Renting in south Manchester

Long time STW forum lurker, mountain biker and runner here.  I need to find somewhere to live, within bike commuting distance of Wythenshawe Hospital, for a year from August.  I don’t know Manchester very well.  Where would be a good place to look for ads and are there any particular areas to reccommend or avoid?  Access to green space and trails would be an advantage, but not essential.  I just need a room in a house share, not a whole house/flat as I’d only be there 3-4 nights a week.

I’d look at Didsbury or Chorlton probably since you say trails are not essential. You can have a nice ride out from those places although it’s not on your doorstep. But they are nice places to live, good restaurants, bars, pubs etc and commutable to wythenshawe by bike.

You didn’t mention budget which makes a big difference in South Manchester.

My brother lives in Gatley
It’s 3 miles from the hospital. It’s a busy area with alot of traffic at all hours.
I don’t think there’s easy access to trail riding from the door.
Some localised issues with the usual groups of young men on mopeds determined to be dickheads.

As has been said, Didsbury, Chorlton. Didsbury still popular with medics generally.

if you’re looking to pay less then some of the old ‘student’ areas – Whalley Range, Withington (‘north Didsbury’ as some would have it) close to Chorlton and Didsbury.

there’s Northenden  too. Close to Wythenshawe. Not too far from Didsbury and Chorlton.

Places like Gatley and Stockport would also be close enough, possibly cheaper than Didsbury and Chorlton. Not as pretty. Not as easy for town and some of the bars and restaurants that might appeal.

trail riding is in short supply. A few woody bits with some small bits around and about. But there is the Mersey to ride alongside.  Marple, Poynton, Macclesfield, and thus the edge of the Peak are close enough to ride to if you have time.

House shares are very common. Check the local estate agents or use rightmove . And check some of the specialists in shared houses – often targeted at students but also catering for young professionals.

For example https://www.homes2share.co.uk

good luck

edit edit ‘green spaces’. Plenty of those in south manchester.

My neighbour was trying to rent out that way before she ended up here (“here” being near Disley, SE Manchester/edge of the Peak District).

She said anything that came onto the market was snapped up in seconds – sometimes a place she’d looked at online was gone by the time she phoned the agent/landlord.

So she had to broaden her search.

However it’s quite student-y around Didsbury, Chorlton, Withington, a lot of shared houses and you’re not far from Chorlton and Sale Water Parks.

Where would be a good place to look for ads

I’d definitely check and see if there’s some sort of noticeboard, real or digital / staff chat groups, where you might find a colleague looking for a lodger/renter and you could maybe post a ‘wanted’ ad yourself You’ve probably worked that our for yourself, but it may short-cut the whole search process.

Look at Sale – easy access to the hospital and from my last visit, lots of canal path riding that can take you as far as you like and quite a lively town centre. If you’re flush, have a look at Altrincham or parts of Wilmslow

And be careful if you’re riding a bike of any value along the Fallowfield loop and other areas of Sth Manchester. Plenty of bike jackings have and continue to happen.

Thanks for all the very useful advice everyone.  Relatively low budget, as I have a mortgage to pay as well.  I’ll keep looking 🙂

There are some ‘nice’ bits of Gatley and Heald Green. Styal country park is lovely for running. But as others have said the greener parts Disley/New Mills/Marple are down the A555 (which has an excellent cycle path). Altrincham ver nice but pricey.

I commute on the Floop everyday. It’s fine during rush hour, but I’m vary wary if I ride it when taking half a day – i.e. around early afternoon.  Depends what riding is important. Chorlton and around there is very busy and crap for MTB, and unpleasant for road riding until you get out. – I avoid that side other than commuting. I used to commute to near Wythenshaw Hospital from the East side of Stockport – 12 miles each way. All depends how near you need to be and your preferred commute transport.

If you’re planning to commute to the ‘Shawe by bike it might be worth making contact with WalkRideGM (either to advise on routes, or potentially to see if someone knows someone who’s looking to let a room).

No MTB trails in that SW quadrant of Manchester, even going far out, but plenty of bw bashing and flat road riding available. Need to be more SE if you wanted to ride your MTB so it depends how long a commute you fancy. The A555 as mentioned is direct with a bike path.

Wythenshawe itself used to be the pride of Manchester when it comes to absolute shitholes, but those days are over I feel. You’d struggle to find a burning car nowadays. I bet you could find a decent spot there for good rent, and the surrounding suburbs like Timperley, Northenden, Gatley are all nice quiet places

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