Didsbury Building Surveyors: A Local Guide


We thought, as local Building Surveyors, you might find this local guide helpful if you’re considering relocating to Didsbury or South Manchester.

 

LOCATION AND TRANSPORT LINKS

Didsbury is an affluent suburb of Manchester, the southern most ward of Manchester City Council, approximately five to six miles due south of the main city centre.  It neighbours with adjacent areas such as Chorlton, Withington, Northenden and the Stockport Borough of Heaton Mersey.

A short drive further south takes you into Cheshire and the affluent areas such as Audley Edge, Wilmslow, Hale, Hale Barns – where many of the Manchester United and Manchester City footballers live.

It’s well positioned for access to the motorways and the surrounding countryside, such as North Wales, and both the Lake District and Peak District National Parks.  Therefore, as cities go, it is something of a Mecca for mountain bikers and other UK based extreme sports.

Transport links to central Manchester and the airport are good, with the mainline via the East Didsbury train station, which passes through neighbouring Burnage and Mauldeth Road before arriving at Manchester Piccadilly, with a total journey time of approximately 15 minutes.  Train fares are cheap compared to many other parts of the country.

You can also now get a tram from Didsbury with the Metrolink station opening during the spring of 2013.  Whilst the journey time is longer this does travel to the opposite side Manchester city centre and through many more of the neighbouring boroughs, also linking East Didsbury, Didsbury Village, West Didsbury, Burton Road, Withington and Chorlton-cum-Hardy, continuing via Trafford (useful for those football fans!) and then into the Deansgate station in Manchester city centre.

 

OUTDOOR PURSUITS

The River Mersey flows through South Manchester, through the suburb of Didsbury. A part of the tow path comprises the Trans-Pennine trail, popular for walkers and cyclists alike – it is actually possible to ride from the east of England to the west of England on the Trans-Pennine trail and one day we very much hope to do this!

There are also various parks, such as Fletcher Moss Gardens, Didsbury Park and Marlie Louise Gardens, which are all very popular for picnics during the summer months.

 

LEISURE AND SHOPPING

You can also visit the cinema or go 10 pin bowling at the Parrs Wood leisure complex, where there are also a variety of chain restaurants and bars, a Virgin Active gym and casino.

Didsbury Village tends to be have a slightly more commercial edge, with a few of the national retail multiples here, but it still has a lovely village feel and is very common to see people walking down the streets stopping to chat because they know each other and it has a locally renowned famous butchers, cheese shop and delicatessen.

West Didsbury is also popular with the more bohemian types, with many independent craft shops, eateries, cafes, junk shops and designer clothes stores.

 

WINING AND DINING

If you are feeling brave enough you can try the “Didsbury Dozen”; a pub crawl of 12 of Didsbury’s most famous drinking establishments, a common feature of stag and hen parties in the area.

There are also a number of local and chain restaurants to choose from, The Deli, Gusto, and Mud Crab Café all have excellent reputations.

West Didsbury is concentrated around Burton Road and Lapwing Lane.  It provides a plethora of independent bars and restaurants and walking down Burton Road on a sunny afternoon you could almost be forgiven for thinking you are on holiday, with the number of people enjoying the al fresco dining experiences and the sheer number of restaurants with illuminated menus for you to choose from.

 

WORKING AND STUDYING

A wealth of commercial opportunities and working opportunities are also on the doorstep, not least are the Parrs Wood leisure complex (probably for those in the earlier stages of their careers!), and Towers Business Park in West Didsbury is home to many corporate household names, such as John Lewis, British Airways, Regis and others.  Siemens also have a major office in Didsbury, on the junction between Barlow Moor Road and Princess Parkway.

Didsbury also has a student campus, part of the Manchester Metropolitan University, where we believe teachers and nurses study.  The presence of students makes for an interesting demographic in the local area, with many young professionals, students and wealth families in the large detached houses.

Local schools generally have good reputations and there is also a Manchester College Campus on Barlow Moor Road.

 

OTHER THINGS TO LOOK ONLINE FOR:

  • Didsbury Festival
  • Didsbury Festival
  • Didsbury Car Show
  • Didsbury In Bloom
  • West Fest
  • The Albert Club, West Didsbury

 

As local independent building surveyors we’ve surveyed lots of local houses, shops and offices.  So whether you require a HomeBuyers Report, Commercial Building Survey, Schedule of Condition or any other service, please don’t hesitate to call from a chat.