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Knutsford

Jan 23, 2018

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In March 2017, Knutsford was voted the best place to live in north-west England. The judges of the 'Sunday Times Best Places To Live' awards consider a range of factors, such as the quality of life, transport links and local amenities, as well as visiting the areas to speak with locals. But is Knutsford really the best location to buy a house? Read on to find out more.

GREAT SCHOOLS

Knutsford is home to a number of good primary and secondary schools, such as Bexton Primary, Vincent’s RC and Mobberley CofE Primary School, which all performed well in recent Ofsted inspections. Knutsford Academy is an excellent secondary school which serves the local area. There are also a number of private schools in the district.

FAMILY FRIENDLY

The judges from the Best Places To Live awards noted Knutsford's village feel and commented on the close-knit community. These make Knutsford a great place to raise a family. The town is surrounded by miles of countryside, which means it's very easy to get out in the fresh air. Tatton Park, which features a deer park, gardens and a farm, is just a short drive away. The town also has a good cinema, which means you don’t have to travel into the city to see the latest Hollywood blockbuster. If you enjoy the occasional 18 holes, the Mere Golf Club is located a short distance from the town.

FOOD AND DRINK

While it has its share of traditional country pubs, there is much more to Knutsford than real ale and Sunday roasts. The town features a number of chic and modern restaurants, such as the popular Italian chain Piccolino. King Street is full of small bars and independent restaurants and cafes, such as Belle Epoque and The Botanist. For afternoon tea, you can call in at Victoriana Vintage Tearoom, located just off King Street, to enjoy their selection of delicious cakes and scones.

TRANSPORT LINKS

Even though Knutsford is located deep in the Cheshire countryside, it is still very well connected. It's easy for drivers to reach the M6 motorway which provides links to the Midlands and the North, and the M56 which links Manchester and Chester. Knutsford is also very close to Manchester Airport, which makes it ideal if you are planning on taking a trip abroad for business or pleasure. A regular service to Manchester departs from the local train station and gets you into the city centre in around 45 minutes.

HOUSE PRICES

The high-quality schools, large homes and rural setting come at a price. The average house price according to Zoopla currently stands at £499,537. However, the picturesque detached properties located in the centre of town, such as those on Legh Road, can sell for anywhere between £2m and £5m. A terraced house in Knutsford will cost around £310,000.

All of the evidence suggests that Knutsford really is one of the best places to live in the north-west. If you are interested in finding out more, contact us today!

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Tameside

Tameside, which is located just east of city centre Manchester, is home to the towns of Ashton under Lyne, Denton and Hyde. Tameside was a centre of engineering, cotton, hat making and coal mining during the Industrial Revolution. The borough boasts access to affordable homes, good schools, beautiful countryside and excellent transport links to the centre of Manchester. The average house price in Tameside is just £153,438; that's well below the average across Greater Manchester which stands at £206,734. HOUSING STOCK The housing stock in Tameside predominately consists of Victorian terraces, which were originally constructed to house mill workers. However, since the end of WW2, there have also been a number of modern housing estates constructed, which contain attractive semi-detached homes. In the 1970s, larger 3 and 4 bedroom suburban homes also started to appear. In recent years, old mills across Tameside have been converted into luxury apartments. You can expect to pay around £100,000 for a two-bed terraced house in Tameside, with more modern 4 bedroom detached homes in Ashton under Lyne selling from around £200,000. A similar property in a more exclusive area such as Denton will set you back around £400,000. TRANSPORT LINKS Tameside is very well connected. Trains from Hyde Central, Ashton under Lyne and Denton will get you to Manchester Victoria in under 30 minutes. If you prefer to take the bus, the 219 will get you from Ashton under Lyne to the centre of Manchester in just under an hour. The Metrolink from Ashton under Lyne can get you to Manchester Airport in under one hour. If you drive, Tameside offers easy access to the M67 and M60 motorways which provide good links to Liverpool, the Peak District and Leeds. LOCAL SCHOOLS If you have children, you will be pleased to know that Tameside provides excellent educational facilities. The area is home to eight primary and secondary schools which are rated as ‘outstanding’ following recent Ofsted inspections, with St Christopher’s Primary School in Ashton under Lyne receiving particular praise for the quality of its teaching. LOCAL AMENITIES Tameside is a great place to live. Ashton under Lyne, Denton and Hyde are vibrant and energetic towns with local markets, high street shops and small independent retailers. The Ashton Moss entertainment complex located in Ashton under Lyne contains a cinema, restaurants and a bowling alley. In Hyde, you'll find the Hyde Leisure Pool which offers water-based fun for all the family, including a swimming pool, wave machine and water slides. Ashton under Lyne has its own amateur rugby, cricket and football teams. The stunning countryside of the Peak District is just a short journey away; here, you can enjoy long walks, camping, horse riding and cycling. If all of that makes you hungry, you can visit one of the many local restaurants which offer Italian, Indian and Thai dishes. If you're looking for an affordable place to live, which has excellent links to Manchester city centre and to the countryside, Tameside could be the place for you.

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