What Is Living In Manchester Like? A Guide To Manchester

Last Updated October 2024

Are you contemplating relocating to or living in Manchester? The cost of housing, crime rates, top attractions, top schools, population, top local neighbourhoods, and a host of other factors will all be covered in our guide to living in Manchester.

Manchester, which is young, diverse, vibrant, and full of character, is one of the most interesting locations to visit in the UK right now, where everyone and anybody is very warmly welcomed.

Manchester is the only UK city on Lonely Planet’s “Best in Travel 2023” list, as well as the only UK city on National Geographic’s prestigious “Best of the World” list, which identifies 25 must-see destinations throughout the world.

Manchester, known around the world as the birthplace of the industrial revolution, has a long history in science, politics, music, the arts, and sports. Today, the city mixes its legacy with a forward-thinking ambition to create a city that amazes and delights in equal measure.

 

Is Manchester A Good Place To Live?

Manchester was historically the centre of the Industrial Revolution due to its canal system, railroads, and cotton production. Being the second-most populated city in the UK, it’s now better known for its nightlife, student population, music, and sports. Being one of the UK’s biggest and most popular cities, it’s a brilliant place to live, and there are good reasons why it was recently ranked as the third best city in the world to live in!

 

 

Manchester Population 2024

Manchester’s metropolitan area will have 2,791,000 residents in 2023, up 0.76% from 2022. For a quieter area within Manchester, consider Bolton which has around 296,000 residents as of 2023 and property prices that are below the national average in the UK.

 

Is Manchester Safe?

Manchester is a fantastic destination, and it’s much better for those looking to settle there. Since the crime rate is minimal in comparison to those of other larger cities, daily life is not significantly impacted. It’s considerably safer to live there than in most other areas and is actually ranked as the 201st safest city in the world!

Of course, it’s important to use common sense when navigating the city and avoid walking alone late at night or in remote locations.

 

 

What Is Manchester’s Crime Rate?

Antisocial behaviour is the second most common offence, according to the Greater Manchester Police. According to the most recent data, the offence occurred 61,986 times in the city.

The usual unit of measurement used by UK agencies is crime per 1,000 people. Manchester has a startling crime rate of 383 per 1,000 people. The crime rate is substantially lower in other areas of the nation.

 

Average House Prices In Manchester

Most sales in Manchester during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £311,376.

Overall, property prices in Manchester over the last year were 1% up on the previous year and 11% up on the 2020 peak of £255,841.

 

Manchester Property Market Overview

Detached Houses in Manchester

The current average sold price in Manchester is £398,539 for a detached house.

Semi-Detached Houses in Manchester

The current average sold price in Manchester is £275,758 for a semi-detached house.

 

Terraced Houses in Manchester

The current average sold price in Manchester is £206,700 for a terraced house.

 

Flats In Manchester

The current average sold price in Manchester is £172,559 for a flat.

 

Is Manchester a Good Place to Invest in Property?

According to Land Registry data, Manchester has had the biggest growth in property prices among all major UK cities since 2001, with the city centre playing a significant role.

It’s easy to see why Manchester is one of the UK’s most desirable cities for buy-to-let real estate investing: a growing number of young professionals; three esteemed universities; consistently rising home and rental values; significant investment and redevelopment; and a robust tech industry all serve to reinforce this.

What is the Average Rent in Manchester?

The average property rent in Manchester is £1,505pcm.

The average rent for a room is £603pcm.

The average rent for a flat is £1,699pcm.

The average rent for a house is £1,479pcm.

 

Cost Of Living in Manchester

Despite being a large city, Manchester is recognised as one of the most affordable major cities in the whole world. In the Time Out Index list of the world’s least expensive cities in 2022, just 10% of Mancunian people said they thought it was expensive to live here.

To live comfortably in Manchester, you’ll need at least £700 each month in addition to rent or a mortgage payment. This is the most current estimate of the average cost of living for someone living in Manchester.

