So, STOCKPORT, huh? Do you live there, and what do you think of it?

[Ohforfoxsake]

Following on from my appeal for help for a move to Manchester, I am casting my net a little wider and appealing again to helpful and wise MNers.

I think we have narrowed down to two areas, Trafford and Stockport and after a lot of great advice on her for Manchester, I'd like some opinions on Stockport.

Seems a bit more green, still good schools.

Is it too country? I'm born and bred in the city and am an urban fox (see what I did there? ), although a breath of fresh air appeals.

Four under seven, a DH who works away alot, but will be based in Salford. I have done lots of research on the internet and have been there a couple of times, but only really driven through. On paper it looks pretty good. Is it?

Thanks for your time

Hello!

I'm a Heaton Chapel girl and have lived in and around Heaton Chapel on and off since I was 14.

It's not as posh at Heaton Moor but (where we are) is lovely and I would highly recommend the Heatons (probably apart from Heaton Norris ).

There's a strong sense of community and neighbourhood where I am - we know our neighbours and there's a really good atmosphere.

Our boys are in a big, diverse primary school and doing brilliantly. We're also (as far as we know) the only same sex parents but there have been no problems whatsoever and both us and our boys have made loads of friends.

We're hoping that ds's will go to Priestnall - it's a great school and if they get places (their primary school feeds into it at the moment) we'll be very happy and not even think about independent grammar schools.

There are lovely parks, places to eat and my favourite place, an independent cinema in Heaton Moor (where I'm going tonight!).

Great transport links into Manchester - I work in central manchester and it's 20 minutes from door to door using the train.

All in all I'm very happy here and can highly recommend it!

That seems mean on Heaton Norris - I feel mean now . Just that in terms of poshness, big houses etc. Heaton Norris isn't quite as big and posh as the other Heatons - although they're all within a couple of miles of each other.

Ahem.

Check out Lymn, tis lovely and should be in the catchement areas for all the good Altrincham schools.

Lymm......... not lymn!

My choice though would be Altrincham, its lovely, good town centre, tram straight into manchester, only takes about 20 mins and easy access to countryside if you want it. Good schools too.

Thanks everyone for all your input. I've just spent the last hour surfing property sites. Again.

I'm not sure if I'm a bit mad selecting the secondary school first and basing our entire move around that. The Trafford grammar schools, Priestnall and Bramhall High will be the first on the list to be investigated, then we'll work within catchment areas and postcodes. We can't pay for the DCs education as there are too many of them!

Both DP and I loved Didsbury/Chorlton but the school isn't great from what I can tell (though its improving)and its massive

Our oldest is only 7.

Bramhall High used to be a known school to get drugs from when i was at high school. They now have a mobile police station on site and regular searches with sniffer dogs (I know because i do dance there at the mo!)

I live in Hazel Grove but t'other end to OldDoe (waves and remembers dogwalking shoes) and will not be sending my boys to Hazel Grove High - they will go to Poynton instead when they are old enough.

There are good and bad areas in most towns, Wilmslow has some veeeery posh houses (think footballers) as well as having a dodgy council estate type area.

Not read the thead properly - i only came back to MN to read what they were doing about the DM- i have unofficially left (Old Doe - shout out on the green place if you hear of a meet up !)

REEAALLY?! Crikey, it was in The Times top 2000 schools at number 20. Am by that.

Blimey, it really is a minefield isn't it? It looked like such a niiiice place too.

Stockport town centre is grim! Please visit (not sure where you live but it's only 2 hours by train from London Euston) before you go any further

Altrincham town centre is ok but not great (Poundland etc, although they do have a nice M&S) but it is on the tramline to Manchester.

Lymm is lovely and not too expensive but that's partly because there's no train station.

Yes, but who goes into Stockport town centre? That's what Manchester's for.

Agree - Stockport town centre's there for emergency purposes only! you're near enough in the Heatons to bob into Manchester for serious shopping

Hi there, I'm not much use to you because I've lived the last half my life in Poland (after the first half when I lived near Stockport) but had to join in because it's not often you get a thread where people reminisce about Stockport .

I'm a Stockport Grammar veteran, lived out in the country south of there, so too far for your purposes, but I always thought the Davenport and Woodsmoor areas (round Stockport School and Mile End) were lovely, huge old terraces and semis, leafy residential roads off the A6. But agree the town centre is a non-town, terrible place, though the bit up round St Mary's Church is older and with more character.

