Places to live in the NW...
Discussion
Spent most of my life in Wilmslow, don't worry about the planes, as has been said it's off the flight path.
I used to got to college many years ago in Macclesfied, and tbh while some parts are nice i find Wilmslow much more charming.
It's a lot easier to get yourself into Manchester from here with good connections as you have the bypass nearby and also the motorways, 10 mins from the Airport.
Nice little town center plenty of good restaurants, shops and bars
I used to got to college many years ago in Macclesfied, and tbh while some parts are nice i find Wilmslow much more charming.
It's a lot easier to get yourself into Manchester from here with good connections as you have the bypass nearby and also the motorways, 10 mins from the Airport.
Nice little town center plenty of good restaurants, shops and bars
Only just seen this. Grew up and lived in Northwich (well Rudheath so a mile or so outside) for 21 years then moved to Macclesfield 12 years ago as I worked here at the time and was commuting the 20 miles away. Macclesfield isn't so bad at all and we live in our own house (i.e. mortgaged) on what was the worst council estate in the town a few years ago (on the east of the town by the football ground) and we have done so for 8 years now without any trouble. So, the more upmarket areas of Macclesfield such as Tytherington, Lyme Green edging into Sutton and Gawsworth can't be bad!
Some good things about Macclesfield are the countryside literally on the door step for cycling, walking, nice drives etc and quick/regular trains into Manchester, London etc if that's what you need. There's a number of green spaces (parks in town too).
Bad things about Macclesfield:
The lack of things to do! The town centre is absolutely rubbish for shopping (but then many are nowadays) and the cinema is a token single screen effort in the Silk Museum. There's some reasonably nice poncy bars and restaurants though and lots of pubs!
House prices in the nicer parts are quite high for what you get in my opinion. £140,000 for a terraced house with a shared back yard and front door opening onto the pavement outside is not for me. Hence why we live in an ex-council house, that needed doing up, but is a 3 bed semi with huge front, side and back gardens and only cost £72,500 3 years ago.
Prior to buying our house, we rented a tiny one bed flat in a conservation area about 5 minutes walk to the town hall in the centre and it was £400 per month! It's up for rent now at £450 per month!
The 25-30 minutes it takes to get to a motorway to go anywhere. A 50 mile trip to take our daughter to the seaside (and that's only West Kirkby which is the nearest place on the coast) takes forever sometimes. Northwich was much better for that, 10 minutes to the M6 at Knutsford and right next to the A556 for Chester and North Wales.
Some good things about Macclesfield are the countryside literally on the door step for cycling, walking, nice drives etc and quick/regular trains into Manchester, London etc if that's what you need. There's a number of green spaces (parks in town too).
Bad things about Macclesfield:
The lack of things to do! The town centre is absolutely rubbish for shopping (but then many are nowadays) and the cinema is a token single screen effort in the Silk Museum. There's some reasonably nice poncy bars and restaurants though and lots of pubs!
House prices in the nicer parts are quite high for what you get in my opinion. £140,000 for a terraced house with a shared back yard and front door opening onto the pavement outside is not for me. Hence why we live in an ex-council house, that needed doing up, but is a 3 bed semi with huge front, side and back gardens and only cost £72,500 3 years ago.
Prior to buying our house, we rented a tiny one bed flat in a conservation area about 5 minutes walk to the town hall in the centre and it was £400 per month! It's up for rent now at £450 per month!
The 25-30 minutes it takes to get to a motorway to go anywhere. A 50 mile trip to take our daughter to the seaside (and that's only West Kirkby which is the nearest place on the coast) takes forever sometimes. Northwich was much better for that, 10 minutes to the M6 at Knutsford and right next to the A556 for Chester and North Wales.
Sorry, a couple more things to add:
Re the planes. The predominant wind sees the planes landing over Manchester/Stockport most of the time. But, there are periods when they land over Cheshire. We get them right over our house in Macclesfield at these times after they've held over the Peak District, but at about 5-6000 feet so not noisy and my parents house in Northwich (well Rudheath) is directly in line with the end of the runway so they go over their house at about 1,800 to 2,000 feet. Amazing viewing from their back garden and explains my penchant for aviation since being a small boy! Non-regular visitors to my parents are in awe when the Emirates A380 looms towards the living room window when they are landing over Cheshire! They are obviously a lot lower than that by the time they get to Plumley, Knutsford and Mobberley. When taking off over Cheshire, they actually deviate to avoid overflying Knutsford as much as possible.
Between Macclesfield and Rudheath, there are plentiful little villages and hamlets to live (Siddington, Lower Withington, Cranage, Goostrey, Allostock, Lach Dennis) which I'll be honest, is where my lottery win house will be if I'm ever lucky enough and it's a lovely 20 mile B Road route to drive and cycle which I do at least once a week when visiting the parents.