Living in Manchester is less costly than living in London almost in every department. Manchester has much lower rent than the national average—by 48.58%—which is a major determinant of cost of living. General prices have decreased by around 18% for all customers.

 

Best Places To Live in Manchester

Altrincham

The large market town of Altrincham is in Trafford, Greater Manchester. Following decades of cultural and industrial upheaval, the town has become a popular destination for Manchester first-time buyers and house movers. In fact, it has been regarded as one of the Northwest’s greatest locations to live!

Altrincham may cost more to live there, but considering the variety of housing options, it’s unquestionably worth it. Altrincham is also a fantastic spot to raise a family.

 

 

Deansgate

With its history dating back as far as the 17th century, Deansgate is one of Manchester’s most historic neighbourhoods and is the longest road in Manchester City Centre at more than a mile in length.

A pleasurable experience is provided by the abundance of designer shopping options on the neighbourhood high street. Manchester has numerous different transportation choices to select from, including trams, trains, and even a shuttle bus, making it easy to commute between the city’s many neighbourhoods.

 

Salford

Salford is an ideal location for a house because of its booming urban core and dynamic community, which puts it firmly on the home-buying map for first-time buyers or home movers in Manchester.

Salford now has more stores, eateries, and pubs thanks to MediaCityUK and the investment in the region, but if this isn’t enough, Manchester City Centre’s attractions are always close by. However, the green spaces in this new city development have survived. Salford is still one of the greenest cities in the UK, allowing citizens to live near water and in both urban and rural settings.

 

Is Manchester A Good Place To Work?

Manchester is one of the major UK cities, luring talent to its door with a job market as robust as that found in the Northwest. The music sector in Manchester is thriving and well-known worldwide for its huge job opportunities.

It appears that there are more job prospects in Manchester and London than in other places. However, it’s obvious that Manchester is becoming a centre for employment chances, whereas it may be harder to get and hold a job in London.

 

What Are The Best Schools In Manchester?

The Manchester Grammar School

Manchester Grammar School is a male-only independent school. It’s ranked 86th overall and second in Manchester in the Sunday Times Parent Power 2023 Guide.

 

Manchester High School for Girls

Rusholme’s Manchester High School for Girls is ranked 95th nationally and third in Manchester.

 

Chetham’s School of Music

The largest specialised music school in the UK is Chetham’s School of Music, which is situated in the heart of the city. It comes in fifth place in Manchester and 202nd overall.

 

Stretford Grammar School

Stretford Grammar School is a mixed state grammar school. In the Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2023, it comes in at number four nationally and number four in Manchester.

 

What Universities Are In Manchester?

The four universities in the city region have more than 100,000 students enrolled, and they annually graduate about 36,000 highly qualified individuals.

Manchester contains four world class universities including:

Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester Metropolitan University, one of the most popular institutions in the UK, is proud to be home to more than 40,000 students and more than 4,000 staff members in the multicultural city of Manchester. More than 130 different nationalities are represented in our multicultural student body.

 

The University of Salford.

The University of Salford is a fantastic destination for students to study, with MediaCityUK and Manchester both nearby. One of the most multicultural cities in the UK is Manchester, which also has one of the biggest student populations on the continent.

 

The University of Manchester.

This university is one of the most sought-after in the UK, drawing the most undergraduate applications in 2019 (UCAS). Today, the university is a member of the esteemed Russell Group of UK institutions, and as evidenced by its ranking of 33rd globally and 6th in the UK in the 2019 Academic Ranking of World Universities, it has a reputation for the highest calibre of research and instruction.

 

The University of Bolton.

The University of Bolton is an aspirational university that places a strong emphasis on providing excellent instruction and a positive student experience. Along with cutting-edge and developing fields including special and visual effects, racing engineering, and dentistry sciences, they offer classic degree programmes in math, engineering, and law.

 

Is Manchester a Student City?

Manchester has one of the largest student populations in Europe, with a total of 90,000 students, including 19,000 from outside the UK.

