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Original poster

Moving to Manchester - and I have no idea where to go. HELP ME PLEEEEAAAASE

491 replies

Ohforfoxsake · 30/01/2009 21:10

So, we are going to Manchester, DP has a job in Salford.

So far I have investigated Altrincham but the LEA have told us that its highly unlikely the children would get into the same school. Its really important to me that they do as they are upping sticks and leaving all their friends behind. I don't mind home educating until places come up, but not as a long term solution.

Or, we could move further out and move out from the city (currently in London so that appeals). If DP can do a maximum one hours commute, its possible.

We have 4 DCs so want to base our search around good schools - they are in primary at the moment, but will soon be in Secondary and we don't really want to move twice, so we'd like to get it right first time round.

I am stumped and have no idea where to look. Any suggestions, words of wisdom or pointers would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
Ohforfoxsake · 31/01/2009 13:47

Thanks Wilfself Chorley has come up a few times, so I will look at that more too.

I love MN! Far more useful information than anything given by the company.

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WilfSell · 31/01/2009 13:48

NOT Chorley! Chorlton, you muppet. Don't end up in Chorley by mistake. You will be disappointed...

WilfSell · 31/01/2009 13:50

PS Worsley is IN Salford and the village (though really a suburb) is v posh in places and nice walks along canal etc. Like Cheshire, lots of footballers live there. A fact that would put me off but no idea what floats your boat . Mixed housing types though, not all nouveau riche palatial...

schneebly · 31/01/2009 13:52

If you want open space Southport is lovely but is around 40 miles from Salford. It is on the coast and has lots of parks and green space - good schools too. My kids are in primary and but there are definitely a couple of good secondary schools in the area. Your £400,000 would get you a nice house here.

under budget, nice area and swimming pool!

I moved here from Scotland 18 months ago and haven't looked back once.

Original poster
Ohforfoxsake · 31/01/2009 13:55

oops

Isn't Salford a bit, umm, shit? I mean there are apparently gated residences (I believe they call them), then boarded up squats next door. I may be stereotyping here, I read an article in the Guardian about Salford once.

I am not fussed about footballers one way or the other, but my boys, oh they would love it!

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Lizzylou · 31/01/2009 13:56

Was going to say Worsley.
Also Ramsbottom/Rossendale north of Manchester. Bit more rural and some v good schools

I live in Rossendale and DH commutes to Manchester no probs

WilfSell · 31/01/2009 13:57

More on Chorlton:

bars

Chorlton Meadows/Ees and Water Park

Chorlton Civic Society

Look, they even have their own arts festival

Lizzylou · 31/01/2009 13:59

DH lived in Salford during his Uni days

I'd avoid tbh

Original poster
Ohforfoxsake · 31/01/2009 13:59

Crikey Schneebly! That's not bad.

And, I think I've been to Southport a few years ago. Is it quite a traditional sea-side town? Although I've probably got that confused with somewhere else. Geography/paying attention was never a strong point

OP posts:
WilfSell · 31/01/2009 14:00

Yeah, parts of Salford are a bit shit, but then so are parts of London! Like most big cities, posh bits live right next door to rough bits. Worsley is pretty upmarket but perhaps not quite Surrey!

Worsley village info

Lizzylou · 31/01/2009 14:00

Sorry, not clear, Worsley is NOT the area of salford I was thinking of!
Worsley is nice

WilfSell · 31/01/2009 14:01

FWIW I would NOT commute to Salford from Southport. 40 minutes when the traffic/roads are clear; 2 hours when not...

Lucewheel · 31/01/2009 14:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

paddingtonbore · 31/01/2009 14:02

GRRR at all the slagging off of North Manchester!

We've just moved from London to Prestwich, and love it. Bury borough is at least as good as Stockport borough for schools, and I believe Bolton is the same.

DH is from Heaton Moor originally, and TBH for the inflated prices you'd pay to live there it's all a bit "meh". A branch of Krobar doth not an urban village make.

I find Didsbury a bit braying (think Fulham/Clapham).

Chorlton on the other had is lovely (more Stoke Newingtony) but is in Manchester City borough and the state schools there are not as good as in the outlying boroughs.

Stretford has some lovely bits if you want to do the grammar school gamble.

Traffic up here stinks though, even on the motorway at rush hour, so I wouldn't want to be too far out in terms of commuting.

Original poster
Ohforfoxsake · 31/01/2009 14:02

How long is his commute Lizzylou? DP doesn't mind commuting. He can do his current one in 40 minutes on a good day, over an hour on a bad. Its not even that far away. If its a decent run, I think it'll be fine.

Besides, he just wants me to be happy. Probably

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Original poster
Ohforfoxsake · 31/01/2009 14:07

I am SO pleased I started this thread! Now I feel I have something useful, something to actually work with.

Thank you everyone

Keep it coming!

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paddingtonbore · 31/01/2009 14:11

the other thing I would add is that public transport here is not at good as London. If your DH is working within walking distance of Salford Crescent/Central stations then you might be able to get away with a public transport commute, but if not, it's likely that he'll have to endure the rush hour traffic with the rest of us.

I know people knock London transport, but I miss it now .

Lucewheel · 31/01/2009 14:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

schneebly · 31/01/2009 14:14

yes tradiotional seside town but has had lots of work done in recent years and has a nice, almost continental feel.

You should listen to WilfSell though - I have never attempted to commmute from here to Salford do wouldn't know how long it would take - 2 hours would be awful!

paddingtonbore · 31/01/2009 14:19

fox, do you mind me asking where in London you are, and what you like about it? Might help work out what areas of Manchester would correspond?

Original poster
Ohforfoxsake · 31/01/2009 14:22

I would love to live in a seaside town.

I have found a 5 bedroomed house in Chorlton which looks sufficient

We have a 3 bedroom flat at the moment. It is a good size and accommodates the 6 of us just fine, but everything up there looks enormous, and very, well, grown-up!

I could have a loft! Somewhere for all DPs crap much loved stuff.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ohforfoxsake · 31/01/2009 14:23

LOL Paddingtonbore, erm, it was the other one actually!

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Original poster
Ohforfoxsake · 31/01/2009 14:28

But I'm not like that! Honest!

I like where we are because
it has a Common
The council's leisure facilities are good for the kids, we have great sports activities in the school holiday
it is walkable to decent shops and supermarkets
schools are good - Primaries are anyway. Secondaries are OK, or very good but hard to get into
It has a community, and feels like a neighbourhood.
I'm a SAHM, so all of this is important to me.

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paddingtonbore · 31/01/2009 14:28

I knew it!
I'm only jealous - we lived in Peckham.

If you like Clapham, Didsbury does share many of it's good points: not too far from the centre of town, but quieter, a family feel, green space, good local shopping and bars.

The "braying" comment really only refers to the young professional types who colonise the main drag on a weekend evening. IMO West Didsbury is a bit more grown-up and family friendly (plus has better restaurants) than the centre of Didsbury.

If you've somewhere to sell in Clapham then Didsbury should be in budget. The schools aren't the greatest, but if you are planning on going independent, Manchester Girls High and Manchester Grammar are highly rated, though selective and therefore not easy to get into.

paddingtonbore · 31/01/2009 14:30

you might like Chorlton too though - shares most of Didsbury's good points, but has a more alternative home (aka The Muesli Belt). I'd live there in a flash if we could stretch to a 3 bed house there.