Accommodation in north-west England - Help wanted please!

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Hi everyone.

I'm seriously considering (and by the time you read this I will hopefully have booked) a Butlins holiday at Minehead 17 May to 7 June.

I live in Australia as many of you know so I'm hoping to stay in the UK a bit longer before and after my Butlins holiday and I'm looking for somewhere I can stay in the general vacinity of Manchester (or somewhere not too far away) for a few weeks before and a few weeks after that, without going broke by paying for a hotel the whole time, which would cost me quite a few thousand pounds!

Doesn't have to be IN Manchester city centre, just somewhere not too far away from the general area because I want to spend some of the time visiting friends and family and places I grew up and that's a good base for me.

Can anyone think of any ideas please?