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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 ares
include Harpur Hey 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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