Re the planes. The predominant wind sees the planes landing over Manchester/Stockport most of the time. But, there are periods when they land over Cheshire. We get them right over our house in Macclesfield at these times after they've held over the Peak District, but at about 5-6000 feet so not noisy and my parents house in Northwich (well Rudheath) is directly in line with the end of the runway so they go over their house at about 1,800 to 2,000 feet. Amazing viewing from their back garden and explains my penchant for aviation since being a small boy! Non-regular visitors to my parents are in awe when the Emirates A380 looms towards the living room window when they are landing over Cheshire! They are obviously a lot lower than that by the time they get to Plumley, Knutsford and Mobberley. When taking off over Cheshire, they actually deviate to avoid overflying Knutsford as much as possible.
Between Macclesfield and Rudheath, there are plentiful little villages and hamlets to live (Siddington, Lower Withington, Cranage, Goostrey, Allostock, Lach Dennis) which I'll be honest, is where my lottery win house will be if I'm ever lucky enough and it's a lovely 20 mile B Road route to drive and cycle which I do at least once a week when visiting the parents.
Whatever you do don't choose Mawdesley, a lifeless retirement/snob commuter enclave in Lancashire. It's hideously inbred, no amenities, no public transport or taxis - so forget a social life of any sort. The people are really snobbish and unfriendly. Basically it's a tiny little enclave for far right wing elderly retirees, greedy snobbish commuter types and inbred Tories. The surrounding "countryside" is sort of green, at least for some of the year - but it's flat, featureless and industrially farmed. Most of the year it's just a grey, bleak expanse of stinking cabbage fields. House prices are at levels not seen anywhere outside of Surrey/Home counties and your money doesn't get you much. The "village" is a truly dead, joyless and lifeless place. Nearby towns like Chorley, Leyland, Wigan are all at least a 1/2 hour drive away, and are pretty run down. Local roads are terrible, potholed, full of mud/farming debris, obstacles.
Looks twee when you drive through, but basic things in life like getting to school or college, massive commutes to work, not being able to meet up with mates for a drink, no local amenities, having to drive 20 minutes for a pint of milk, having to drive to absolutely everything, horrible snobbish locals, small mindedness. All these things will eventually grind you down and completely outweigh the tweeness. Beyond the age of about 10 it was a truly awful place to live. Bear that in mind if you have kids.
Looks twee when you drive through, but basic things in life like getting to school or college, massive commutes to work, not being able to meet up with mates for a drink, no local amenities, having to drive 20 minutes for a pint of milk, having to drive to absolutely everything, horrible snobbish locals, small mindedness. All these things will eventually grind you down and completely outweigh the tweeness. Beyond the age of about 10 it was a truly awful place to live. Bear that in mind if you have kids.
Edited by mawdesleytractor on Sunday 3rd January 15:36
Edited by mawdesleytractor on Sunday 3rd January 15:37
Edited by mawdesleytractor on Sunday 3rd January 15:38
Making the move from Sydney, we found it difficult finding somewhere which we liked. After looking at 100+ houses in the north east, we came across the Pennines and took a liking to Wilmslow, so we settled here. Cosmopolitan feel, good transport links and country side on my doorstep. Can't go too far wrong.
Another vote for Wilmsow and alderley edge. A great compromise with lots of life. Can just be a bit pricey for up north. We recently had to make the decision with a change in jobs and settled for a nice wee house in alderley edge. Don't regret it one bit. Just my job hasn't quite made it there yet and am still working in London 
we were also considering poynton but it also depends on the house/garage that comes onto the market too.
Still, happy wife, happy life
we were also considering poynton but it also depends on the house/garage that comes onto the market too. Still, happy wife, happy life
Hi all,
Me and my partner are relocating out of Manchester and are looking for advice. We are first time buyers and don't want to pay Manchester city centre prices when we don't actually use or need the city centre for anything. We both grew up in small towns and are not really "city people" so we would like to move to somewhere a bit smaller with more of a community feel but also not too small (a population of 15k-100k would probably be ideal). We would also like to be close to the airport so south Manchester if possible.
We really like the look of Northwich and have found a house we really like. The main reasons we like Northwich are:
- Houses are more affordable than the surrounding towns and villages
- It is a nice, manageable size i.e. a happy medium between Manchester and 'the middle of nowhere'
- We think it looks quite pretty with the river running through the town centre
- Easy commute to Chester (30 minutes), Manchester (40 minutes), Liverpool (45 minutes), Manchester Airport (20 minutes)
However, neither of us are from the area, know the area or know anyone that knows the area so we would really appreciate if someone was able to give us a bit of information about the town and give us the positives and negatives of the town so that we can make a slightly more informed decision.
