2 Different Liverpool Neighbourhoods

I like the area around Lark Lane in Liverpool and I'm also partial to the Alerton Road/Rose Lane meighbourhood of Mossley Hill.  Can anyone tell met the differences between these places ans also site some advantages and disadvantages of residing in either place.  Essentially I'm looking for convenience.  I need quick access to public transport such as the train or busses to the University in City Centre.  I also want the convenience of being within walking distance to shops, banks, pubs, restaurants, a supermarket, a chippie, a post office, and maybe even a cinema.  Which one of these two areas would suit these needs better?  Thanks!

I've made a note of this and will come back to reply in more detail this evening.  Just out of curiosity, how much time have you spent in Liverpool?

Quite a lot of visits over the past 20 years--at least once a year for about a week or two each time.

Quite a lot of visits over the past 20 years--at least once a year for about a week or two each time.

And you still want to move here? Just kidding.

We have been looking for houses in both areas over the past few months, so we've become quite familiar with those neighbourhoods. 

I love Lark Lane.  There's such a nice atmosphere on that street, and a great mix of restaurants and a few bars and shops.  I think there's a post office on Lark Lane as well.  Having Sefton Park nearby is also a bonus.  There's more shopping on Aigburth Road, including a medium sized Somerfield and Tesco, an HSBC, and a few takeaways.  However, these are rather spread out.  There are a couple of train stations at either end of Aigburth Road and the closest to Lark Lane is about a 10-15 minute walk.  I know of at least one major bus route from Aigburth Road into town that runs pretty frequently.

The house we're trying to buy is in Mossley Hill, slightly closer to the city centre than Allerton Road/Rose Lane.  Smithdown Road/Allerton Road and Penny Lane have a good volume of restaurants and many other amenities.  There is a large Tesco at the junction of Allerton Road and Rose Lane, as well as an Asda on Smithdown Road.  Opposite the Tesco is a branch of the city library and there's a small Odeon cinema on Allerton Road, but it only shows a couple second run films at a time.  I'm pretty sure there's a post office on Smithdown or Allerton Road.  There's a higher concentration of students in this area than Lark Lane, from what I've heard, though I don't know if this matters to you.

Transport wise, Mossley Hill train station is on Rose Lane, which takes you into Lime Street station.  There are several major bus routes along Smithdown and Allerton Roads, and I think there's a night bus route as well.  You can get more information about public transport from www.merseytravel.gov.uk

I would say that the Mossley Hill area meets your needs a little better than Lark Lane, but that you would probably be satisfied living in either.  I hope this helps and if you have any more questions, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer.

Thank-you very much for the informative and gracious reply.  I read somewhere that the Allerton Road/Rose Lane area of Mossley Hill is more for families and pensioners, while the Lark Lane area seems more geared to young singles.  Would you say this is a fair assessment, slightly overblown, or completely false?  I would like to be in a vibrant area where there are a lot of young, single, educated, professionals in their mid to late 20s.  A type of place where there are a lot of different pubs and restaurants.  I would like to be around a younger crowd, but not necessarily overun by multitudes of teenage students.  I don't want to be the only youngish, single guy on the block either, where every business and place you go is built around kids and families.  On another note about the Lark Lane area, when I was younger that particular stretch of Aigburth Rd. used to be pretty dirty and crime ridden--particularly the closer you went toward the city centre.  Lark Lane itself was OK, but it was bordered by a high crime area.  Is this still the case, or has it gentrified and cleaned up it's act around there?  You see, I am leaning toward Lark Lane, but if it is still a nice neighbourhood surrounded by a dodgy area, I'd rather live in the boring surroundings of Allerton Rd. suburbia.  I don't know, maybe I'm getting older, but I'd rather be safe and bored rather than excited and mugged.  Again, this only applies if Aigburth Road is still on the dreary edges of slum land.  If it's not anymore, please let me know.  Thanks again!