Reasons Why Manchester is a Good Place to Live

Manchester isn’t just a good place to live. It’s a great place to live!

OK, we know what you’re thinking. It’s always raining in Manchester.

Yes, that may be kind of true, with most days being drizzly and grey.  But, there is so much more that this city has to offer!

Manchester was historically the beating heart of the Industrial Revolution thanks to its canal system, railways and cotton production (which, incidentally, owed its success to the humid environment – see, rain’s not always a bad thing!)

These days the UK’s second most populous city is more famous for its nightlife, student population, music and sports.

It was recently voted the third best city in the world to live in, and there are reasons for that!

Here are just a few things that’ll leave you mad for Manchester…

Move up the career ladder

Manchester is becoming ever more a contender with London when it comes to the jobs market. 

The city offers a seemingly infinite variety of job opportunities, and with less competition than in London it’s easier to get ahead here.

Many young professionals choose to set up camp in Manchester in order to take advantage of the career progression that’s available here. 

There are plenty of openings in finance, marketing, sales, retail, construction and wholesale distribution. Many businesses are setting up camp in Media City, currently home to the BBC and ITV television studios.

The fact that the city is full of young professionals also gives it an edgy, up and coming feel, as well as contributing to the thriving social scene. 

The possibilities are endless!

Affordable Living

In Manchester, you’ll find that the cost of living in general is more affordable than that of London. 

It’s estimated that the cost of living in Manchester is 32 percent lower than in London and cheaper than 52 percent of other Western European cities.

That makes investing in property here a worthy and feasible investment.

Buzzing Nightlife

Whether you’re a 24-hour party person or like having chilled drinks with friends, Manchester has something for all tastes.

There are the bars and clubs in the city centre, where everybody gets their glad rags on to dance the night away.

For more of a hipster vibe, check out the Northern Quarter. It’s full of restaurants and bars and offers fresh taste trends and live music venues.

Keep your eyes peeled for camera crews while you’re there, as Manchester often doubles up for New York in TV shows and movies! 

The Northern Quarter’s also ideally located for a quiet drink after work, as it’s just a stone’s throw away from some of the most stylish new apartments popping up around the city.

Manchester is one of the most open-minded cities in the UK. That’s why the Gay Village is one of the locals’ favourite spots to shake off the stress with some cheesy pop tunes and a feel-good atmosphere. Manchester also hosts an annual Gay Pride event, hosting famous music artists and a big parade where you can spot famous TV stars!

Music Scene

Manchester is famed for many things – industry, science, football, and music.

Some legendary bands emerged from here, including Oasis, The Smiths, and the Stone Roses just to name a few.

The spirit of music lives on to this day. You can check out up and coming bands in intimate gigs in venues throughout the city, while the O2 Apollo and Manchester AO Arena are the go-to places to see big headlining acts.

Sports

The most famous football team in the world is Manchester United. 

Millions of fans from every corner of the globe make the pilgrimage to Old Trafford every year, and we recommend that you take its guided tour.

Manchester City football club is the rival team, with their stunning Etihad Stadium located in the East of the city.

Fans of football also shouldn’t miss out on a visit to the Football Museum in the city centre, with its distinctive sloping roof and glass structure.

Universities

Manchester is home to more than one university and has a thriving student population.

The most famous institution is Manchester University, which has produced Nobel prize winners, and boasts impressive scientific discoveries and research facilities.

Manchester Metropolitan University is situated close by, as well as the RNCM and Salford University.

This emphasis on higher education is one of the reasons why Manchester is home to such a melting pot of international people. Students flock to Manchester from all over the world to study here, and the city has the highest retention rate for graduates in the UK.

The People

The weather may not be warm, but the people certainly are! 

Mancunians are famed for their friendly and outgoing personalities. 

You’ll find that they take any opportunity to get chatting to you, so you can always be sure of a welcoming face.

The Size of the City

Manchester is a fairly big city (it’s the third biggest in the UK), but it’s nowhere near as vast as London. That means you won’t be dedicating huge chunks of your time to navigating across the city. 

Most places within the city can be reached within an hour, maximum. The most central places are also easy to access on foot.

