Ramsbottom and Tottington. Bury is on the Metrolink to Manchester.

Parbold, Eccleston in Chorley, Ormskirk, Rainford, Whittle le Woods, Wheelton, Billinge

Southport? “Trains” to Liverpool and Manchester and I think there are some nice areas with good schools if you choose carefully.

What’s your budget? A lot of the Manchester commuter towns are pretty pricy, as much as MN thinks everywhere out of London you can buy a three bed semi for 78 pence and a Wigan kebab.

I'd go for:
South Ribble (longton/Hutton/higher penwortham)
Brinscall
Then look west towards Mawdesley/Bretherton/Croston

@lastqueenofscotland love a Wigan kebab

Parbold is lovely.

[quote RocioMartinez]@lastqueenofscotland love a Wigan kebab [/quote]
What about a Pie on a Barm..... oh wait a minute

Yes South Ribble and Clayton -le-woods , Chorley. Cuerden valley park is great as is Worden park.

@PieonaBarm

There have been so many accidents on the M6 recently so I'd factor just how snarled up it gets into your commute time.

Buckshaw is on the main train line, so the Chorley area would be good.

I think there are some lovely villages between South Manchester and South Preston, but the main towns (as you work south - Leyland, Chorley, Bolton) are all pretty grim, the town centres aren't pleasant at all. If you're commuting by car you might be able to avoid the town centres.

I would do your research carefully in relation to schools - look up secondary school results as well as primary school results if you're looking for a long term house. We lived in one of the places mentioned above - the primary schools were fine but state secondary options were dire (although there are good private options if that's a possibility).

@RocioMartinez

Southport? “Trains” to Liverpool and Manchester and I think there are some nice areas with good schools if you choose carefully.

What are 'trains'?! We have actual trains to Liverpool and Manchester (the latter aren't great, in fairness). There's also a pressure group to get the Burscough curves reinstated so that we can get to Preston again; thanks, Dr Beeching which includes loads of local MPs.

Driving to Preston isn't amazing at peak times, however.

@NoWordForFluffy. I know the Liverpool trains are pretty good but it was the Manchester ones I was thinking of. Friends up there say it can be slow and a bit hit and miss. Would be great to get the Burscough line reinstated.

There was mention of removing the Manchester service totally, but it hasn't happened yet. That line also used to have the oldest rolling stock in the country, but I believe that has changed (I rarely go to Manchester).

The trains to Liverpool are mostly really good. Merseyrail are shit when things go wrong, but it's not so bad really. The frequency has changed since Covid, but they're still pretty regular.

The cost of reinstating the Burscough curves isn't that high, in the scheme of rail works, apparently. Our MP has badgered the PM in PMQs recently. So fingers crossed.

Consider Horwich or Rivington
Trains from Middlebrook Station to both Manchester and Preston.
M61 Junction nearby so you can access motorway easily.
Ramsbottom and Tottington are nice but you'd be lucky to make Preston or Manchester in 40mins even outside peak times

Grappenhall, Thelwell, Appleton (warrington)

Bang in the middle of Liverpool and Manchester and excellent motorway links and transport links

Ainsdale or Birkdale

If you intend to commute by car and wants 40 mins or less commute, forget Buckshaw, Clayton-le-Woods, Whittle-le-Woods, etc. Traffic during peak times is horrendous. These areas are completely over-populated (Buckshaw having added significantly to this) and the infrastructure hasn't been upgraded in line with the huge population increase over the last 2 decades.

When you say you want to commute to Preston, and have access to Liverpool and Manchester, do you mean by car or public transport? If by public transport, such as train, narrow your search closer to Preston because commute time journeys always take longer than advertised. If by car, look South-West of Preston, down to Southport and Ormskirk.