Location recommendation for the North West

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My husband and I are looking at relocating to the north west with two young children and would love some recommendations for areas to check out. We would love a village location with good schools, a nice pub or coffee shop and a bit of a community feel as well as things to do for our young family. We like walking and running and my daughter and I would also like to get back into horse riding. My husband will be working in Manchester city centre so would need to be within reaching distance of a train station. Our maximum budget is 300k for a minimum 3 bedroom place (hope we are not dreaming)!

I'd have a look around Preston myself. Ribble Valley, maybe one of the smaller villages between Preston and Lancaster like Scorton or even Garstang if you fancied a small town with a village feel

Also other side of Preston - Penwortham, Longton, Tarleton, Burscough

There’s Cheshire? What about somewhere like Holmes Chapel or Congleton?

New Mills is lovely - good shops, a little theatre, amazing walks by the river with cliffs and a spectacular walkway, lots of community fun stuff and the best Sicilian restaurant ever.

Thank you for those suggestions!! I will have a look into those areas :)

Parbold, appley bridge are nice places with train stations. Country style feel. Local horse riding schools. Not far from m6 and is on the direct train line to Manchester

I'd say Lymm / Altrincham area

Ramsbottom near Bury, Saddleworth area, Rivington near Horwich. Obviously people will mention south mancs/cheshire but it's considerably more expensive.

Ribble Valley. Beautiful villages but more expensive. Ramsbottom very good for families and excellent commute to Manchester.

Saddleworth

Yes to Parbold. And Newburgh nearby is lovely.

Greenfield in saddleworth is nice, has a train station, town close by, supermarket, near dovestones etc.

Garstang is lovely but not good for travel to Manchester as you would need to go to Preston to get the train. Preston or Lancaster are more small cities than villages. Lancaster is prettier but for the travel aspect I think you would need to be south of Preston.

Amazing 😀 thank you everyone! We were looking around Saddleworth and Uppermill but the Ribble Valley would be awesome and will check out those other places!

@Amz6219

I'd say Lymm / Altrincham area

300k for a 3 bed? Lol.

Mossley is always in the papers as best value and up and coming

Parbold and Appley Bridge are lovely. If I'd have stayed in the North West, I would have moved there.

Why the lol?🤔

I'd avoid Preston but there are some lovely surrounding areas. Woodplumpton, catforth, Barton and scorton are all lovely

Although a small city, lancaster is fab for kids and teens .. with a direct manch train .
Its a city surrounded by countryside and has several stables

@Tiramiwho

Why the lol?🤔

cos it's impossible to buy a 3 bed in Lymm and altrincham for that budget.

@Weseylady

Although a small city, lancaster is fab for kids and teens .. with a direct manch train . Its a city surrounded by countryside and has several stables

Sorry for jumping onto your thread OP, we're relocating to Lancaster this year. We live 100s of miles away with a class R and yr 3 child. I don't want to hijack the original post, but would love any tips on where to aim to live (Bowerham looks great, but schools oversubscribed... Moorside?).

Ribble valley is gorgeous. Highly recommend it.

@espresso14 Moorside has a wide catchment area as it's 3 form entry plus I think there is a reasonable about movement as you get visiting lecturers that move on etc.

St Paul's, Bowerham, Moorside & St Bernadette's are all good schools although if either of your DC have SEN I wouldn't recommend Moorside.

Also live which ever side of the river/city centre you work - the commute at rush hour can be lengthy as it doesn't take much to snarl the one way system up and it grinds to a halt!