Move away from home counties - Manchester or Bristol?

[Dreambee]

We would consider ourselves Londoners that have been living in the Home counties for a while. Definitely ready to return to city living for many reasons including more (cultural and community) activities and diversity, access to decent public transport, and a more interesting vibe for the whole family.

Have visited both Manchester and Bristol before (the latter a few years back). Manchester was good in a number of ways and would offer so many amenities (sports, culture, and shopping) but there was just something missing for me. I guess it felt a little like London used to be when most areas were a bit more rough around the edges. It is also in reality a long drive/expensive train from family. Also we have found that property is not as cheap as I thought.
DH liked Bristol a lot. It definitely has more of the history/ quirky culture that I like and it's more architecturally aesthetically pleasing than Manchester. I also like the idea of being close to Bath which is one my top cities alongside London, Oxford, Cambridge and Winchester. We love the vibrancy and variety in London, I am also drawn to equally vibrant but smaller cities with rivers/canals, lots of historic buildings AND lots of green space. Bristol is also much closer to family and the south coast where we like to holiday.

We have 4 children ranging from 7 - 12 years and we are ftb looking at a budget of around £400k but would (reluctantly) continue to rent at first as we know the property market is mad at the moment.

Please so share your thoughts if you know both cities. For those that know Bristol well, please share views of areas south of the river but fairly close to the city centre - I've been researching Brislington, Southville, Bedminster, Knowle.

I know Manchester well, you sound pretty set on bristol and not that fond of Manchester so why not just stick with bristol?

Yes after I'd written my post I could see that it seemed pretty swayed towards Bristol! However, we haven't made up our minds and I don't want to rule out Manchester completely as we did like it when we visited and pretty much everyone I've spoken to has plenty of really good things to say about it as a great place to live. We made a mistake moving to our current area because we didn't think enough about lifestyle so I want to try our best to avoid a repeat.

I think if you like the coast and inner city green spaces Manchester may not be for you! It’s got east access to the Peak District but in terms of parks with the exception of heaton park there aren’t many big ones in the city it’s self and those that are feel a bit utilitarian - Fog Lane and Hough End for example feel a lot like playing fields.

assuming you need schools the best are in Trafford for which you need DEEP pockets. I don’t think it’s that rough, I lived in London for a while in my early twenties and always felt safer in Manchester, picadilly gardens is a bit grim and I’d probably not want to be hanging around in Moston at 1am but I’ve never felt threatened in any way.

i love Manchester but bristol sounds like a better fit

I only lived in Manchester for a short time and as a single person, but Wilmslow seemed a great place for families.
The south-west seems busier and more expensive for holidaying than the beautiful coastal spots in the NW and NE.
My family are in Bath, and I spend my life on MN saying it isn't as wonderful as some posters seem to think having grown up there. As a teen I was always desperate to get to Bristol and think your DC will be pleased to be living there and you will rarely visit Bath.

Be aware public transport isn't great in Bristol and traffic is a nightmare!

Will your kids be sharing? Only I can’t think of anywhere in bristol you could get 5 bedrooms for 400k. Manchester maybe more affordable?

it’s hard even to rent in bristol at the moment, insane competition for houses.

I've lived in Manchester for 20 years, all over but am raising my family in Trafford, the schools are excellent. We have so many facilities on our doorstep, new leisure centre, kids activities, sports club. There are lots of decent parks and National Trust places nearby. People are super friendly and good for both our workplaces.

Don't be fooled that Manchester is cheap though, it's definitely not in areas with very good schools.

Look up Urmston/Flixton, maybe Sale, Altrincham would be way too expensive, just to give you an idea of what you may be able to get.

Loads of city green space in Bristol, the water, close to countryside still if you want it. Creative, friendly and loads going on. Fantastic place to raise a family.

However housing market is insane and the fastest growth anywhere outside of London. You have to be prepared to act fast if you see somewhere you like for 400k as that's a fairly standard entry level price around here and there will be strong competition for houses.

Consider southville, parts of Bedminster are great, especially near North Street and Victoria Park, totterdown is nice and definitely the next southville but cheaper. Be wary of east of the city generally but St George's near to St georges park is very up and coming. Nicest places like Westbury Park, St Andrews, Redland, Bishopston, clifton and clifton village are all extremely espensive. Have a look at Westbury on trym for a quieter feel but cheaper and still well connected.

Meh East Bristol is not rough at all if you're used to London, plus lots of people won't consider outside of Southville/Bedminster/Totterdown (see every episode of Location, Location, Location set here!!)