There are places that are completely dominated by students, such as Oxford Road, which is home to three distinct universities, and Fallowfield, a centre for students near the University of Manchester that has accommodations for students and halls of residence that give the region the sense of a student village.

 

Are the Universities Safe in Manchester?

North Manchester and the area surrounding Manchester University are both highly secure places to live, work, and study. A fully trained officer and student security cadets are both on duty continuously, seven days a week.

What is the Transport like in Manchester?

The bus, rail, and tram systems of Manchester make up a reliable public transportation system. The Metrolink tram system and the three free Metro shuttle bus routes in the city centre are the two amenities that most visitors find most helpful.

 

By Bus

£5 gets you unlimited travel on most buses in Manchester for one day with the System One AnyBus ticket.

 

By Train

The suburban train service in Manchester has 91 stops, and many people use it to get to the airport or the Peak District.

In Greater Manchester, all local rail routes are valid for off-peak travel with the Rail Ranger pass, which costs £7.70.

 

By Tram

The Metrolink tram network covers the city’s core area well and reaches several suburbs. It has nine stops in the city centre, including the main train terminals, making it a practical means of transportation for many tourists.

Depending on how many zones you will pass through, a single ticket costs £1.40–4.60 for a two-hour period, while a one-day travelcard costs £2.70–7.10 (£1.90–4.90 off-peak).

By Car

Manchester is encircled by several highways. Before you go, familiarise yourself with the numbers of the main roads you’ll be using. You can circle the heart of Manchester on the Ring Road (M60), and drivers may reach Liverpool by using the M62.

In Manchester, there is a lot of traffic, and the roads may sometimes become crowded, particularly in the centre areas, where you can also be driving on one-way streets. Using public transportation to get about central Manchester is considerably more efficient since it is quicker, simpler, and better for the environment.

 

Where is the Closest Airport in Manchester?

Manchester (MAN) Airport, which is 8.2 miles away, is the closest airport to Manchester.

Liverpool (LPL) (27.4 miles)

Leeds (LBA) (36 miles)

East Midlands (EMA) (59.2 miles)

Birmingham (BHX) (74.5 miles).

 

 

What is the Closest Hospital to Manchester?

The largest hospital in the UK in terms of beds is Manchester Royal Infirmary, which has more than 1,700 beds available. As one of the biggest acute trusts in the UK with over 20,000 employees, it’s a member of the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT).

Other hospitals in Manchester include:

 

• Altrincham Hospital
• Mary’s Hospital
• Birch Hill Hospital
• Royal Oldham Hospital
• Fairfield General Hospital
• Manchester Royal Eye Hospital
• Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital

 

Where are the Best Places for Arts and Entertainment in Manchester?

Manchester Art Gallery

The Manchester Art Gallery is open six days a week, free to attend, and closed on Mondays. It includes a collection of more than 25,000 items and houses several works of both national and international significance.

 

Museum of Science & Industry

With a focus on Manchester’s accomplishments in these areas, the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, England, charts the advancement of science, technology, and industry.

 

The Cinnamon Club

Open seven evenings a week, including dancing instruction in ballroom, Latin, salsa, and modern jive, from Sunday through Thursday. Over 1000 dancers attend their weekly courses and social events at The Cinnamon Club.

 

Manchester Museum

One of the biggest university museums in the UK, the Manchester Museum, has been around for more than 130 years. The £15 million capital project, dubbed “Hello Future,” completely renovated the museum and was finished in February 2023. The galleries and facilities that you will discover throughout the museum have been jointly curated and developed, and the exhibitions include fresh and varied viewpoints.

 

What Is Manchester Famous For?

• Manchester is well known for being the world’s first industrialised city. In 1761, the first operational canal in the nation was built by Manchester, and the first railway line in history was built there in 1830.

 

• Coronation Street, the world’s longest-running soap opera, has been showcasing northern life on television for the last 60 years.

 

• A statue of renowned codebreaker Alan Turing may be found at Sackville Gardens, sitting on a bench. This Manchester-born mathematician made history by helping decipher Nazi codes during World War II, which is said to have cut the conflict’s duration by two years and saved over 14 million lives.

