Looking to make a new life for yourself in Manchester? The UK’s second largest city is a thriving hub of activity, whether you’re looking for football matches, nightlife or a tram network that never stops. With a vibrant job market to dive into and a cultural smorgasbord of food and festivals at your doorstep, Manchester could be the perfect place to enter the next step of your life; all you need to do is take the first step.
All in all, Manchester is a prettty good place to live, from the busy city centre to the peaceful countryside outskirts. Families, young professionals and retirees can all find a place to call home around the city, from moorland villages to suburban neighbourhoods with excellent transport links. Here are a few perks you can expect when you’re living in Manchester.
Life in Manchester: Bees, Football and Public Transport
If you ask any local, you’ll hear that Manchester really is the place to be. Everyone has something they like about the city, whether it’s the competitive two-team football scene or the efficient Bee Network of trams and buses. Mancunians have a lot to be proud of, whether it’s their history of globally relevant textile mills or a ‘worker bee’ work ethic to match London and Birmingham.
What is Manchester Like?
There are plenty of good things about Manchester. That includes a city-wide interlinked transport network, job opportunities, good schools, shopping centres, entertainment venues and (of course) some top-tier pubs. Greater Manchester also serves as a convenient jumping off point for exploring the North West, including the areas of Yorkshire, Liverpool and Chester.
The Bee Network
The Bee Network is Manchester’s well-funded public transport network. The network brought previously-private buses under council control, integrating the bus and tram links under an initial budget of £1.07 billion. A fully electric bus fleet is expected to be in operation as of 2030, and new bus services are being added to the scheme every year. It’s one of the main drawing points for commuters to enter the Manchester workforce!
The Manchester Derby
Manchester is best known for its sports culture. Two football teams operate in the area: Manchester City and Manchester United. Etihad Stadium is the home pitch for Manchester City, while Manchester United play at Old Trafford. Etihad has a crowd capacity of 53,400 and Old Trafford can take on 74,310 audience members at once. Both teams play regularly in the local area, with competitive matches known as ‘Manchester Derbies’ hosted about once a year.
The Trafford Centre
Shopping in Manchester is best done at the Trafford Centre, the third largest shopping centre in the UK. The Trafford Centre is best known for its neoclassical design, with glass domes and painted ceilings creating the illusion of outdoor streets. Inside, there are around 200 shopfronts, with a food court, a cinema, and entertainment venues for laser tag and mini golf. Opposite the Trafford Centre you’ll find Chillfactore, an indoor slope for dry skiing, snowboarding and sledging.
The Printworks
The Printworks is your go-to venue for group activities in Manchester city centre. The building is home to a wide range of activities from restaurants, cafes and sweet shops to Tenpin Bowling, Treetop Golf and a Vue cinema. You can also visit the Boom Battle Bar, a gaming bar with options for axe throwing, shuffleboarding, AR darts and prosecco pong. It’s located in the heart of Manchester, perfect for groups who want to explore the city after a game.
The Peak District
Manchester is set in a valley surrounded by hills, with the peaks of the Peak District National Park and the moorlands of Saddleworth bordering the city. The Peak District is home to the Blue John caves, as well as Snake Pass - a favourite road for motorcyclists in the summer. Climbing, hiking, cycling and camping are all popular Peak activities, and are located within an hour’s drive of the city.
Local Heritage Sites
Historically, Manchester was known as the ‘cotton capital of the world’ for its influence on the textile industry during the Industrial Revolution. There are plenty of museums and heritage sites available in the local area, great for both kids and adults to explore its industrial history. Some of these include the Hat Works, Quarry Bank Mill, the Science and Industry Museum, Staircase House, the Museum of Transport and the People’s History Museum.
Things to Do in Manchester On Your Own
If you’re moving into Manchester alone and you don’t want to book a group activity for one person, there are plenty of alternatives to keep you occupied in your free time. Here are a few Manchester tips for loners learning to navigate a brand-new city.
