Manchester - living near and commuting into?
Discussion
New territory for me here, the North West forum! 
Toying with an offer of work in Manchester, working on the assumption that everything is a bit cheaper up north, going from contract to perm could still work out ok.
But, I know nothing about Manchester, never even been there! So, I'd be looking for somewhere that is very rural in or very close to proper countryside, and within 30-40 mins commute (train or car) to Salford (not even sure where that is tbh!)
Any advice on nice areas would be greatly appreciated. We have a new baby too so somewhere with a sense of community for my wife and son would be nice too.
Dec 2011 Edit:
Bumping this again as I've just had an offer of the same job on a years contract at a good rate.
We would rent though, budget of £1500pcm max and I need to get to Salford Quays in ideally 30-50mins. Car or Train/Tram is OK. The Multistorey on site is £10 a day and I'm fine with that. After 3+ bedrooms, garage and nice garden.
The rural as possible and somewhere as PH as possible (non-chavy, non-war zone!) criteria are still valid. What sort of area is going to fit?
Toying with an offer of work in Manchester, working on the assumption that everything is a bit cheaper up north, going from contract to perm could still work out ok.
But, I know nothing about Manchester, never even been there! So, I'd be looking for somewhere that is very rural in or very close to proper countryside, and within 30-40 mins commute (train or car) to Salford (not even sure where that is tbh!)
Any advice on nice areas would be greatly appreciated. We have a new baby too so somewhere with a sense of community for my wife and son would be nice too.
======
Dec 2011 Edit:
Bumping this again as I've just had an offer of the same job on a years contract at a good rate.
We would rent though, budget of £1500pcm max and I need to get to Salford Quays in ideally 30-50mins. Car or Train/Tram is OK. The Multistorey on site is £10 a day and I'm fine with that. After 3+ bedrooms, garage and nice garden.
The rural as possible and somewhere as PH as possible (non-chavy, non-war zone!) criteria are still valid. What sort of area is going to fit?
Edited by 5678 on Wednesday 7th December 21:07
Edited by 5678 on Wednesday 7th December 21:08
okay, Just south of manchester is cheshire, pretty rural.
just north of manchester is lancashire. again pretty rural in some parts.
some parts of cheshire are VERY expensive (but i do not know what you are used to as the "norm" so i dont really know for you). Places like knutsford, altrincham, lymm, alderly edge and other small villages can be very pricey. some areas are less expensive. parts of northwich, middlewich, warrington and so on and so forth.
From the middle of cheshire (aproximately northwich) to salford is aproximately 30 minutes commute, so not too bad.
Can't really say about lancashire, although i imagine its pretty much the same story up there too.
HTH
just north of manchester is lancashire. again pretty rural in some parts.
some parts of cheshire are VERY expensive (but i do not know what you are used to as the "norm" so i dont really know for you). Places like knutsford, altrincham, lymm, alderly edge and other small villages can be very pricey. some areas are less expensive. parts of northwich, middlewich, warrington and so on and so forth.
From the middle of cheshire (aproximately northwich) to salford is aproximately 30 minutes commute, so not too bad.
Can't really say about lancashire, although i imagine its pretty much the same story up there too.
HTH
Driving into Manchester at rush hour is rather a pain, and parking is generally expensive so unless it's provided at your place of work you're better off on the train.
Some of the nicer parts of Bolton would be worth a look, Edgworth is rural and the local train station has a direct line to Salford.
There's also Ramsbottom and further towards the north of Bury, but public transport is very limited to Salford.
Being north of Manchester £300k will go much further than Cheshire, and you've got the Yorkshire Dales an hours drive away for proper countryside and awesome roads.
I'm from / live in both areas so if you do need any further advice feel free to drop me a pm.
Some of the nicer parts of Bolton would be worth a look, Edgworth is rural and the local train station has a direct line to Salford.
There's also Ramsbottom and further towards the north of Bury, but public transport is very limited to Salford.
Being north of Manchester £300k will go much further than Cheshire, and you've got the Yorkshire Dales an hours drive away for proper countryside and awesome roads.
I'm from / live in both areas so if you do need any further advice feel free to drop me a pm.
Most of what you need has already been said.
But to clarify Salford, it's a city in it's own right that sits more or less inside Manchester (much like Westminster in London). You need to clarify where in Salford though, as there's the Quays, which isn't very central, just off the M602 and would involve a tram ride out of Manchester, or two "Salford" stations which are effectively central Manchester.
It's got history as being a hovel and to a large extent is either trendy flats or s
thole council estates, separated by a patch of grass.
My advice with a budget of £300k is to look north of Manchester, the nicer parts of Cheshire won;t see you getting more than a 2 up, 2 down for that money. The twons to the North of Manchester aall have easy access into the Pennines, but propoerty values vary widely from town to town, despite there beig no obvious separation between them.
