Is there anywhere near Manchester where it doesn't rain?

[BonnesVacances]

We used to live in the NW but moved to Hampshire. Now for various reasons we're considering moving back up. But the reason we left in the first place was because of the amount of rain.

We were in Rossendale which admittedly is a valley so it got more rain than usual. But it was so drizzly all the time and DS developed a respiratory issue because of the constant damp.

But we really like being near Manchester, so where is near Manchester but has reasonably good weather? Neither of us is from either area so we don't have any attachment to any particular area. Just looking for somewhere new to settle.

Points to consider:

Budget would be £450k for a 4 bed detached house with parking. We'd be WFH so commuting isn't a factor.
When I say near, I just mean close enough for it not to be a big expedition to pop into Manchester for shopping or a night out.
Driving in is fine. Though public transport would be helpful for DC.
Schools not an issue as DC will be at uni.
Not in the middle of nowhere. I don't do rural!
Doesn't rain all the time!

@Iamthewombat , I suggested NE Wales, because someone had already mentioned Chester and Wirral (as I said in pp) and because OP wanted less rainfall.

You need to cross the Pennines. I’m from the NW and was surprised how different the climate is on the east. I spent 4 years in Sheffield. It was dryer but colder in winter and more prone to snow.
Brilliant city though and only an hour from Manchester.

The OP explicitly said this:

When I say near, I just mean close enough for it not to be a big expedition to pop into Manchester for shopping or a night out.

Driving in is fine. Though public transport would be helpful for DC.

It really isn’t Manchester, I agree. Manchester is the capital of the north of England and has great shops, theatres, bars and restaurants. It’s cosmopolitan. York is very pretty and all that but it’s basically a market town. It’s rife with hen nights and shops selling sodding Harry Potter merch to tourists.

@Hobbesmanc the reason that is cheaper is coz benchill and wythenshaw are just over the road!

Chester or Deeside to Manchester isn't a major expedition IMO, but it might be to you.

Speaking as someone who lives in one of the sunniest, driest places in the UK, currently experiencing unprecedented rainfall, I can't say I blame you! I've had to buy outdoor wear for the first time I can remember!

Yes I know other places have their charms, i have family in the NW, I just couldn't cope in a cold, wet climate. And to me anywhere north of the Watford Gap is too cold! Totally a me thing though.

What about up and left of the Rossendale Valley to Ramsbottom, Greenmount or Tottington?

I moved from Cheadle Hulme to north Bury a couple of years ago and it rains the same.

I'm in leafy and very desirable Gatley. It's a few hundred metres away. There's also great property in bits of Sharston and Northenden. Not all of M21,22,23 is less salubrious.

OP said:

"Budget would be £450k for a 4 bed detached house with parking. We'd be WFH so commuting isn't a factor.
When I say near, I just mean close enough for it not to be a big expedition to pop into Manchester for shopping or a night out.
Driving in is fine. Though public transport would be helpful for DC."

An hour by train from Sandbach is fine. Equally, out of rush hour in evenings by car its very doable. OP has said its an option worth considering.

Other people have suggested South Warrington, which the OP has said were an option. Now I challenge you to get by public transport to Manchester in an hour from South Warrington. Its impossible in evenings for a night out. An hour by train from Sandbach is much, much easier. By car from South Warrington it can take you 35 mins off peak but up to 1h 15mins in rush hour on an average day. Despite it being technically closer than Sandbach.

I have many friends / relatives in Trafford, East Cheshire and Warrington. I genuinely don't think its an unreasonable suggestion for any of these places because it reflects the lifestyles and commuting of people I know, who find that places closer in to Manchester are massively more expensive for the size of house / type of area they can afford with their budget.

I think the OPs biggest problem is actually her wish list and budget, because unless you look further out or towards less popular areas, she's just going to find it won't stretch far enough.