Thanks in advance!
Me and my partner are relocating out of Manchester and are looking for advice. We are first time buyers and don't want to pay Manchester city centre prices when we don't actually use or need the city centre for anything. We both grew up in small towns and are not really "city people" so we would like to move to somewhere a bit smaller with more of a community feel but also not too small (a population of 15k-100k would probably be ideal). We would also like to be close to the airport so south Manchester if possible.
We really like the look of Northwich and have found a house we really like. The main reasons we like Northwich are:
- Houses are more affordable than the surrounding towns and villages
- It is a nice, manageable size i.e. a happy medium between Manchester and 'the middle of nowhere'
- We think it looks quite pretty with the river running through the town centre
- Easy commute to Chester (30 minutes), Manchester (40 minutes), Liverpool (45 minutes), Manchester Airport (20 minutes)
However, neither of us are from the area, know the area or know anyone that knows the area so we would really appreciate if someone was able to give us a bit of information about the town and give us the positives and negatives of the town so that we can make a slightly more informed decision.
Thanks in advance!
jt333 said:
Hi all,
Me and my partner are relocating out of Manchester and are looking for advice. We are first time buyers and don't want to pay Manchester city centre prices when we don't actually use or need the city centre for anything. We both grew up in small towns and are not really "city people" so we would like to move to somewhere a bit smaller with more of a community feel but also not too small (a population of 15k-100k would probably be ideal). We would also like to be close to the airport so south Manchester if possible.
We really like the look of Northwich and have found a house we really like. The main reasons we like Northwich are:
- Houses are more affordable than the surrounding towns and villages
- It is a nice, manageable size i.e. a happy medium between Manchester and 'the middle of nowhere'
- We think it looks quite pretty with the river running through the town centre
- Easy commute to Chester (30 minutes), Manchester (40 minutes), Liverpool (45 minutes), Manchester Airport (20 minutes)
However, neither of us are from the area, know the area or know anyone that knows the area so we would really appreciate if someone was able to give us a bit of information about the town and give us the positives and negatives of the town so that we can make a slightly more informed decision.
Thanks in advance!
I've lived in / around Northwich for just over 20 years now. There are some really great bars and restaurants and the new Barons Quay shopping development is slowly filling up. You've also got Knutsford just down the road which is great in the evening.Me and my partner are relocating out of Manchester and are looking for advice. We are first time buyers and don't want to pay Manchester city centre prices when we don't actually use or need the city centre for anything. We both grew up in small towns and are not really "city people" so we would like to move to somewhere a bit smaller with more of a community feel but also not too small (a population of 15k-100k would probably be ideal). We would also like to be close to the airport so south Manchester if possible.
We really like the look of Northwich and have found a house we really like. The main reasons we like Northwich are:
- Houses are more affordable than the surrounding towns and villages
- It is a nice, manageable size i.e. a happy medium between Manchester and 'the middle of nowhere'
- We think it looks quite pretty with the river running through the town centre
- Easy commute to Chester (30 minutes), Manchester (40 minutes), Liverpool (45 minutes), Manchester Airport (20 minutes)
However, neither of us are from the area, know the area or know anyone that knows the area so we would really appreciate if someone was able to give us a bit of information about the town and give us the positives and negatives of the town so that we can make a slightly more informed decision.
Thanks in advance!
Trains are OK, but are usually late. Crime is relatively low. It's close to Oulton Park and the M6. Beware - as I said, I've lived hear for a long time and I'm still classed as an outsider.
HS2 is coming very close to the eastern side of the town so choose your area carefully.
I can't comment on the location, but those travel times are crazily optimistic, assuming you mean by car of course. You "might" be able to get to Manchester in 40 mins or the airport in 20 mins at 7am on a Sunday morning, but travel at a time when other people are on the road and you'll easily double those travel times, if not more.
If that's not an issue, then nothing to worry about, but just make sure you're comfortable with travel times. When moving somewhere new we've always travelled to the location and done a dummy run of our commute. I hate commuting and the thought of spending 2-3 hours a day getting to and from work would just fill me with dread.
Hope all goes well, Northwich does look a lovely place to live.
If that's not an issue, then nothing to worry about, but just make sure you're comfortable with travel times. When moving somewhere new we've always travelled to the location and done a dummy run of our commute. I hate commuting and the thought of spending 2-3 hours a day getting to and from work would just fill me with dread.
Hope all goes well, Northwich does look a lovely place to live.
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