Move to Manchester/another city. Single with a child.

[todoornot]

Not sure if this is the right topic, but hopefully there will still be some replies.

I live in the southeast. House prices in nice areas are so high - and while there isn't much difference in nicer areas of Manchester, a small two bed with a £375,000 budget will at least get me a small house. At the moment I can only afford a flat (in NICE areas, close to London). We came out of London and I miss the city and want my daughter to have the benefit of being close to a city.

I've been to Manchester loads, for work and for nights out, but don't have any friends there and I work from home. How easy would it be to settle in and make friends for both me and my little girl?

Is there any prejudice/disdain against/about southerners moving up (in the same way the media reports Londoners moving to the Cotswolds) - you always hear it's super friendly - is this the case?

My daughter sees her Dad monthly so it wouldn't affect their relationship but she will miss other family members. She's not so bothered about school friends. I see my friends monthly/6 weekly so that's easy to continue.

I've looked at Altrincham, (is this close enough to the city centre?) are there other similar places I should consider?

Has anyone else upped sticks, on their own, with a child and settled well? And finally - am I brave enough??!

Altrincham is quite far from the city centre, it's very edge of the suburbs really but it's on the Metrolink line into the city centre so an easy journey (if a bit pricey) which doesn't take too long. I wouldn't hesitate to live there or Timperley and Sale so long as I could walk to the tram station easily but I'm not sure how much house you'd get for your budget.

hmm, as suspected there's not much choice if you wanted to be near the tram!
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126608267#/?channel=RES_BUY
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126007235#/?channel=RES_BUY
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126514247#/?channel=RES_BUY
These streets have always been very popular but they're a good walk from the tram although on the doorstep of Hale Village. Tiny houses on narrow streets that are horrendous for parking though! www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124763522#/?channel=RES_BUY
The other option which is a bit cheaper would be Flixton / Urmston close to the train stations. That's still in Trafford local authority (which carries a premium because of the state grammar schools). Urmston has a nice little town centre.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126237251#/?channel=RES_BUY
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126550982#/?channel=RES_BUY
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124328921#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124763522#/?channel=RES_BUY

that one is in an amazing location. Would be so convenient, great schools on the doorstep.

Thanks so much for taking the time to pick out some places - I'll take a look after work x

do you have any restrictions for work? How about Newcastle and the coast? You would get loads for your money. It’s only 3 hours by train to London…

With your budget I’d go to chorlton
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/121747568#/?channel=RES_BUY (Chorlton green is lovely)
Closer to town and plenty going on.

A lot of posters rave about didsbury but i think it’s a bit dull.
South Swinton/Monton is also nice but not what you want if you want to be close to the city centre.

In terms of other cities, I love Liverpool, Glasgow (though your budget might be a problem there?, DP loves Sheffield, and as a curve ball for the other side of the country, Exeter? Compact city, near the sea, I lived there for a few years and adored it!

Another vote for Chorlton here. A friend used to have a lovely little flat in Chorlton and absolutely loved living there. She only moved because of work (ended up in London)

I live in Altrincham.

Plus points
Easy access to town and countryside
Brilliant food market area lots of excellent places to eat and socialise
Generally naice area
Excellent schools (as long as you're ok with grammar but still good other options)
Friendly and easy to make friends
Lots of people from different areas move here (loads from London)

Negatives
Expensive housing
Because so many kids in the area waiting lists for most kids activities netball, football, brownies etc...
Grammar school system can create a lot of pressure on kids
Not massively culturally diverse although big influx of people from Hong Kong recently and quite a large polish and Irish community

Hope that helps and there is definitely no problem with people from London moving up.

Bury
Greenmount
Whitefield
Ramsbottom

All lovely but not for someone who wants to be close to the city centre. They are all an absolute mission!

Consider Rochdale which is North Manchester. Commuter train no more than 20 minutes into the centre. Littleborough is very nice which is the next town down, also on the commuter line. You get better value housing in North Manchester.

@Lastqueenofscotland2 I'm in Bury and I'm in Manchester in 40 mins on the tram .

You could get a lovely house in Manchester for 375k! I'm not sure about the Altrincham/Chorlton side but there's lovely parts of Salford where that would go quite a long way- trams aren't the best but you're on the doorstep of the city anyway

Nobody here will give a shit that you’re from down south, as long as you’re not a dick!
Altrincham is one of the priciest parts of Manchester. Have a look north - Whitefield/Prestwich are nice and on the tram line into town. Depends what you mean by ‘close’. Nowhere in Manchester is that far!

Didsbury, Heaton Moor or Heaton Mersey are my favourites.
Chorlton is nice too, I’ve never been keen for some reason.
Good transport links and lifestyles.
How old is your child?

I'd go for Prestwich on that budget. Lovely community feel and lots of ways to get to know people in the area. Primary schools are generally good and your 20 mins from Manchester on the tram or £10 in an Uber.

Come to Monton, Worsley, Swinton. We’re close to motorway network, easy to get to central Manchester and lots of country and canal walks.
There are lots of houses within and just above your budget.Here’s one:
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/125081207

This road is right next to the new Bridgewater RHS. Close to good primaries and lots of countryside.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126402476

A vote for Sale here. 375 would get you a 2-3 bed terraced house in one of the nice bits of Sale, near the good schools and trams.
the flip side is, I gather the competition to buy similar houses in Sale is huge (50 plus viewings in a weekend type thing). Thankfully we bought our current house 10 years ago, but friends trying to buy now are struggling to get anywhere.
I have lived in Sale for 20 years, and it is really improving with the development of Stanley Square and is a great place to bring up children.

If you want to be 'close to a city....another city'....I'd go for Liverpool or Newcastle. I am a Mancunian, but in terms of 'close to city', friendliness of people, access to beaches/sea/green spaces...If I had a choice , I wouldn't choose it.

As someone from the south who knows manchester pretty well I honestly prefer Liverpool - guess it's just personal preference. I like some of the better bits of Leeds too

Manchester is an international city. No one minds where you're from. I'm from the south, and apart from colleagues once encouraging me to say "you were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off" no one mentions it.

Where to live will depend on how often you want/need to go into town. IMHO it's a ballache taking the car in at peak times, so it's preferable to be on a tram line. You'll also need to take a view on selective education. Sale/Altrincham and everyone else in Trafford has a selective system with the 11+, the rest of GM doesn't.

Can you please expand on 'selective education'? I want my daughter to go into a state school.

I've done a quick Google, and this will
not suit my daughter. Should I consider other places on this basis? thanks for your help.

Have you considered Leeds at all?