I have never been to Manchester before and am moving there next week for work. Can anyone please tell me a bit about decent areas of Manchester (and the areas to avoid)?

I will be working in M17 Trafford Park area. I would take a place either in Manchester itself or in a suburb - as long as there is life there...

What is public transport like? I notice that there is less of a transport system than in London.

Thanks.

Mcr is a GREAT place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lots to see, do, great shopping, concerts and football!!!!!!!
I went to Uni there some time ago----
Here are the snippits I remember....
Decent suburban train system and buses...bad traffic in the city ( of course).

I had a friend that worked at the Kelloggs factory in Trafford Park.....LOL
Stay away from Moss Side ( but maybe it's better now??).
I had many friends that lived at Old Trafford ( not far from the stadium).
Friends that lived in Stretford; Carrington is not bad either from what I remember.....I'll try and remember more...too late right now.

Can I come with you......lol

Agreed with Shele here...tho I've only been there a few times myself.

Shopping is great! lol...of course I'd know that
Moss Side....stay away!
the Uni there is great and they always have these fantastic gigs. Small venues, cheap as hell!
and if you get to know anyone at the Uni & can get into the pubs when there's no gig on, it's a GREAT night out.

Manchester is great! I only really know south Manchester - lots of nice areas although it can be very expensive. Didsbury, Chorlton and Withington are very nice but expensive. Rusholme is where you get all the great curries. Fallowfield is full of students so cheaper and lively. I have friends who just moved to Whalley Range, not such a trendy area but you get much more for your money. Avoid Moss Side. The centre of Manchester is going through major regeneration and there are lots of city flats available, depends what you have to spend.

Trafford Park is on the M60 so fairly easily accessible although the M60 does have a tendency to turn into a large carpark at times.

Lots more here
http://www3.oag.com/Cities/CityHome?city=3&cat=0

I am 20 miles south of Manchester but I take the train in for cinema, shopping and museums.

Shopping is fantastic - all the high street stores, Selfridges, Harvey Nicks. For a giggle go to Affleck's Palace.

The bus system is good and there is a tram service for some areas.

Enjoy it!

LOLOL OMG!!! Afflecks Palace........ Been there afew times...-it's bizaar-io in sooooooooooo many senses of the word....but all kinds of unique stuff to buy there-a MUST see!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What's the market, too? Where was that????
Thanks for this post-I am sat here having a chuckle
-ah-fond memories... Afflecks palace......
OMG I just remembered now, I used to hit Jilly's club in the city every other Saturday night too ...that's probably demolished by now...lol....( what can I say? I was in Uni...)

Affleck's palace, HAH. That was a strange place indeed.

Jilly's is still on Oxford Road! My name is Jillian so my 5 year old daughter howls with laughter every time we pass it...