Riverdale is about five miles north of the city centre. It is part of Higher Blackley, between Victoria Avenue and Blackley New Road. It is close to the M60 motorway around Manchester - so there's good access to other parts of the city and the north west. See detailed map
Living in Riverdale
There are local shops on Chapel Lane and Riverdale Road, and a supermarket at the Rochdale Road/Victoria Avenue crossroads (about a mile away). There's a library on Victoria Avenue too. Local bus routes serve Riverdale itself, and there are regular buses on Victoria Avenue and along Rochdale Road to the city centre and to Middleton where there are more shops and local facilities. The Metrolink station at Bowker Vale (about a mile away) has speedy trams to the employment, leisure and shopping facilities in the city centre and Bury within easy reach.
It's about a mile to Heaton Park where there's a wide range of sports and leisure activities set in rolling land and woods. The park stages the Manchester Show North, summer Fundays and family events. There is a playpark and playground at Tweedle Hill Road, and a youth centre on Victoria Avenue (between Plant Hill Road and Tweedle Hill Road). There are fishing pools behind the flats on Bridgenorth Road. There’s a brand new leisure centre and swimming pool at Harpurhey (two miles away). The Crab Lane area of Riverdale is listed as a conservation area.
Learning In Riverdale
Riverdale is within walking distance of Plant Hill High school on Plant Hill Road. Our Lady's Catholic school is less than a mile away, across Victoria Avenue on Alworth Road. Younger children usually go to either Crab Lane primary school on Crab Lane, or St Clares Catholic school about half a mile away, on the other side of Victoria Avenue.
Find out more about this area's schools and how well they perform. Go to Manchester Schoolfinder.
There's a children's centre, and adult and toddler group on Longhurst Road. The Higher Blackley youth centre on Victoria Avenue hosts an adult and toddler group and a playgroup.
Find out more about council-run nurseries in this area. Go to Finding a Children's Centre.
There's an adult learning centre at Plant Hill school on Plant Hill Lane. See detailed map
Find out more about adult education.
Housing in Riverdale
Almost all Riverdale homes are rented from the council, or are former council homes that have been bought by their tenants. All council homes are managed by Northwards Housing. There are about 860 homes here - mostly built in the 1950s and 1960s. More than half of them are two- or three- bedroom houses. There are also 160 flats in small blocks, 170 flats in multi-storey blocks, and 60 maisonettes. See detailed map
Northwards Housing has a £130 million improvement plan that will
bring all homes, and local environments, up to decent modern standards
by 2010. Every Northwards home will benefit from some of this work by
2008.
