There's a wealth of material online which could save days scouring the area. So, here is a selection of links to take the hassle out of home hunting:
Where do you want to live?
Manchester Online: Within the Homesearch section there is a useful 'Spotlight On ....' various towns across Greater Manchester. Also provides information on new developments, lettings and contains an agents database. The website also contains advice on buying and selling, legal aspects and mortgages. UKVillages: Almost everything you need to decide where to relocate to. There's information on schools, local jobs, places to stay, pubs, the local environment, attractions, new and aerial maps, doctors, dentists, hospitals and pharmacies, train times, weather, local government links, nearby villages and towns. The site even lists if the local exchange is broadband enabled.
Here's our quick guide to the main areas of Manchester:
Beetham tower |
Central Manchester: Judging by the cranes bristling the city centre skyscape, there's a huge appetite for city centre living. In act, space is becoming so tight that the only way is up: the 47-storey Beetham Tower on Deansgate will be the UK's tallest residential tower block when it's finished. And for those who want to stay 'a cut above', plans are afoot for similar luxury high rises in Salford. (See 'A cut above: high rise living is back'). After a few wilderness years, Salford Quays is looking more lived in and good for waterside living. The infamous Moss Side and Hulme have undergone a huge transformation in recent years and offer easy accesss to the centre. And if you can stretch to a loft conversion, there's also Castlefield.
South Manchester: From Old Trafford to the leafy lanes of Bowdon, there's a bit of everything. Running south out of the city, the Wilmslow Rd corridor from Rusholme to Withington is student territory. Further on, is bijou Didsbury village - very Cold Feet and absurdly expensive along with its trendier neighbour Chorlton. On the A6 towards Stockport are the rough and ready Longsight and Levenshulme with its big Irish community.. The 'burbs' in Trafford get posher the further out you get - Stretford, Urmston, Sale, Altrincham and Hale Barns. Stockport's a real mix of working class and well to do - with the Peaks only a short hike up the A6. And Wythenshawe is the biggest council estate in Europe.
North Manchester: Generally cheaper but less sought after, North Manchester is definitely value for money. Traditional working class areas include Harpurhey and Moston with its strong sense of community based around the wonderful Moston Lane. More cosmopolitan than South Manchester, North Manchester is home to places like Prestwich with its long established Jewish community. Crumpsall and Cheetham Hill are ethnically diverse areas with large Asian and Eastern European populations.
East Manchester: Once neglected areas of social and economic deprivation, the areas of Clayton, Openshaw and Beswick have received massive amounts of regeneration money - the most in the North West - which all began with the Commonwealth Games. Manchester City FC have moved into SportCity and interest continues. The area is on the up - and so are the house prices. Further along the A57, Hyde and Denton are still waiting. New East Manchester website has detailed information on regeneration in this area. Salford/ West Manchester: Hugely varied. Salford Quays is the region's flagship area but stands a long distance apart from estates like Ordsall with its social deprivation. Classic Coronation Street back-to-back terraces are still in evidence, but further out areas like Boothstown and Worsley are favoured by Manchester's footballing elite. Eccles has got the best transport links in the city while Monton village is a little gem.
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