Perfect Family Friendly area in Manchester and nice nursery recommendation

[Kaizen92]

Hello,

I'm starting a new thread here, even though there may already be hundreds of threads on the same topic. My query is a bit different, so here I go.

We are planning to move to Manchester this year from Nottingham. We are a couple with a 2.5-year-old toddler. Currently, he attends nursery, and it took us several visits to finalize one that suits our needs. It's hard to believe we have to go through the process again. My husband will go to city centre for his job (twice a week) and we do have a car but public transport link will be good if we can access easily.

I have two questions for which I'm hoping to get some useful links.

1. Firstly, could you please suggest some good nurseries in Manchester that focus on lots of outdoor play? I've read about Montessori schools, which seem interesting, and my child seems to be a good fit for this kind of education. However, I'm unsure if they truly follow the Montessori method. Please suggest nursery names that you think are good, where your kids feel safe and happy.

1. My second question relates to family-friendly areas in Manchester. Google suggests Sale, Altrincham, and Hale, mainly in the south of Manchester. However, the price range doesn't seem to offer much value for money, with small kitchens for £1000 per month. In the future, we see ourselves buying a house, and our budget is £250-300K. We won't be buying in these areas, so if you could suggest some nice, family-friendly areas where lots of families are similar to ours, that would be great. As a couple, we really like the suburban, slow-living vibe, with plenty of leafy, hilly areas and not too much hustle and bustle. We're not very fond of bars and pubs, but book clubs would be highly appreciated. Schools should be excellent, and there should be plenty of activities for kids, such as indoor play, swimming clubs, football clubs, and parks with rides, etc.

I'm confused about whether we should first look for a nursery and then choose a place, or vice versa. Also, I'm not sure if I should make a separate post for each of my questions. Please let me know.

Thank you so much for your attention.

Only got a short moment but Manchester prices are absolutely bonkers and you're basically looking for unicorn poo.
I recommend thst you depend somextime looking at estate agents websites just to get a feel.
Seriously, the market has gone bananas vhere.

I would look for an area then a nursery, personally, although you might like to look at Alexandra Park nursery.

Stretford is a family friendly area within your budget.

That budget won’t go far I’m afraid. Though you could live quite far out to get better value if your husband only needs to commute twice a week.

Try Stockport. There are some lovely areas in Stockport like Hazel Grove, Marple, Poynton, Bramhall, etc. They are lovely family friendly areas with good schools that don't have the price tag of South Manchester.

Alright, thank you so much for your response.

What are your thoughts on the Saddleworth and Macclesfield areas? From what I've seen online, they appear to be leafy, hilly, and tranquil. However, I'm uncertain about their suitability for families and schools.

If Manchester doesn't seem like the best fit for us, I'm curious to learn about other towns, villages, or cities that would be suitable for a family like ours.
We have a budget of £1000, and we're looking for a partially furnished place.

1k a month on rent? Honestly that is really low. Rental prices have shot up. I live in a modest northern town (not pretty, no café culture etc) and you could get a two bed terrace or flat in a bad area for that. Sorry.

What do you think how much should we estimate then, I probably wrong as coming from Nottingham and we get good value of money like this.

If your child is settled at nursery and your husband only needs to be in the office twice a week aren't you better off staying where you are and him just commuting twice a week?

Then moving when you're ready to buy, not rent?

You won't get anything nice for your money in Manchester, prices are extortionate.

Thank you for your reply. We thought about it but every month it takes more than 250£ for him to travel twice in a week which he starts his day at 5:30 and comes home at 9ish.

We are giving rent here and adds up 250£ more plus I don't drive so adds up uber. That's why we thought will it be smart move to Manchester. We are thinking to buy home but without living and knows nothing about the city and directly buy the home, doesn't seems a nice idea.

Is there a reason you want to rent first before buying?

For your house buying budget, you could get a reasonable house in some areas of Manchester. For your rental budget, you will not get much.

For somewhere nice, double it I think. Even that won’t get you anywhere amazing. The rental market is wild. And competitive (in terms of actually getting hold of a property).
Commute time direct nott to manc picc is just under 2 hours, though it’s not a great journey at rush hour (busy trains)

You mean Stretford, Trafford area?

The long day might be a sacrifice he just has to make.

It will cost you much more than just an extra 250 a month to live in Manchester.

Thank you much. I will look into that :)

Are the office days consecutive? Could he do Thursday and Friday so travel costs are refused to 1 return journey and find a cheap room?

Cheap room costs him more than 250 £ isn't it? and we can't do this too long as eventually we are thinking to move to Manchester.

Simply put, should we consider living in the city and exploring different neighbourhoods before making a direct purchase? I'm unsure if this is a smart move, but we're completely unfamiliar with Manchester.

I can give you my personal opinion as I'm 42 and lived here since birth.

It's a shit hole and getting worse every year.

Once all my children have left education I will be leaving.

I live in South Manchester, M20 postcode for further context. Didsbury border.

I wouldn't waste money on rent personally.

I'd do trips up to Manchester early on a Saturday and spend the day in some areas after doing your research on rightmove. Look at what your budget will get you in different parts of the city and then go to visit those areas for the day. Check OFSTED reports for nurseries in these areas too. Go back on weekends to see whether you like the areas and then take the plunge with buying.

I would look to the east of Manchester as property is more affordable there. In Oldham and Ashton-under-Lyne (and the surrounding areas) your money will go further than in Stockport and Trafford.

Further out in Bolton and the like it's even cheaper.

My daughter lives in Stalybridge on the North East side of Greater Manchester. It's an OK area, lovely big park (Stamford Park), great train service into Central Manchester, though there are nicer (and more expensive) areas very close by towards Saddleworth Moor.
Her children went here https://www.funtasiakidsclubs.co.uk/first-steps-nursery She was very happy with the nursery and it's just down the road from her children's primary school which is excellent https://www.millbrook.tameside.sch.uk/

hi, would seriously consider Warrington as a place as it seems to tick all your boxes. Beautiful villages within Warrington like Culcheth, Lymm and Stockton Heath that are incredibly family friendly, lots of little shops, cafes, pubs ect, greenery and farmland. Outstanding nurseries, and further schooling. But a huge plus is the commute time, trains from birchwood station or Warrington central can get you into the city center of Manchester within 15/20 mins.

These areas are safe? and family friendly ticking all the boxes I have mentioned? I checked on Rightmove. within our budget got few nice houses.

The prices in these areas are insane! They are lovely areas and as a consequence, are very expensive.
1k a month will get you a small flat or a terraced house in a not great place.

I've just searched rightmove....https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E1268&insId=1&maxPrice=1000&googleAnalyticsChannel=renting

Your criteria and circumstances are very similar to @Red11111111 (Seeking Advice on Family Friendly Areas) yesterday. Maybe share info with one another? You’re both looking to move from Nottingham to Manchester. Good luck with your searches.