As one of the UK’s biggest cities, Manchester isn’t just a hot spot for students and young professionals. It’s also a very popular place for families who want to settle while being close to all of the opportunities available. So, if you and your family want to move to Manchester, you’ve got to read this article until the very end. Today, we’ll go over:
- Things to consider before deciding on any particular area
- Best areas in Manchester for families
But before we do any of that, we’d like to give you a general overview of Manchester as a place for you and your family. That way, you’ll have a better idea of what to expect from the city as a whole before you settle on any particular area that you find to be of interest.
An Overview of Manchester as a Place for Families
Manchester is a diverse and dynamic city that offers everything your family could possibly need. The education is great, the green spaces are vast, there are plenty of fantastic cultural attractions to visit, and a whole lot more. And to be quite honest – no matter what you and your family are after, you are sure to find it in Manchester.
In terms of houses – you will find terraced, semi-detached, detached properties pretty much everywhere, regardless of where you look (outside the immediate city centre). If you’re after an apartment, you won’t run out of options either. And should you ever decide to sell in the future, selling your flat fast (or whatever type of property you decide to buy), will be easy as more and more people are starting to gain interest in the city.
In regards to price, the average property in Manchester last year sold for around £300,000. With that said, the cost of the property you choose can vary depending on how big it is, what type of property it is, and most importantly, where it’s located. So, if 300,000 is too much or too little for you, you can easily find homes for more or cheaper than that.
Things You Should Consider Before Deciding on an Area
If you were a single person, you could decide what’s best for you fairly quickly. However, since you have a family, there are extra things that you need to consider before you decide on an area that you want to move to. In the section below, we’ll give you a couple of things to consider that will help your decision-making process a lot easier.
Education Facilities
When making such a big move with your family, chances are that you want to send your children to one of the best schools in Manchester. So, when looking at potential areas that you and your family can call home, the first thing you need to consider is the level of education facilities around – be it primary and high schools or colleges and universities.
Safety
As Manchester is quite a big city, there is also a level of crime that you need to be aware of. The good news is that crime only tends to happen in certain parts of the city. What this means is that as long as you don’t live there, you won’t have any concerns regarding the general safety and well-being of your family.
Transport Links
Whether for work, leisure, or to get kids to school – transport links are important for getting around quickly and conveniently. Manchester does have one of the best transportation systems in the whole country, so as long as you don’t live too far out – you can take advantage of most of them (trams, buses, trains, taxis, and so on).
Parks & Green Spaces
If you enjoy spending time outside with you and your family, you need to make sure to choose an area that has plenty of parks and green spaces around. If your goal is to live in the city itself, doing so can be quite tricky, but not impossible. Fortunately, regardless of where you decide to live outside of Manchester, you’ll be exposed to plenty of green areas that you and your family can go to during your free time.
The Best Areas for Families in Manchester
There are many neighbourhoods and districts in Manchester that are suitable for families. However, some are far better than others, and those are the ones that we’ll explore today. Some areas that you should definitely consider include:
- Didsbury (best for a suburban lifestyle & access to a mix of urban amenities)
- Chorlton (best for families seeking a diverse community)
- Altrincham (before for a suburban lifestyle)
- Sale (best for education)
- Cheadle (best for getting that sense of community)
- Prestwich (best for affordable housing)
- Eccles (best for amenities)
What all of these have in common is that they are safe, are home to many of Manchester’s best schools, and are filled with families from Manchester and all over the country. Not only that, but those areas also have plenty of green spaces, amenities, entertainment options, and are very easy to get to and from – whether by car, bike, or public transport. But ultimately, the best place to live in Manchester will depend on your and your family’s needs.
Thousands of families move to Manchester every year. And in the process of doing so, one of the most important things you need to consider is the area that you settle into. Aside from education and access to a variety of amenities, you also need to take safety, transport links, and other aspects into consideration.
Fortunately, Manchester is very diverse, so finding the perfect area that ticks all of your boxes won’t be a challenge at all. So, hopefully, after reading this article, you’re one step closer to finding the perfect place that you and your family can call home.
