The Best Places to Live in Manchester

Manchester is the second-biggest city in the UK, and is celebrated for its contributions to culture, music, architecture, and sport, to name but a few. The city has a thriving economy, with plenty to see and do for people of all ages. It’s become a hugely popular location for young professionals and families alike, with so much to offer.

If you’re thinking of moving to Manchester, finding the right location can be tricky. You’ll have a lot of factors to consider, such as the distance to the city centre, the facilities and amenities nearby, safety, and local things to do. As a leading removals company, we’ve put together this guide of some of the best places to live in Manchester.

Ancoats

Ancoats is a vibrant neighbourhood in the northern part of Manchester city centre. It’s cultivated a reputation as one of the coolest places in Manchester, thanks to the abundance of independent eateries, bars, and boutiques in the area. In recent years it’s had a boom of creative businesses, which has attracted new residents.

Ancoats is incredibly well-connected. It’s a quick 15-minute walk to Manchester city centre and also to Manchester Piccadilly, the closest train station. From here, trains to both Leeds and Liverpool take around an hour.

For property, Ancoats mainly offers gorgeous flats and town houses. This includes both luxury new builds and characterful period properties. One downside to Ancoats could be that the properties rarely have much outside space – however, with so much going on in the area, plus Ancoats Green providing a green oasis, you could find you always have something to do outside of home.

Castlefield

Castlefield is a peaceful neighbourhood in Manchester’s city centre. It’s an inner-city conservation area, and hugely walkable, with gorgeous architecture calling back to Manchester’s industrial roots. Castlefield is home to the ruins of the Roman Mamucium fort, which is where the city gets its name. It also features plenty of canals, with relaxed waterfront bars and popular live music and other arts venues.

Castlefield is well-connected, with Deansgate railway station on the doorstep. From here, trains to Liverpool take an hour and to Manchester Airport takes less than 30 minutes.

Castlefield has a mix of apartment types on offer, ranging from luxury, high-specification apartments with sweeping views of the city, to trendy warehouse and loft conversions, plus spacious townhouses.

Chorlton

Chorlton is a suburb located just three miles southwest of Manchester city centre. It’s a quirky area full of character and a village community feel. The area is popular with families, offering a connection to city life while retaining a quieter, more peaceful environment. Chorlton is known for its independent businesses with a focus on sustainability, plus a diverse array of cuisines. Chorlton Ees Nature Reserve provides ample green space to walk and observe wildlife, and Chorlton Park offers a playground for children.

From Chorlton, the city centre is just 15 minutes by tram. The nearest train station to Chorlton is Trafford Park, which is a 10-minute drive or 30 minutes by public transport. From Trafford Park, trains to Liverpool take an hour and to Manchester Oxford Road takes less than 10 minutes.

Property in Chorlton can be on the expensive side, due to the area’s popularity. But in return, residents get bright, airy homes with plenty of outside space. The most popular property type in Chorlton is semi-detached homes, but a range of property types can be found here, including sprawling detached homes and attractive apartments.

Didsbury

Didsbury is a suburban village south of Manchester city centre. It’s a popular location for first-time buyers and families, with leafy streets and a tight-knit community. Didsbury is known for being an affluent area and has plenty of green space in Didsbury Park, which has a football pitch and a playground for children.

Although a little out of the city centre, Didsbury still offers great transport links. It’s just 20 minutes on the tram to the centre of Manchester, and East Didsbury train station connects the suburb further afield. Trains from here to Liverpool take an hour and ten minutes, and to Manchester Piccadilly take 12 minutes.

Didsbury has many types of property on offer for residents. The most popular type is semi-detached homes, which offer ample space inside and outside. There are also exceptional detached homes, plus apartments both in new build developments and converted mansions.

Salford Quays

Salford Quays, or just the Quays, is an area that’s recently grown in popularity thanks to investment and redevelopment in the area. Officially in Salford, the Quays is a waterfront location bursting with creativity and is still just 10 minutes from Manchester city centre by public transport.

The area, with MediaCity alongside, is known for contributions to the arts and culture scene – the BBC has a location here, as well as the Coronation Street set and experience. There’s also an up-and-coming food scene, with more bars and restaurants opening, plus a whole host of arts events, such as immersive exhibitions and live music.

Property in Salford Quays mainly consists of apartments and townhouses. The recent investment has seen many new builds developed, offering waterfront homes in a luxury setting. Many of the new apartment blocks in the Quays offer a range of extra amenities, such as roof terraces, co-working spaces, and games rooms.

Moving to Manchester?

Britannia Bradshaws provides efficient and reliable removals across Manchester and beyond. If you’re new to the city or just moving to a different area in Manchester, we can help manage your move for a completely stress-free experience.