Check the flight paths for Manchester airport before you decide anything.

True. But You really don't notice them much unless you are right under the approach to the runway. Only Mobberley and Wythenshawe/Heald Green really get low over flights. We lived right at the end of the runway (both ends at some point or other) in fact they flattened our house to build runway 2… the only time I ever really noticed the aircraft was when Concorde went over…. then I was already in the garden waiting to see her anyway

The BEST thing about living in Wilmslow, is that it's only 10-15 minutes to and from the airport!!!

My spouse had quite a number of friends at Manchester University (at the time, UMIST). When they took flights from Manchester airport they would often phone my in-laws (who lived in Wilmslow) for permission to park outside their house for the duration of their trips so they could avoid paying the extortionate airport parking fees! If they were lucky and my F-i-L was available he would even drive them to/from the airport, otherwise they would book a taxi cab.

Hull. Great university, has an airport, people are very friendly, loads of museums, voted UK city of culture for 2017

Having lived in many parts of England, I'd recommend this area, but cheaper: Macclesfield, for instance (houses were going for under £5,000 when I arrived there ), not far from Buxton, already recommended, but better rail links.

With a family, the key is finding the right compromise between housing costs, pleasant surroundings and job opportunities. I've loved Malvern and Prudhoe (in the Tyne valley) to name two other not-so-outrageously expensive areas. Although all house prices in the UK look silly to me now.

Our first house in Staffs, an Edwardian 2.5 bed semi, was £8.500 (but it was a HUGE chunk of salary at the time)...

A Cheshire girl here born and bred.

Macclesfield and Congleton have ruder winters than the rest of the plain - nothing like here of course but with the first sprinklings come traffic chaos. But they have some good schools.

Your only worry for the airport would be Stockport/Heald Green on the eastern approach and Mobberley and some parts of north eastern Knutsford on the western approach.

Further into the city have you considered Hale and Altrincham? One brother and one sister live here - all their kids are now in either Altrincham Girls Grammar or Altrincham boys - which are major reasons for choosing these catchments - although depending on where you are, house prices are high. Hale (especially on the outskirts towards Rostherne) is leafy and pleasant.

Outside of Knutsford (which has my vote ) I am fond of the various villages - like the Peovers (upper, lower and middle) the Tableys, Pickmere, Mere etc. all of these places are to be considered rural though and you will end up as a mum taxi, whereas in Knutsford, Hale and Altrincham, not so.

Some great lifestyle changing ideas there. Buxton, Cumbria, etc.

I'll be boring and say Canary Wharf area. Short drive to the ferry (Dover), handy for London (Jubilee line), Flights from City airport to Zurich are cheaper than to Heathrow, and it is 10 minutes from the airport by DLR costing 2 quid.

Traffic wise, you are driving against the flow during rush hour if you work out of London. Shopping you have Lakeside, Kent and Essex as well as London.

Just for a laff, how much would you pay for living quarters for a family of four in Canary Wharf? Anything for less than a million?

West midlands is definitely the way to go. In terms of city options I am personally impressed by Birmingham. The city has unique architecture, not the standard stuff you get everywhere. It is very multi cultural, good for arts, music and sport (though not for the faint hearted if you want to be a football fan - it's a roller coaster ride). Property is extremely affordable, with good returns for rental, compared to London (in case you came to your senses and returned to Switzerland). Then you've got the LS2...

A 4 bed house (3 double rooms), water frontage with stunning views, integral garage which could be converted to a 5th bedroom, small drive and garden, 5 mins to DLR, 15 mins walk to Canary Wharf, less than 800k, or about 2500pcm rental. There are lots of 3 bed houses around the 500k mark. Strangely a trendy 2 bed flat in the same area is also about 500k.

On the other hand you could buy something out of the way outright for the price of the stamp duty. Going to be a difficult commute though.