You'll get more for your money in Fishponds which has the whole Frome Valley behind it plus close links to motorway and countryside.
Bristol-Bath railway path also on doorstep.

Housing market horrendous for renting and buying though, you have to offer over for both!!! Lots of London folk have relocated here in past 2 years.

I know Bristol very well and lived there for 20 years. It's insanely expensive now although not quite at London prices the gap between salaries/house prices is bigger. It's a fantastic city though. Agree with pp try Fishponds area as you will get more for your money than Clifton or the fashionable south suburbs.

If you decide on Bristol: brace yourself!

It is a brutal market, we went through so many best and finals before we had an offer accepted a few months ago. I also understand that the rental market is just as competitive.

I am not sure your budget would buy the space you would require in southville, bedminster.

In your shoes I’d look into Fishponds and Brislington.

Everything we were interested in went for significantly over asking (15%+). Not sure if it’s the same now.

I don't know prices in Bristol but £400k won't get you a 5 bed house in Manchester if you're looking to avoid rough areas. The areas mentioned above are decent family areas though.

I've lived in both Bristol and Manchester and Bristol would win.

However both have really nice parts and really not nice parts. And I'm not sure how far £400k would go in Bristol.

Weather in Manchester would really turn me off. It rains and I mean it rains and rains

This is a 3 bedroom terrace in Southville for £450.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/125609417#/?channel=RES_BUY

In Manchester you could look at Prestwich but this 3 bed semi is £475

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124078718#/?channel=RES_BUY

Both are in relatively nice parts of town, have 3 bedrooms but are over budget.

Thank you for all the great replies!! Yes we would have DC sharing as a 5 bed is a pipe dream on our budget.

We weren't keen on Prestwich in Manchester to be honest as it felt a bit quiet (but Heston park is lovely). We didn't make it Urmsron but that sounds good. In Bristol, we haven't yet considered Fishponds but will add it to the list however the bristol property market does sound a bit scary but I think the market has gone mad in all desirable places.

Any thoughts on Keynsham? I expect it would feel to suburban/small town for our liking but is it somewhere worth considering,

I know and love Manchester.

I'm afraid I don't warm to you at all, based on your opening post, so please go to Bristol and be very happy there.

I live in Urmston Manchester. Its great. It depends if you want to be in the grammar school area or not. Chorlton would be right up your street, great high school. Very quirky urban but ££££££

Stretford could be a good option but that's trafford too.

Don't know why pp thinks no parks in Manchester. There are loads here and I'm on the Mersey so I do lots of river walks and cycles. Plus there's the canal paths too.

Sale is lovely and lively but ££££

I love Manchester. Cultural and restaurant scene is fab. Transport links ideal 2 hours to London and an international airport.

There are some lesser known areas of North west Manchester that are very leafy and full of country walks e.g.along canals, around golf courses etc. Look at Monton, Ellesmere Park, Worsley. Cheaper would be Swindon and even cheaper, Eccles. Transport links into Manchester City centre are much quicker than from the traditional areas people move from the south to e.g. South Manchester/Cheshire.
If you can stretch to £450K, this is in a lovely area:
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124563758

This is in Eccles which has some more rum down parts but has great transport links and is improving:
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/125189807

I sense you’d prefer Bristol, but you’ll find it more expensive to buy property.

Well Keynsham is an easy train ride to Bath or Bristol and has a nice big park and river. It's not super diverse and not sure there's loads on?
It's almost Bristol anyway so think housing market is just as mad. Traffic into Bristol also bad because public transport in Bristol is crap so loads of people drive.
I think you'll be lucky to get a 2 bed for 400k in South Bristol, people pay over the odds because they think its the only possible place to live.

OP do have a look on rightmove before you rule out certain areas of Bristol as too expensive.

We found a little 3-bed in an area many don't look at, as they think it's unaffordable.

I've lived in both, Bristol wins hands down BUT you are going to struggle on that budget. Prices for buying and renting are absolutely insane.

Weirdly hostile post from stopstartstop, ignore that and move to wherever you prefer!

Thanks again for taking the time to reply. I do appreciate hearing from the experience of all you lovely mumsnetters.

@GoldenGorilla yes I agree totally agree about the strange personal swipe from @StopStartStop Hey ho I say 🤔

I used to live in Clevedon. It’s 20/25 mins from Bristol and a lovely semi seaside town.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/125882168