 

• In Manchester, a professional football league was established. The city is home to the rival teams Manchester United and Manchester City, which have their respective stadiums at Old Trafford and Etihad Stadium. These two stadiums are recognisable features in the city and integral components of its skyline.

 

What Football Teams Are In Manchester?

There are four major football clubs in the “Greater Manchester” area, including the two best Premier League teams, Manchester United and Manchester City. Bolton Wanderers is another Manchester-based teams that competes at a lower levels of English football.

Manchester United is one of the most well-known clubs in the world and boasts a record 20 league titles to its name.

Manchester City became more competitive in recent history after being taken over by Saudi Arabian owner Sheik Mansour in 2008. Since then, Manchester City’s success in the Premier League has been huge. Last season, Manchester City won their sixth Premier League title.

Bolton Wanderers currently compete in English football’s lower divisions, but have previously played in the first division.

What Are The Best Hotels In Manchester?

Dakota Manchester

A high-end lifestyle company known for its exquisite taste and service. Their hotel has a timeless elegance that thrills and surprises in unexpected ways. Dakota Hotels’ effortlessly stylish guest rooms and suites feature high-quality, handmade furniture, velvet furniture in jewel tones, and a colour scheme dominated by soft, calming greys. This is again a hotspot for celebrities staying in Manchester.

 

The Edwardian Manchester

The Edwardian Manchester, winner of “Leading Hotel of the Year 2019,” offers its visitors a contemporary five-star stay in the lovely, multimillion-dollar restored Grade II-listed Free Trade Hall.

The hotel’s location in the heart of Manchester’s city centre gives guests easy access to Deansgate’s shopping and entertainment, the Spinningfields business district, and Manchester Central Library.

The five-star hotel has 263 rooms, an award-winning modern Japanese and Mexican small plates restaurant called Peter Street Kitchen, a Parisian-inspired cuisine at The Library created by Assouline, a state-of-the-art spa and fitness centre, and conference rooms that can accommodate 500 people.

 

Hotel Gotham

Gotham is depicted as a luxurious hotel with an exclusive restaurant and a private club bar. It may be a place to unwind, engage the senses, and, most importantly, have fun. The old Midland Bank building, located at 100 King Street in the heart of the city’s conservation area, is one of the biggest and most prominent listed structures in the area.

 

The Lowry Hotel

In Salford, Greater Manchester, England, next to the river Irwell, is where you’ll find the Lowry Hotel. The L. S. Lowry hotel is a five-star establishment. The “Lowry Hotel Manchester” is located near the centre of Manchester, even though it is inside the limits of the City of Salford. It is known to have housed many celebrities, including Johnny Depp.

 

Best Places To Shop In Manchester

Department shops offer an unparalleled assortment of worldwide brands blended with the finest of British tastes, thanks to shopping centres like Manchester Arndale and The Trafford Centre as well as high street locations like Exchange Square and Market Street.

Selfridges, Stradivarius, Pull & Bear, Victoria’s Secret, Primark, and Khaadi are just a few of the well-known retailers that can be found at The Trafford Centre.

Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet boasts a quarter million square feet of retail space, including more than 145 shops, and is a shopping centre with great discounts and a variety of designer brands.

Best Places To Eat In Manchester?

Tattu

Diners may enjoy a unique culinary experience in the city at Tattu Restaurant & Bar. The restaurant is situated on Gartside Street in Spinningfields and offers contemporary Chinese food with delicate dim sum, gorgeous presentation, and unique flavour combinations.

The exquisitely global decor offers the perfect backdrop for both social gatherings and business entertaining. The ground-floor bar has an unmatched assortment of distinctive cocktails, wines, and spirits. Booths are offered.

 

The Laundrette

Their main objective is to offer outstanding food and service in a laid-back, vivacious, and enjoyable environment. The main elements of their menu are carbs and cocktails. Comfort food laundromat classics include Truffle Mac and Cheese, Fresh, Delicious Salads, Hand-Stretched New Orleans-Style Pizza Cooked in Our Italy Clay Oven, and A Variety of Yummily Cooked Burgers on Their Grill.

