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Original poster

Where to live south Manchester/Cheshire?

96 replies

Soniarc · 11/02/2023 14:31

Hello! I’ve been having a good trawl of previous posts but can’t find one that fits my question.

We are looking to get more acquainted with areas of Cheshire to move to in 1-2 years. I’d love to hear of your thoughts and experiences. These are our desired traits:
House:
-4/5 bedroom detached with garage and garden
-around the £550k mark

The area should be fairly safe and good to bring kids up in. We are currently moving from Prestwich in North Manchester because of this. We would like somewhere that’s on the train line to get into Manchester if needed (we both work from home), with good primary schools but in catchment areas for excellent secondary schools (this could also be private).

Bonus for anywhere that has a tennis club, fairly rural and has things to walk to. A Waitrose is also a request from my partner, haha. Also within 45 min of the airport.

we have been eyeing up places like Poynton, Macclesfield, Bollington. Any thoughts?

OP posts:
yoshiblue · 11/02/2023 18:19

Lymm is a good shout mentioned by a PP too. Excellent state secondary in high demand, my friend just moved out there and seems happy.

chosenone · 11/02/2023 18:22

Buxton? A bit further out than Macclesfield but much nicer. On the trainline to Manchester too, has a tennis club and Waitrose.

pottshrigley · 11/02/2023 18:30

Soniarc · 11/02/2023 18:06

Amazing suggestions, thank you!! I’m ok with moving further out as long as on a train line, as it’s possible that we may have to go into Manchester from time to time, and I hate driving with a passion.

I don’t think I’m too delusional with the budget and the ask. This is based on current prices, which I’ve noticed have come down somewhat.

And for those wondering about Waitrose, my husband is from East Sussex, and that’s like The Mothership to him. I know nothing, I’m from Spain - but I’d love to map out all the Waitroses and measure the crime rate in those areas vs non-Waitrose. I think they’ve done all the hard work for me and identified the nodes of population that we would like to live in. Safety is extremely important to me - I can’t continue to live looking over my shoulder at night thinking I’m going to get mugged. It’s either Cheshire, East Sussex (now THAT would be unrealistic on our budget) or back to Spain.

we are going to scout out Bollington and Macclesfield tomorrow. Possible Holmes Chapel if we get the time!

Bollington is lovely, The Picturedrome in Macc is nice if you fancy a bit of refreshment and a nip to the loo!

Last Sunday of the month in Macc is Treacle Market which is always lively. Fast train to Manchester is twenty minutes from Macc, nearer to thirty fir the slow train.

PrancerandDancer · 11/02/2023 18:32

If you go Congleton I would say the West Heath area. The town can be pretty uninspiring

Mintsgreen · 12/02/2023 00:41

Another vote for Urmston/Flixton but agree budget might be tight.

What’s wrong with Prestwich, prices have absolutely soared over the past few years, it’s quite the hotspot!

Original poster
Soniarc · 12/02/2023 08:01

Mintsgreen · 12/02/2023 00:41

Another vote for Urmston/Flixton but agree budget might be tight.

What’s wrong with Prestwich, prices have absolutely soared over the past few years, it’s quite the hotspot!

We’ve lived here almost 5 years now, and every week there’s some kind of drama. This week someone threw liquid into a mother and baby for jumping the queue for a taxi rank, saying it was bleach (it turned out to be water). There’s a gang that goes around with balaclavas stealing from their motorbikes. There’s a guy with a purple teddy walking around that hit a lady in the face with the brick as she got off the tram. Someone also got their phone taken from them forcibly while coming out of the tram at 8pm. I want my boy to grow up somewhere where I don’t have to be worried if he’s 16 and out at 8pm.

OP posts:
Shalumf · 12/02/2023 10:37

Soniarc · 12/02/2023 08:01

We’ve lived here almost 5 years now, and every week there’s some kind of drama. This week someone threw liquid into a mother and baby for jumping the queue for a taxi rank, saying it was bleach (it turned out to be water). There’s a gang that goes around with balaclavas stealing from their motorbikes. There’s a guy with a purple teddy walking around that hit a lady in the face with the brick as she got off the tram. Someone also got their phone taken from them forcibly while coming out of the tram at 8pm. I want my boy to grow up somewhere where I don’t have to be worried if he’s 16 and out at 8pm.

Show quote history

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but it's like that most places now.

Little shits on motorbikes terrorise South Manchester. And stabbings are rife

Iusedtobedontcall · 12/02/2023 10:56

It isn’t like that everywhere. Where I live that sort of thing doesn’t happen on a regular basis.

Peachplums · 12/02/2023 11:15

I grew up in one of the places you are looking OP. Bollington is a lovely place to bring up a family. Village feel and very close to the countryside and great restaurants and pubs. I think you’d struggle on your budget though. It’s also a but annoying for travel as it’s not on a train line - you would need to go to Macclesfield.

