THE CHORLTON AREA THE GATLEY AREA

Beautiful tree lined streets and large Victorian terraced properties, Edwardian architecture, character and charm. Chorlton is a small suburban area located 3 miles South West of the Manchester City Centre and borders Stretford, Sale, Didsbury, Withington, and Whalley Range.

Recently voted within the top 10 of ‘Manchester’s Most Desirable Places To Live’, Chorlton boasts a strong sense of community, rich in history, culture and lifestyle.

Historically, Chorlton was a village on Lancashire’s southern border with Cheshire, and a township within the ancient parish of Manchester. It was incorporated into the city of Manchester in 1904. This leafy and fashionable suburb is a property hotspot with great local amenities that feels a world away from Manchester city centre – which is only fifteen minutes away.

The bustling and trendy area is a haven for boutique shops and delis. Locals can buy fresh fish and seafood from Out of the Blue, artisan cheese from Chorlton Cheesemongers, meat from Frost’s the Butcher and stock up on wholesome and organic ingredients from the Unicorn Grocery – although there is a Morrison’s and a Home Bargains for everyday shopping needs.

Non-food shops include Chorlton Bookshop, lifestyle stores, sustainable fashion boutiques, art galleries, jewellery and gift shops. There’s also a regular monthly Maker’s Market where local producers sell everything from local honey to hand made greeting cards.

Chorlton has a great café culture and you’re never too far from an excellent coffee shop or restaurant which range from tapas to Turkish and Tibetan and everything in between. The leafy area around Beech Road towards Chorlton Green is especially popular with young professionals and families thanks to its colourful range of shops, bars, pubs and restaurants. Chorlton also boasts several schools rated by Ofstead as good or outstanding.

Throughout the year you’ll find a wide range of classes and workshops being held in the area including meditation, mindfulness and yoga which has contributed to Chorlton’s reputation for being Bohemian. In fact, many notable creatives have lived here at one time including The Bee Gees, Badly Drawn Boy and Morrisey.

The M21 postcode also has great public transport links into Manchester, which is only three miles away. It’s well serviced by a regular bus service and three Metrolink tram stops; the main Chorlton stop, St Werbergh’s Road, and Firswood.

Although Chorlton is a vibrant suburb, you’ll find lots of green spaces and well-loved community allotments. Chorlton Water Park is a popular place for dog walkers and cyclists and there’s plenty of space to chill out and have a picnic by the river Mersey on sunny days. There are cycling routes, children’s play areas, courts for tennis and basketball, football pitches, and an area for skating. There are similar facilities in neighbouring Stretford’s Longford Park and Sale Water Park which share borders with Chorlton-cum-Hardy, and Chorlton Ees Nature Reserve is ideal for a spot of peaceful reflection.

Chorlton has an excellent community spirit and hosts regular events. Culture vultures flock to the area for Chorlton’s annual art and book festivals and the suburb has a reputation for its liberal and tolerant attitude. You’ll find many different house styles and sizes to choose from, many with a large garden attached and there’s usually plenty of street parking available. Chorlton has a good social mix of long-term residents and young families who support its quirky independent spirit.

Chorlton’s blend of architecture, green spaces and excellent transport links to Manchester City centre entice new residents looking for laid back City culture while remaining Distinctly Manchester – it’s clear to see why Chorlton and Chorlton Green have captured the hearts of city dwellers looking for suburban living.

Gatley is a beautifully sleepy but well-connected suburb in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, Greater Manchester – although historically, it once sat within the boundaries of Cheshire.

It is approximately 3 miles away from Manchester Airport, 5 miles west of Stockport, 5.5 miles east of Altrincham and 7 miles away from the centre of Manchester. Gatley is situated next to the popular towns of Cheadle and Cheadle Hulme, although the A34 divides them. The M60 motorway and the River Mersey separate Gatley from its slightly larger neighbour, Didsbury, while Heald Green lies to the south and Wythenshawe to the west and northwest.

Gatley boasts a number of independent retailers such as the ‘Magic Moments’ gift shop, second hand shop ‘Remember When’, and the eco-friendly ‘Gatley Refillery’ which stocks cruelty free, vegan and biodegradable household and personal care products to refill.

For grocery shopping there’s local butchers Jackson O’Malley and Mather’s Bakery and cafe as well as a Co-op and a Tesco Express. You’ll also find two large out of town shopping centres in close proximity; one with a John Lewis department store and a large Sainsburys supermarket, and the other, a Tesco Extra, Marks and Spencer, and Boots the chemist.

Gatley village is well serviced for hairdressers and beauty salons, along with a couple of decent pubs, a few coffee shops and a handful of well-regarded local restaurants. These including Piccolo Italian restaurant and bar, the Spanish Bodega, and the vegetarian Bhaji Pala although there are a few good takeways in the area too. Locals and visitors are welcome to take advantage of the abundance of free on street parking.

Gatley has a total population of around nine thousand and is a popular location for families. Serving the area is one secondary school and four primary schools, and the independent Cheadle Hulme School is also nearby.

Property-wise, this suburb features a diverse range from one bed studio apartments to semi-detached houses up to six bed executive properties.

Its proximity to the motorway network and excellent transport links makes it a much sought-after area for commuters. Gatley has its own train station and Heald Green station is also nearby. Gatley is a stop on the Styal Line and offers relatively short journey times into Greater Manchester. The station is located on the A560 and provides a car park which is free of charge for all rail passengers.

Just over a mile away lies the Parrs Wood Entertainment Centre on the A34 Kingsway, incorporating a range of attractions including a multi-screen Cineworld, a casino, gym, bowling alley, a hotel and a number of well-known restaurants.

Gatley’s green spaces include Gatley Carrs which consists of 19 acres of woodland, scrubland and four acres of swamps and ponds. Gatley is also not too far from Scholes Park, Abney Hall Park and the beautiful grounds of Cheadle’s Bruntwood Park where you’ll find a large children’s play area, a worldclass BMX racetrack and mature woodland.

Good schooling and an array of convenient amenities make Gatley an attractive place to live. It is adjacent to several other desirable towns and villages and offers an abundance of activities and green spaces to enjoy.

The village atmosphere, thriving community and fantastic transport links continue to draw residents from neighbouring suburbs and its clear to see why!

If you’re thinking of a move, call the team on 0161 882 2233.