Transport Links

It’s easy getting around the city thanks to a great network of buses and trains. The southern and central regions of the city are particularly well served with regular buses that run well into the night.

The Metrolink also provides easy access across a great part of the city, and connects Media City to the centre of Manchester. The distinctive yellow trams run regularly, so if you miss one you won’t have to wait long!

The city has two main train stations, Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria. So wherever you live, you’ll be able to hop on a train and get away on a weekend break or escape to the country.

Green Spaces

Manchester is a great place to live if you like to get away at the weekends. It’s a stone’s throw away from the Peak District. With just a short train journey you’re in the middle of the countryside taking in the marvels of the rolling Pennines. You can even get away to the breathtaking Lake District by hopping on a train.

The coast is nearby. Within an hour’s journey, you could be climbing Blackpool tower or spotting red squirrels at the Formby nature reserve.

If you don’t want to leave the city, there are plenty of green spaces and canals dotted around where you can take a stroll or have a picnic. Heaton Park, Whitworth Park, and Boggart Hole Clough are three of the most famous parks.

Whitworth Park is home to Whitworth Art Gallery and hosts a huge annual Bonfire Night celebration with a fireworks display, bonfire and funfair.

Heaton Park surrounds its Georgian manor house and is the biggest public park in Manchester, hosting Parklife music festival every year, amongst many other events.

Boggart Hole Clough is lesser-known but is noteworthy for its legend of the boggart. It’s said that this terrifying ghost haunted all of the resident farmers throughout the centuries until the farmland was opened up as a public park in the early 20th century (and the council was too afraid of the boggart to name the park anything else!)

There are also some famous historical parks closer to the city centre. This includes Angel Meadows, which has now been regenerated to feature elegant park-side living space at MeadowSide.

There are even some newer parks springing up in the city, such as the planned City River Park. This project will see 46 hectares of space transformed into one of the largest city-centre green spaces in Manchester, bringing generous amounts of much-needed parkland to the city. 

Shopping

One of the best things to do in Manchester is to go shopping.

There are a multitude of shops to suit all tastes. Whether you’re looking for high street brands on the main shopping street, Market Street, or boho vintage stores in the Northern Quarter, you won’t be left empty handed. 

King Street is where you can find the designer labels, while upmarket stores like Selfridges are found close to Manchester Cathedral.

Stunning Architecture

Living in Manchester means you will be surrounded by an eclectic mix of modern and historic architecture.

The Industrial Revolution was when Manchester exploded as a big player on the international stage. It’s understandable, then, that some of its best architecture belongs to the Victorian era.

Just take as an example some of its art galleries and monuments. Manchester Art Gallery and the Whitworth Art Gallery are two stunning pieces of late nineteenth-century design. 

Close by to the Manchester Art Gallery you can’t miss Central Library with its elegant domed roof, reminiscent of St Paul’s Cathedral in London.  

Next to the library, you can see the Midland Hotel, which is so stylish that Hitler requested that it not be bombed in the Blitz so he could have it for himself!

As you wander around Manchester you may notice the bee logo plastered across bins and posts. That’s the Manchester Bee, the worker bee symbolising Manchester’s industrial past. More recently, it’s come to take on the significance of the ‘buzz’ of Manchester and became a potent symbol of solidarity in the face of the 2017 terrorist attack.

Make sure you check out Sinclair’s Oyster Bar, a stunningly preserved 16th Century pub that was moved brick by brick from its former location to its current placing outside Manchester Cathedral.

A more modern installation on the Mancunian landscape is the imposing Beetham Tower, which is home to the Hilton Hotel, swish apartments and  Cloud 23, a luxurious bar smack bang in the middle of the skyscraper. Get up there and take in panoramic views over this dynamic, cosmopolitan city.

Other places of note are Chetham’s Library (the oldest surviving public library in Britain), Ordsall Hall, the Royal Exchange Theatre, and, let’s not forget Media City!

Manchester is always developing and changing, with new buildings and projects constantly springing up, marking the landscape with innovative designs and stunning architecture. 

Victoria Riverside is one of them, bringing stylish and modern apartments to the up-and-coming Red Bank neighbourhood. If Manchester sounds up your street, then don’t hesitate to get in touch today.