They cover every angle, and a sizable vegan and vegetarian menu is also available. However, their broad selection of innovative cocktail recipes is their area of expertise; each one tastes and looks fantastic.

 

MyLahore Manchester

If variety is the flavour of life, then they’ve got plenty of it! You can expect traditional flavours at MyLahore with a contemporary spin (and a personalised touch) as they get inventive with the best, freshest ingredients.

 

What Are The Best Bars In Manchester?

Pong & Puck

You should head over to Pong & Puck if playing a few games of beer or prosecco pong is your thing. This unique establishment is a great option among game bars in Manchester because it features shuffleboard in addition to a menu of cocktails with a retro feel from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.

 

The Whisky Jar

This Tariff Street establishment is mixing up all kinds of potent concoctions, making it perfect for the whisky enthusiasts among us. The Whiskey Jar offers a variety of mouth-watering options, including live entertainment, cocktail workshops, a deck for summertime BBQ food, and dramatic lighting.

 

Best Places To Go Clubbing In Manchester?

South Manchester Nightclub

South Manchester provides the ideal setting for DJs to provide the audience with a distinctive experience with a Funktion One sound system. The only nights the club is open are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 11 p.m. to 3:30 or 4 a.m., with Saturday being the most popular. So, if you don’t want to miss out on the thrill, make sure to organise your visit appropriately and prepare ahead of time.

 

The Birdcage Manchester

The club is only open on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights during the week. The three evenings each have their own special activities, but Saturday is when you can truly experience Vegas with drag performers and dancers putting on a variety of acts all night long. As such, be sure to schedule your clubbing trip accordingly.

 

What Festivals Are On In Manchester?

Parklife Festival

In 2013, the event relocated to Heaton Park in north Manchester to accommodate the growing attendance. It is collaboratively organised by a variety of organisations, including Live Nation and The Warehouse Project. It is a two-day festival without camping. It is estimated that 82,500 people can attend the festival each day.

The festival is renowned for having a massive line-up of House, Dance, and Rap performers, with artists like Dave, Disclosure, Stormzy, Two Door Cinema Club, and even Lewis Capaldi headlining in the past.

The festival is back in 2023 with headliners like Aitch, Fred Again, The Prodigy, and the 1975!

In 2019, the festival ranked 29th in the world for the “World’s Best Festival!”

 

Other Famous Festivals Include:

1. Manchester Jazz Festival
2. Outbreak Fest
3. Manchester Day
4. Manchester Pride Festival

Top 15 Things To Do In Manchester?

1. The John Rylands Library
2. Etihad Stadium
3. Science and Industry Museum
4. National Football Museum
5. People History Museum
6. Manchester Art Gallery
7. Manchester Cathedral
8. Royal Exchange Theatre
9. Manchester Arena
10. The Trafford Centre
11. Greater Manchester Police Museum
12. Manchester Arndale
13. Heaton Park
14. Old Trafford
15. Albert Square

 

 

Need A Locksmith In Manchester?

When moving into a new home, changing the locks is vital, as you never know how many keys are out there and risk the keys falling into the wrong hands. Arrange for a Manchester locksmith to come and fit a new lock the day you get your keys to provide you with peace of mind. Keytek® Locksmiths in Manchester provides a professional local mobile locksmith service that meets British Standards and home insurance policies to ensure the security of your home! Furthermore, all our customers receive a complimentary on-site home security check to ensure that their home is as secure as possible!

There are many other things you need to consider when moving home, so check out our Moving Home Checklist to help you along the way! Once you’re in, consider improving the security of your home further still by checking out our Ultimate Guide to Home Security here!

View our Keytek® Locksmiths Manchester page to find your local Locksmith today or call us at 0161 393 5030!

 

Considering moving to a different area? Check out our area guides on Bracknell, Cwmbran, Gillingham and Whitworth!