Do not head East of Manchesster along the M60 / M62 unless you enjoy setting off for work at 5am or queuing in jams for 2hours a day each way.
But to clarify Salford, it's a city in it's own right that sits more or less inside Manchester (much like Westminster in London). You need to clarify where in Salford though, as there's the Quays, which isn't very central, just off the M602 and would involve a tram ride out of Manchester, or two "Salford" stations which are effectively central Manchester.
It's got history as being a hovel and to a large extent is either trendy flats or s
thole council estates, separated by a patch of grass.My advice with a budget of £300k is to look north of Manchester, the nicer parts of Cheshire won;t see you getting more than a 2 up, 2 down for that money. The twons to the North of Manchester aall have easy access into the Pennines, but propoerty values vary widely from town to town, despite there beig no obvious separation between them.
Do not head East of Manchesster along the M60 / M62 unless you enjoy setting off for work at 5am or queuing in jams for 2hours a day each way.
I live in Blackburn which is an easy commute to Manchester. I used to go in to university everyday. £300k would get you a seriously nice house around where I live but a bit further out into the Wilpshire/Langho area is a nicer place and well within your budget. I don't know Cheshire as well as Lancashire but I reckon you could get much more house for your money in Lancashire and still be living in a very nice area.
Buckshaw Village is a new development designed to look like a village that's grown up over the years with old fashioned looking houses in the middle and more modern ones on the outskirts. It's just off the M61 in Chorley and not far from Manchester. This site shows what you can get there to give you an idea of what your money will get you.
http://www.nestoria.co.uk/buckshaw-village/propert...
You might be better off in a more established rural area though
Buckshaw Village is a new development designed to look like a village that's grown up over the years with old fashioned looking houses in the middle and more modern ones on the outskirts. It's just off the M61 in Chorley and not far from Manchester. This site shows what you can get there to give you an idea of what your money will get you.
http://www.nestoria.co.uk/buckshaw-village/propert...
You might be better off in a more established rural area though
Honestly I would move up and rent and do you investigations once you're living up here. There's sommuch to hose from up here and everyone will have different opinions on locations, it's all personal taste.
I would also check the commuting times as some of the ones in this thread are comical: northwich is not 30 mins and Chester is not 45 mins.
I live in South Manchester, technically Cheshire, and £300k will get you a 4 bed house easily. I love where we live as it suits our lifestyle. However, I would agree that north of Manchester would be a good place to look if you're wanting countryside.
I would also check the commuting times as some of the ones in this thread are comical: northwich is not 30 mins and Chester is not 45 mins.
I live in South Manchester, technically Cheshire, and £300k will get you a 4 bed house easily. I love where we live as it suits our lifestyle. However, I would agree that north of Manchester would be a good place to look if you're wanting countryside.
JQ said:
I live in South Manchester, technically Cheshire, and £300k will get you a 4 bed house easily. I love where we live as it suits our lifestyle. However, I would agree that north of Manchester would be a good place to look if you're wanting countryside.
We live just south of Warrington. Pretty ideal location as you've got easy access all directions on the motorways, and can head south west into countryside, or in just over an hour get to snowdonia 
house prices not too bad compared to down south - we got a pretty nice character place with double garage and 3 good double bedrooms for not much over £300k.
I do the commute regularly into Trafford and it is a bit of a pain, can range from 25mins to over an hour - generally it's 45mins of stop start traffic though
kirsty-s2k said:
We live just south of Warrington. Pretty ideal location as you've got easy access all directions on the motorways, and can head south west into countryside, or in just over an hour get to snowdonia
house prices not too bad compared to down south - we got a pretty nice character place with double garage and 3 good double bedrooms for not much over £300k.
I do the commute regularly into Trafford and it is a bit of a pain, can range from 25mins to over an hour - generally it's 45mins of stop start traffic though
Seconded. Just moved from North Manchester to Warrington. Suited us fine for work etc. and getting to other places, North Wales etc. house prices not too bad compared to down south - we got a pretty nice character place with double garage and 3 good double bedrooms for not much over £300k.
I do the commute regularly into Trafford and it is a bit of a pain, can range from 25mins to over an hour - generally it's 45mins of stop start traffic though
I work across the road from Picc Train Station and it takes me 45-60mins to get into work if I leave around 7:30am (Just avoid going down Regent Road and The Crescent now with the roadworks) and its not too bad. It never comes to a complete halt, only real slow point is M6/M60 sliproads, after that on M602 its pretty easy. Takes around 30mins by train.
Parking can be expensive, but got a season ticket for the Picadilly Plaza car park (Near China Town under City Tower) for £80pcm
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