Macclesfield is much larger and like many places the town centre isn’t very inspiring. The independent efforts like the Picturedrome and monthly Treacle Market are lovely and seem to be doing well though. I’d also look at Tytherington which is inbetween the two - very suburbs but nice houses and feels safe.

RedToothBrush · 12/02/2023 11:20

Shalumf · 12/02/2023 10:37

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but it's like that most places now.

Little shits on motorbikes terrorise South Manchester. And stabbings are rife

Show quote history

South Manchester is not Cheshire though.

It's certainly not as bad as that everywhere.

Oopswediditagain2023 · 12/02/2023 11:23

Knutsford ticks all the boxes for your requests except there are no houses on the market at the moment! There's one on Tabley Grove that's a 3 bed semi? Or another on Rockford Lodge?

You could also go a bit further out towards Macclesfield, and northwich has a Waitrose if you chose somewhere near there.

userxx · 12/02/2023 19:32

@Shalumf What utter shite.

PatChaunceysFruitCake · 12/02/2023 19:43

I know this area well as I've lived there.

I would definitely look at Sandbach and Nantwich as you shouldn't underestimate the benefit of being near Crewe station. Easy and quick to get to Manchester, Liverpool and London. Some of the stations being mentioned on this thread are on the slower services where you can get anywhere from Crewe. It is very easy to park at Crewe station.

If you want private schooling Nantwich has school bus service to The Grange, Kings and Queens in Chester and Newcastle School.

No Waitrose in Nantwich but it is a foodie town with some great independent food shops including a fantastic farm shop. As has been said Sandbach does have a Waitrose.

paddingtonbear1 · 12/02/2023 22:40

Poynton is very expensive now, I think you might struggle to get much in your budget. Bollington is v nice but as a pp said no train line (it closed in 1970).
We live a couple of miles from Marple. Marple Bridge is nice.
We're currently looking to move to Cheadle Hulme for better transport links.
You might like Macclesfield, the countryside around it is great! Town centre not so much as a lot of shops have closed down (similar story in a lot of places...)

snowtrees · 12/02/2023 22:57

Cheadle Hulme. Good schools Waitrose & train. Not crime free tho.
Macc has train & good schools
Your budget might not get you into catchment of the most popular schools tho.
Kings Macc is fabulous but you'd prob need £15k a year per child

SoCunningYouCanStickATailOnItAndCallItAFox · 12/02/2023 23:02

Lymm would be ideal. Though don't think it has its own branch of waitrose as it isn't a particularly big place. But it ticks all your boxes and there are branches not too far away

RedToothBrush · 12/02/2023 23:19

SoCunningYouCanStickATailOnItAndCallItAFox · 12/02/2023 23:02

Lymm would be ideal. Though don't think it has its own branch of waitrose as it isn't a particularly big place. But it ticks all your boxes and there are branches not too far away

Erm no.

No Trainline. Nearest train is 20 mins (on a good day) and there's little public transport.
No Waitrose. Nearest one is 20 mins away in Knutsford.

And £550 for a 4 / 5 bed detached? You'd struggle these days.

It's generally pricer than Knutsford which does have more things to walk to, train station and Waitrose...

Fifi00 · 12/02/2023 23:49

Knutsford has booths which is nicer than Waitrose.

RedToothBrush · 12/02/2023 23:58

Fifi00 · 12/02/2023 23:49

Knutsford has booths which is nicer than Waitrose.

Booths is code for bankruptcy.

Iusedtobedontcall · 13/02/2023 04:07

Train from Holmes Chapel direct to Manchester is about 40 minutes. The train station is within walking distance of most of the village.

augustusglupe · 13/02/2023 11:04

I prefer Waitrose, Alderley Edge has a lovely one, always well stocked.
I wasn't keen on Booths in Knutsford, but haven't been for a few years so maybe it's changed now.
OP your budget is fine. Yes, even house prices round here, Wilmslow/Alderley area, have dropped and the ones that are overpriced are just sat there.
North Wilmslow, Woodford, Knutsford, Chelford areas would fit your budget.
Goostrey, Holmes Chapel areas too.

pottshrigley · 13/02/2023 11:16

SoCunningYouCanStickATailOnItAndCallItAFox · 12/02/2023 23:02

Lymm would be ideal. Though don't think it has its own branch of waitrose as it isn't a particularly big place. But it ticks all your boxes and there are branches not too far away

My sister lives there and it's lovely but poor for public transport unfortunately.

snowtrees · 13/02/2023 11:32

Agree re Lymm. Lovely but kind of sits on its own and you need a car to get anywhere. Not even sure if it has a big supermarket etc

RenoNovice2023 · 13/02/2023 13:36

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/131630162?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY. Prices in Altrincham are crazy ATM. This has gone on today and is less than a 10 min walk to Waitrose. For your budget you would get a terrace here.

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