Thinking about moving home in Manchester but not sure where you’d like to live? Let Philip James help you out. Our exclusive new branch pages tell you everything you need to know, from the finest local shops, restaurants and bars to the best schools and how much your new home could cost
Local shop for local people
Local facilities are at the top of everyones’ lists when it comes to choosing where they want to live and here at Philip James we make your choice much easier. When you visit any of our local branch pages you’ll find everything you need to know about local facilities, whether it’s the nearest shop or the best street to live in. And if there’s anything you’d like to know about an area just give any of our branch managers a call; their telephone number and email address are listed at the top of each page
Rob Cuffe’s city centre area guide
Castlefield: Manchester’s most sought-after and prestigious residential district has a wide-variety of luxury apartment blocks from converted warehouses to landmark contemporary architecture, all in a lovely canalside setting
Ancoats: The eastern edge of Manchester is quickly establishing itself as the city’s most vibrant and up-and-coming location with a wide selection of excellent-value apartment to choose from.
The Village: Manchester city centre’s most-established residential location has thousands of shops, pubs, bars, nightclubs and places to eat, right on its doorstep, plus it’s just a five minute walk to Piccadilly Station
Green Quarter: Located to the east of Victoria Station the Green Quarter is the city’s biggest standalone residential development and its perfect if you work in the centre of town. There are hundreds of different style contemporary apartments for sale or rent.
Spinningfields: Originally planned as Manchester’s answer to London’s Canary Wharf, Spinningfields has become one of the city’s most popular places to live; there are fantastic restaurants and bars, tons of blue-chip companies and great luxury shops in Spinningfields itself and neighbouring King Street West.
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Schools out for summer
Our customers always ask about the quality of local schools, especially in Heaton Moor and Didsbury. Where you send your children to school and the quality of care and teaching is vital in making a decision about where you’re going to raise your family. So here at Philip James we put local schools at the heart of our branches; on every page you’ll find a list of all the schools in each catchment area, plus the most up-to-date results and direct links to each of the schools’ websites
Mike Wilson’s list of Heaton Moor Schools
Didsbury Road: Pupils 446, Maths 97%, Eng 100%, M&E 97%
Norris Bank: Pupils 283, Maths95%, Eng 98%, M&E 95%
Tithe Barn: Pupils 215, Maths 90%, Eng 97%, M&E 87%
St. Winifreds: Pupils 367, Maths 92%, Eng 90%, M&E 88%
Broadstone: Pupils 420, Maths 92%, Eng 87%, M&E 85%
Mersey Vale: Pupils 213, Maths 82%, Eng 86%, M&E 75%
St. Johns’: Pupils 176, Maths 80%, Eng 70%, M&E 70%
All Saints: Pupils 165, Maths 61%, Eng 61%, M&E 48%
St. Thomas’: Pupils 247, Maths 75%, Eng 69%, M&E 63%
Priestnall Secondary: Pupils 1213, A-C 83%, A-G 98%, Av 526.2%
St. Anne’s Secondary: Pupils670, A-C 68%, A-G 92%, Av 454.7%
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Tracks of my years
Over the past few years there has been a revolution in transport across Greater Manchester with increasing number of buses and trains and hundreds of millions spent on extending the Metrolink across the city. Philip James has local branches in areas that have been transformed by infrastructure spending including Sport City to the east of the city and Didsbury to the south. On all of our branch pages you’ll find details of local transport and a list of all the stations you’ll need
Rob Kennedy’s guide to the new Metrolink in Didsbury
The Manchester Metrolink extension opened early in May 2013, allowing passengers to travel by rail from West Didsbury to the city centre for the first time since 1967. The new Metrolink stations are:
East Didsbury: Island platform in the cutting between Kingsway and Parrs Wood Lane.
Didsbury Village: Located on the south side of School lane
West Didsbury: Immediately after the line crosses under the Palatine Road/Lapwing Lane junction.
Burton Road: Situated on the west side of the Burton Road towards the north-eastern end of Cavendish Road.
Withington: The new station is located on the west side of Princess Road
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Table for two
Once you’ve decided where you want to live and Philip James has found you the perfect place, we don’t just leave it there. Our new branch pages are filled with details about local pubs, bars and restaurants so you can scan our website and find the best place to eat or the nicest local watering hole. And if you think we’ve missed a great place or have any suggestions you’d like to add to our listings, just drop an email to your local team
Claire Blezard’s five favourite restaurants in Salford Quays
Prezzo, Orange, Media City UK, Manchester, M50 2HF
Wagamama, MediaCityUK, Salford Quays, M50 2EQ
Lime, Lowry Outlet Mall, Quays Road, Salford Quays, Manchester, M50 3AG
Cafe Rouge, Lowry Centre, Salford Quays, Manchester, M50 3AZ
Pizza Express, G38, Lowry Designer Outlet, Salford Quays, M50 3AZ
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The price is right
We’ve saved the best ‘til last and it’s the most important of all; price. Philip James sells and rents properties in some of Manchester’s most diverse locations; from great-value family areas such as Denton and Reddish, to multi-million-pound locations such as Didsbury and Deansgate. To make your property search even easier, each branch page includes a full break-down of property prices for sale and for rent plus details of all the local council tax bands
Sally Ann Smith’s Manchester City Centre price guide
Average sale and rental prices
Studio Apartments: £90,000 / £595pcm
1-bed Apartments: £125,000 / £650pcm
2-bed Apartments: £175,000 / £825pcm
3-bed Apartments: £220,000 / £995pcm
Council Tax Prices
Band A = £884.66
Band B = £1032.11
Band C = £1179.54
Band D = £1326.99
Band E = £1621.87
Band F = £1916.77
Band G = £2211.65
Band H = £2635.98