And a couple of my friends who hated it at SGS went to Cheadle Hulme (state I think, though not sure) and from there to Oxbridge.

Hello to all you Stopfordians!

I'm really looking forward to getting up there and having a mooch around. Its the difference between a terraced or a detached house, but then its also between grammar school and state (but I don't have a massive preference for either).

Thanks again

Just stumbled on this thread. I am from Chorlton originally but now in Heaton Moor for past six years after living in Heaton Mersey for five.

can't speak highly enough. Primaries great, secondaries less so to my mind, we are looking outside the area at selective schools, but thats personal choice and probably not necessary!

Two mins walk to two nice Italians, one great curry house, cinema and pub. Ten mins walk to bigger selection of bars and restuarants. Train is nine mins into Manchester from Heaton Chapel.

Lots of parks and green space. Handy for motorways.

Having said that you get more for your money in Heaton Chapel and there are some lovely big Victorian houses (my personal fantasy).

Another Stopfordian here, but grew up in Macclesfield - lucky me, huh?
I would second the opinion that Stockport and the surrounding areas might be cheaper than the leafier areas like Marple etc but that's because they're not as pretty! The exception to that is some of the gorgeous leafy avenues that are hidden round and about, but you really have to search for them.
It really depends on your priorities. If it's state schools, don't go for Stockport!
Happy hunting!

No disrespect to Stockportians (Stockporters, Stockportites?)....on paper, I was plugging for Stockport and I was keen on the proximity to the Peak District....and to Stockport station (easy train ride south), but the centre of Stockport felt a little soulless and the A5/road system seemed very congested and slow a lot of the time.

Bramhall village is lovely and there seem to be some attractive streets around there - I don't know much about connections etc, but am guessing they would be reasonable.

We opted for Altrincham, which was pricier but I am really happy with the decision and just love it here. Once you get to Altrincham, and it borders Cheshire countryside. Local state schools all excellent. Wilmslow closest station for the trip down to London. Good access to M6 and M56 which is great help. Community atmosphere fantastic - but yes, quite pricey around here. Depends on what you have to spend really. Some bits are cheaper than others......you can head out into the countryside (Dunham/Ashley) - depends whether you want to be walking distance from shops/facilities or not. To be honest, I hardly every go into Manchester these days because there is so much out here - and John Lewis/Trafford Centre have a lot of the necessities. Drove into town in 25 minutes last time I went, and parking a breeze compared to London.

How many days will you be spending up here?

gladis, the thread is a year old. i think she has made her mind up now :)

Oh sh_t - what a waste of my time....I wonder where she went

LOL Gladis - thank you for taking the time to reply anyway!

We are actually just up the road from you in Sale Love it here!

How do you find Manchester compared to London. The first time we visited here, I was very unsure but now absolutely love it and am devastated that we may have to move back south.

There is so much in the papers about the BBC staff not wanting to come north.

I think that's a general mistrust of the organisation. And that many of the managers aren't putting their money where their mouths are and actually making the move. Why give the job of Head of North to someone who isn't going to lead the way?

But I prefer Manchester to London - but after two decades I was pretty much ready to leave. It was great when I was a 'girl about town' but since becoming a mother, I'm happy to live somewhere I feel is more managable.

And the people are nicer

Yes, why give a Head of North job to someone who isn't prepared to move? You would think they could find someone talented who was willing to make the move.

I've just come back from a weekend in London....and I just struggle at times to naturally engage with people (compared to the North West)....and I've lived in London on and off for 15 years with many Londoners as friends. When we went to the park people just seem to be in their own world and are not at all comfortable talking to strangers. Often there seems to be this major internal 'panic' when someone starts talking to them. Or if you sit at the other end of a park bench, they often seize up and you can see them thinking 'I'd really rather that person hadn't sat there and now I have to pretend they are not really there'. I end up giving up talking and also start to exist in my own world, which I think is a bit sad for humankind. I love that people chit-chat here. I like that they are fairly comfortable in their own skin and cheeky too. If we do go back, we will probably try out life in Oxfordshire or Berkshire, maybe Surrey - although I will be very homesick for the North!

Sorry, I shouldn't go on.....I might start up a little thread about this, but might have to tone down it a bit - I don't want to appear too anti-south!!!

Glad you're all settled now, ohforfoxsake!
We're just embarking on a move back down south. Not sure where yet, probably south coast as I couldn't bear to go back to Surrey.

I did love Wilmslow when we first moved up but have been ill this year and I just want a gentler pace of life.

Good luck!