Help - Good localities around Irlam/Manchester?

[LoneRanger]

Hi All,

Been hunting around for places to shift to but cant find anything concrete.
Bit of a background first - My wife and I are in our late 20s and will have to relocate very soon to somewhere close to Irlam as I have secured a perm job there. We dont know anyone out around this area and need advice on a good place to camp down.

We are looking to be away from the busy city centre appartment lifestyle, preferably close to Manchester so the Missus can possibly secure work in the city and we want to move into a nice 2 bed house in a suburb with close proximity to Irlam by train or the bus. Weekends we would definitely be out partying so towns with a £15 ride into town is just great. I do not have a car at the moment so its only public transport to work :-(

We have looked around and it would help if anyone could answer the below
1. Can we live in Irlam?Is it an option at all?
2. Are surrounding areas like Flixton and Urmston nice towns? If not, any suggestions on towns between Irlam and Manchester?
3. Finally, on the other side and towards Warrington are towns like Parington and Fearnhead a good choice?

Any suggestions will help us a great deal especially which areas have to be avoided at any cost. I have to live at a commutable distance from Irlam so any nice town/community for families will help us a great deal.

Pretty please and thanks!
Cheers
Ken

[celeste]

Warrington and surrounding areas are too far out, Urmston is better though I don't know about a train service and Flixton has some nice houses too - both are near to the Trafford Centre and a bus ride into Manchester too.

I would find Irlam a bit mundane

[LoneRanger]

Thanks Celeste,

I was hunting for places looking at the main rail route on google maps.
Trains from Birchwood, Deansgate and major Manchester train stations all stop at Irlam and my office would be a 10min walk from there which is fine.
Urmston looks promising so let me have a look around. Is Birchwood a nice lil town?

If I have absolutely no options then within Manchester City itself I guess the Northern Quarter is what I need to aim for right?

Cheers
Ken

[celeste]

I don't know much about Birchwood so I couldn't advise you, I live in Sale and near enough to catch the Metro tram into town - 20 mins. from Sale.

I know there are buses from Sale to Partington, Carrington and Ashton-On-Mersey

[belladonna]

What about Stockport? It's not too far away from the city centre and there seems to be a lot going on for entertainment at the weekend.

[LoneRanger]

Thanks but checked it out and its an hour by train to Irlam with 2 changes so wont be practical on a long term basis.

If I may ask, in and around Manchester city, which areas are good to live in especially close to Manchester Oxford Station?

Cheers
Ken

[celeste]

I wouldn't like to recommend a place near to Manchester.

I am assuming Oxford Road Station runs a train service to Irlam which is why you are interested, where does it stop en route?

[belladonna]

I agree, from what I've heard from members of my family around Manchester the further you are from the city centre the better.

[LoneRanger]

Thanks guys,
Its definite we wont stay in the city now.
Celeste, yes a train runs from Manc Oxford to Irlam.
Some of the stops on this service en route to Warrington are Flixton, Urmston, birchwood, deansgate etc.
I shall check all train services thru Irlam, get the town names with rail stops n post it later today.
Appreciate the help !
Ken

[LoneRanger]

Here is a list of places and rail Station from Great Sankey in Warrington to Manchester Oxford Station. As stated earlier we are looking to be away from the busy city centre appartment lifestyle.

Stations                                                 Places in the area

1)Sankey for Penketh Rail Station        Great Sankey, West Brook, Callands, Old Hall
2)Warrington Central Rail Station        Warrington City Centre (not preferred)
3)Padgate Rail Station                         Fearnhead, Paddington, Woolston, Padgate, Houghton Green                                                                     
4)Birchwood Rail Station                      Birchwood, Risley
5)Glazebrook Rail                                 Doesnt have any places around
6)Irlam Rail                                           Irlam and Cadishead
7)Flixton Rail                                         Flixton
8)Urmston Rail                                      Urmston
9)Humphrey Rail                                   Urmston and Stretford
10)Trafford Park Rail                             Trafford                 
11) Manchester United FC Rail             Old Trafford
12)Deansgate Rail
13) Manchester Oxford Rail

Would like to know if any places mentioned are good and safe to live???
Thanks,
Ken                                                   

[celeste]

I've not heard anything worrying about Flixton and Urmston,  not sure re Stretford - if you bought a house there it would connect with the Metro tram to M/C which would suit your OH