Personally, if she's not tied to schools, I think she'd be better looking towards the outskirts of Stockport and up into the hill on the South East of Manchester or the opposite side of the pennines on a good rail link, than many of the other places listed as I think she's priced out and public transport into Manchester that runs late is actually easier than a lot of places closer to Manchester because the networks are so poor. She doesn't need to commute regularly so reliability of public transport isn't a priority nor is the cost likely to be for an occasional trip.

FWIW, I think that Wirral and Chester is better for Liverpool than Manchester. But its not a million miles. I've friends who commuted from Manchester to Chester daily!

I guess it depends on what you are used to and what you consider 'normal'. I think my NW out of the city brain has different programming to city dwellers.

Its borderline for me in terms of location - OP doesn't need to worry about schools though so is perhaps more flexible. Its one to visit to get a feel for the local area. Agree that parts aren't as bad as reputations but its a matter of opinion as to what individuals are happy with.

I think it does illustrate the point that in order to fit the budget the OP will have to compromise to get what she wants if she is looking at certain areas.

Much of Cheshire is in the rain shadow of the North Wales hills. Frodsham is on a direct train line to Manchester (about 45/ 50 mins), and more likely to be in budget than south Manchester.

At school they told us (going back a few years now) but the clouds pick up moisture all the way across the Atlantic then drop that moisture as rain when they reach land.

Prevailing winds are westerlies.

(Sorry for shit description but I hope it sort of makes some sense)

We’re in south Manchester and buying a 3 bed semi in one of the less posh suburbs for under £300k. I regularly look online at properties up to £500k (it’s nice to dream!) and you can get your criteria in budget easily if you’re happy to live outside of Chorlton/Didsbury/Sale.

I didn’t mention Chester. I specifically noted that north Wales, the Wirral and York are not going to deliver what the OP wants. Try getting a train back to north wales after a night out in Manchester.

Have a look at Bramhall. There's some 4 bed houses for your budget. It's a nice area.

@Iamthewombat , parts of North Wales are almost in Chester. Anyway, why pick arguments over it? Someone suggested Bramhall. That would do.

Yep, the climate stuff is right. We learnt it in school too and it was noticeably different in my Lancashire/Yorkshire experience.
You need to head east.
This side of the Pennines you could look around the Glossop, Saddleworth, Marple areas. Or you could cross over to West Yorkshire, South West Sheffield is good - Ecclesall, Fulwood, Totley. All under an hour on the train.

Thanks all. Plenty of food for thought.

We're not fixed on budget. £450,000 would just mean being mortgage free. Which isn't a dealbreaker but an attractive proposition.

As to why, various reasons.

We visit Manchester at least once a year and always feel wistful when we leave. When the skies are blue we miss it. When it's raining we remember why we left. But we think that living in the valley just pushed us over the edge and that it would be ok if we lived somewhere less drizzly.

That part of the UK is also closer to MIL who isn't getting any younger and we know we're on the hook for helping with her when the time comes. So living near Manchester will help too as we're currently 6+ hours away which is really inconvenient.

We would want to live somewhere with access to a big city for catching touring shows and not feel like we were too far from what's going on. Manchester is just a starting point really, but I think we just have itchy feet and are looking for a new chapter somewhere.

Public transport isn't particularly important as I don't drink, but I don't think DC would be too pleased to be stuck in the sticks during uni holidays.

I live south of Manchester in Altrincham. It’s always chucking it down. It’s dreadful. Am I living in a different universe to you??
I think you must be living in a different universe. I live about 3 miles from you and we've hardly had any rain recently.

My (Manc) dad always used to say, ‘Manchester looks pretentious when the sun shines’

@Iamthewombat How is York a bloody market town?! There isn't a market!!! 🤣🤣🤣

The other side of the Pennines- Leeds doesn't have as much rain but heck it's the uk. What do you expect?!

Yes, these places aren't even in the NW. sandbach etc are in the midlands.

@garlictwist , Sandbach is in Cheshire, so is in the NW. Stoke is in the Midlands.