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

[Ohforfoxsake]

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

Lymm is gorgeous. It's a big village with excellent schools, the secondary school has a very good reputation Lymm High website here. It's 5 minutes from the motorway network, but you get no feeling of being so close to the motorway in the village.

It has a fabulous village centre with lots of shops and good eating and drinking.

You can easily drive into Salford in an hour.

It's a leafy village and is overall gorgeous. There is also Lymm Dam which is a beautiful spot for walking and picnics.
Clicky

The village also has it's own forum where you could ask any questions Lymmnet

We used to live there, I can't recommend it highly enough.

I can't believe I forgot Sale! I was settled in Wimbledon by the time I left London and Sale does remind me of it, ie. a proper mini town centre IYKWIM. Would really like to live there. But if Trafford LEA aren't optimistic it probably isn't for you. I live in Stretford as we've been priced out of Chorlton, but hope to move back in the summer as rents seem to be plummeting along with house prices but TBH, if I drove and was starting over anyway, I would do the village/ small town (Cheadle, Bramhall etc) rather than the suburbs thing. I wouldn't want to have Stockport as my default local shops though.

it depends what you like Sale etc is pretty suburban, we are in stretford but looked in Sale and found it quite small minded (read 'racist')

(as is stretford tbh)

Altringham is pretty posh/money kind of like posher footballers wifes.

chorlton is full of teachers/social worker types (little beards and beanie hats...)has great shops/pubs if you like that type of thing, (I have to confess to have only been out in city centre about twice last year, as always go to chorlton now)

what sort of area do you live in now?

oh agree with accidentalmum about stockport - some of it is lovely but the shops are vile and some of the areas are truely depressing.

Not a massive fan of Sale tbh, always left me cold, likewise Stockport.
I am such a bumpkin though, Lymm is lovely (my friend lives near there and have had some great nights out there)would love to live there.

Should probably clarify that I have only been to Sale twice, but I thought it seemed nice and had lots on for kids

Oh and when buying, have a map of the proposed tram extension handy

Cheadle/Bramhall 10 mins to Central Mcr?

By Lear jet would that be ?

I will put that about Sale on my list and note it. I need highlighter pens now for such info

I have been off looking at property in Lymm. Found a nice 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom place in budget.

Sorry Noonki, I thought I had answered your question, got sidetracked househunting. We are basically in Nappy Valley, as Paddingtonbore said, it is a bit 'braying', or it can be in places. Lots of young children (so good schools oversubscribed), lots of activities and playcentres run by the local Council. Has a good neighbourhood and community.

Sale is a souless suburban palce, ditto Altrincham Timperley village is ok I suppose though all a bit Daily Mail imo.

The shops in Stockport are ok(ish) but the merseyway shopping centre is horrendous! Burberry baseball caps and BNP territory. Avoid.

So Timperley is OK then?

Sorry minx - haven't seen you before.

It's all a matter of personal fit though, isn't it?

I think your basic choices are the urban villages (sorry that sounds wanky) of Chorlton and Didsbury, which really are most like Clapham; pleasant suburbia like Bramhall, or a proper Cheshire village.

I would take lots of the times people give for commuting with a pinch of salt though, as people seem to be giving the fasted time The Stig could drive from their village to town given a clear rode and an Aston Martin. I only have to travel 4 miles across town, but that can take 45mins-1hour on a bad day at rush hour. Think London traffic, only without a viable public transport alternative.

Timperley's finest

"rode" - arf. ROAD. ignore other typos. I have a darling macon villages on the go.

Or even North Manchester/Lancashire

Not as overrated nor as expensive as the predictable south manchester areas(though do hanker after Lymm meself!)

I could make commission on this. Where's Frank's number?

The trafford bit of M'Cr is nice just not to my taste that's all, I did say imo, not fact, and I think I'm allowed my opinion!

Obviously if I had a choice between Timperley and Harpurhey I'd go for Timperley (ducks and runs for cover from Harpurhey residents)

Manchester traffic is a nightmare, the rush hour runs from about 3.pm to 7pm in the eve, 6 miles from Didsbury to town takes about 45 mins in the morning.

Cheadle and Bramhall 10 mins, on a flying carpet!!