Location recommendation for the North West

[SMB20]

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)!

Another vote for New Mills - has the added advantage of 2 stations so if the trains out of Piccadilly are blocked on one line you can just jump on the other. And you can use the GMPTE rail card so it is no more expensive than commuting from anywhere else in GM. Driving into Manchester at rush hour is painful.

If you like walking/ climbing/ mountain biking/ fell running you are on the edge of the Peak District National Park. There are a lot of clubs in the area so you can meet people and be shown the locals routes. Also really good football and cricket clubs in NM and surrounding villages.

It has a great arts scene - annual art festival, community theatre, kids choir and possibly the worst brass band.

The Sicilian restaurant is amazing and the Packhorse in Hayfield (3 miles down the road) is regularly in the top 50 Gastropubs in the country lists.

You will end up talking like Tess Daly and saying Eh Up.

Ramsbottom ticks all your boxes

espresso14
Hi feel free to message me . Our dc were brought up there. I can give you lots of info.ask anything !

If you live in lancaster you can normally walk ro the train station . No nees for a car from many areas.

@inmyslippers

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

But not if you've got to commute to Manchester.

Personally am.not fond of preston either and if you can commute from lanc id choose that 100%

What about Lowton?
Something like this?
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/111560711#/?channel=RES_BUY

Newton le Willows is a lovely place too. I would happily live there.
This house has its own stable block and the train station is a mile away and takes you straight into Manchester City centre.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/89488231#/?channel=RES_BUY

Wow thank you everyone 😀 so many amazing suggestions and places I've never heard of so I’ll be looking into all of these!xx

Ramsbottom, Greenmount, top end of Tottington. I relocated from South Manchester last year and it's SO much cheaper.

I second Ramsbottom - a fantastic foodie scene and right on the edge of The West Pennine Moors yet commutable to Manchester so best of both worlds.