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Original poster

Recommendations of places to live within 1-2 hours of Manchester?

31 replies

edinburghoreo · 28/05/2025 23:25

We are looking to relocate - max. budget is 300k really and I am wondering if there are any nice little villages / towns where I could get a 3 bedroom semi for this price. I would really like to be somewhere rural and just somewhere safe and quieter - I'm not particularly bothered about it being a popular or busy place - if I could find a gorgeous little cottage in the middle of the countryside I'd have that! Alas my budget it failing me.

OP posts:
xmasdealhunter · 28/05/2025 23:35

Holmes Chapel and Mapplewell are both nice places and have houses currently on the market under your budget. Nice friendly feels to both of them.

Original poster
edinburghoreo · 28/05/2025 23:46

xmasdealhunter · 28/05/2025 23:35

Holmes Chapel and Mapplewell are both nice places and have houses currently on the market under your budget. Nice friendly feels to both of them.

Thank you I will have a look - I appreciate your suggestion :) It's been tricky because I feel a bit lost with where on earth to go / look. Buxton looks lovely too and surrounding areas - I like that parts of that are a bit more rural / private.

OP posts:
thismummyslife · 29/05/2025 00:00

Have you looked at Newton-Le-Willows, Culcheth, Winnick, Croft, all within the same area with excellent transport links to Manchester! X

pinkdelight · 29/05/2025 00:08

I’d live in Todmorden on that budget.

RenoDakota · 29/05/2025 00:14

pinkdelight · 29/05/2025 00:08

I’d live in Todmorden on that budget.

So would I. Or Mytholmroyd.

IReallyLoveItHere · 29/05/2025 00:43

Within 2 hours of Manchester is a huge area - pretty much Birmingham to Preston.

How do you want to get into Manchester? Tram, train or car?

'Nice' areas covered by trams are probably out of your budget. Train will get you a long way, look at the line out towards Leeds or towards Liverpool.

The areas where you'll need a car will be better value, Cheshire and Lancashire villages on the M6/M62/M60.

PP mentioned Newton le willows, that got the new direct train line quite recently, I think 20 mins to Manchester or 40 mins drive. Easily in budget.

If you're happy to drive everywhere there are loads of small villages well under an hour from Manchester. I'd look up towards Todmorden or Standish depending which side you want to be on. Frodsham maybe.

Original poster
edinburghoreo · 29/05/2025 00:49

Thank you - currently working way through these suggestions! Hebden bridge looks lovely and so does Todmorden. Driving would be fine rather than public transport - it’s due to some family commitments that I need to be within a couple of hours of Manchester so hopefully like you say that will open up to some better value villages.

OP posts:
Ihitthetarget · 29/05/2025 00:52

I'd look in the Peak District/ Derbyshire (assuming south of Manchester suits you). New Mills, Hayfield, out to Edale/ Hope Valley etc

LulaK · 29/05/2025 05:54

Have a look at the train line down to Shrewsbury. Market towns along the way like Wem and Whitchurch, and it's a good train service into Piccadilly. There are also some teeny request stops that are very rural eg Yorton.

DemonsandMosquitoes · 29/05/2025 06:13

South Ribble-Longton, New Longton, Hutton, Higher Penwortham.

pinkdelight · 29/05/2025 09:07

edinburghoreo · 29/05/2025 00:49

Thank you - currently working way through these suggestions! Hebden bridge looks lovely and so does Todmorden. Driving would be fine rather than public transport - it’s due to some family commitments that I need to be within a couple of hours of Manchester so hopefully like you say that will open up to some better value villages.

Edited

Todmorden (and Mytholmroyd) are full of folk priced out of Hebden, so you get some of that vibe without the crazy costs. It's also less packed with tourists and traffic so that's good too. The train to Manchester is very handy and the moors are awesome.

andi76 · 30/05/2025 15:12

Betley or Wrinehill. An hour on the train to Manchester (or by car).

pixie1345 · 31/05/2025 18:09

Blackburn with darwen 😂

Whaleandsnail6 · 31/05/2025 19:22

Saddleworth is lovely. Train from Manchester to Mossley or Greenfield is about 25 minutes and drive maybe about 45 minutes.

AJ47 · 31/05/2025 19:33

Wrea Green/outskirts of Kirkham or catforth/elsprick area with "village" feel.
Under an hour to Manchester by car, countryside, half an hour to the beach at cleveleys or at St Anne's, nice eateries on parts of Lytham.

TheyFuckYouUpYourMamAndDad · 31/05/2025 20:14

I would head out towards Shropshire. You’d get the best of ‘all worlds’. It’s a gorgeous part of the NW, very easy access to Manchester via train and motorway, close to Wales and the beautiful mountains. Easy to get to Birmingham, Chester, The Cotswolds, Derby, Nottingham (to name a few).

What’s not to love? ❤️

screwyou · 31/05/2025 20:17

Another vote for Shrewsbury, you can be in Manchester in just over an hour from here. It has everything you want and you'd easily get something in your budget.

Mudsludge · 31/05/2025 20:45

Do you need to find work, schools, hobbies?
Do you need any services nearby - hospitals, public transport?

RandomMess · 31/05/2025 20:49

Villages near Lancaster and Garstang.

AutumnVibes · 31/05/2025 20:53

I’d look at the Ribble Valley. Villages like Simonestone, Read or Barrow are very easy to get to Manchester by car in 45 mins but beautiful countryside and the shops in Clitheroe nearby.

Onequestionintime · 31/05/2025 20:55

Look at west Yorkshire border - Holmfirth, Meltham, Honley and surrounding villages.
Then south Yorkshire (Barnsley) Penistone market town (and surrounding villages).