Museum Trips
Renowned for its rich and busy history, Manchester has plenty of heritage sites and museums that you can visit alone. The most famous is the Manchester Museum, where you can see a wide range of cross-cultural exhibits from archaeological finds to Chinese and South Asian collections. You can also visit the Science & Industry Museum, the Manchester Art Gallery, the People’s History Museum, the Museum of Transport and the National Football Museum if you’re a sports fan.
Restaurant Hopping
Manchester is one of the best places in the UK to experience a wide range of cuisines, including Cambodian, Desi, Australian and African dining. Sample vegetarian tapas at the subterranean Indian Tiffin Room, visit the only Cambodian restaurant in the North of England at Kambuja, discover frog legs, duck-yolk prawns and whole cooked fish at the Red Chilli Qingdao, or taste the best of Aussie cooking at Australasia. Manchester has enough unique restaurants to last a whole academic year of restaurant hopping, and you’ll never go hungry, either!
Window Shopping
We’ve already explored the Trafford Centre, but there are plenty of other shopping centres to browse if you like to window shop by yourself. Afflecks is one of the most unique: an indoor market full of small businesses, artists and artisans selling everything from earrings and cosmetics to incense and scented candles. You can also visit the Manchester Arndale and Great Northern to find more outlets and chain stores.
Nice Places to Live in Manchester
If you’re wondering whether Manchester is a nice city to live in, you won’t be disappointed. There are plenty of pleasant suburbs and semi-rural villages to choose from, alongside city centre flats and cosy terraced streets. The area you choose to live in depends on your needs; some towns are renowned for their speedy transport links, while others are sought after for peace, quiet and good views. Here are few of the best areas in Manchester to live:
Cheadle
Cheadle is one of the most sought-after areas in the Manchester outskirts. Known for its spacious neighbourhoods, well-maintained roads and connections to the M60, the suburb is popular with families looking for easy access to both the city centre and the countryside. There are two major parks in the area - Abney Hall and Bruntwood - providing play areas, walking routes, open fields and waterways to residents. There’s also a train station at Cheadle Hulme, with services operating every 10 to 20 minutes.
Chorlton
Bordering the town of Sale and the Chorlton and Sale Water Parks, Chorlton is a city centre-adjacent suburb to the south of Manchester. The Chorlton Tram Station is located along the blue, pink and brown lines, providing three direct routes into the Deansgate-Castlefield interchange and regular trams to Manchester Airport. Whether you’re heading to a craft beer bar, browsing the boutique high street, or escaping to the riverside trails, everything is within easy reach. For those seeking a modern lifestyle in a well-connected neighbourhood, there are several attractive new builds in Chorlton designed with both style and sustainability in mind. Outdoor activities are also available in the form of fishing, nature spotting, golf and cycling.
Heywood
Heywood is located north of Manchester, tucked between Rochdale, Oldham and Bury. Its position near the Saddleworth moors opens up scenic weekend escapes, yet everyday essentials are close to home thanks to a growing number of supermarkets, schools and leisure facilities. The area is also seeing renewed interest from homebuyers, with a range of new homes in Heywood offering contemporary living within a strong local community. The town is served by various bus routes and has access to the A58 and the M62 major through-roads. It’s also known for its heritage sites, including the still-functioning East Lancashire Steam Railway, the Church of St Luke, Crimble Mill and Queen’s Park.
Carrington
Neighbouring the Trafford suburb of Manchester, Carrington has easy access to the Old Trafford Stadium, the Trafford Centre and the Chillfactore snow sports centre. This particularly green suburb is home to the Carrington Moss Nature Reserve and the Carrington Training Centre, a private pitch used by the Manchester United Football Club. Anglers will find themselves next to the River Mersey, while the Partington and Trafford Millenium nature reserves are available for birdwatchers and dog walkers alike. Carrington is popular with families for its combination of quiet life and amenities, including a train station nearby in Flixton.
Moving to Manchester?
One of our new builds could be just what you need to make Manchester your home, so why not book an appointment to view our collection of new homes in the area?
