Anna's Manchester

As a native to the North West, we sat down with Anna to ask her about her favourite parts of the city, and what she loves so much about living and working in Manchester.

I lived on the outskirts of Manchester growing up and moved into the city when I was 21. I currently live in Stockport, which is an up-and-coming town which has been hailed as ‘Britain’s Berlin’. There is constant development and funding being put into Stockport to create a city centre feel within a suburban town. Not only is the mayor pushing for the development of the area in terms of tourism and local culture, but there is also a lot of effort going into improving transport links, with the infrastructure getting attention and development too. With the increase in cycle lanes and tram links, the public transport and environmentally friendly travel options are constantly improving. There are several other areas within Manchester and Greater Manchester which I would consider my favourites: the Northern Quarter and Deansgate are within Manchester itself, while on the outskirts I like Didsbury, Altrincham and Stockport.

I attended Salford University for my degree – it’s an internationally popular place to study, with many diverse cultures and individuals who travel across the world to attend. The excellent facilities and welcoming neighbourhood feel, twinned with a specialisation in fashion and arts, create an exciting and supportive environment for people to thrive in their studies.

With the city lifestyle and urban living in mind, all of this feels distant when a small commute away are the rural areas which are incredible options for hiking and outdoor activities. If you take a short trip away to the Peak District, you can find outstanding views, challenging hikes and various activities and areas of outstanding natural beauty.

There are lots of reasons why I enjoy living in Manchester and the surrounding areas. I’ve tried to capture my favourite reasons below.

Manchester has a long and interesting history when it comes to music and the arts. Some of the largest and most popular bands originated from Manchester and the surrounding areas. Their impact and their styles influence the local area and the trends and scenes for which Manchester is renowned. Some of the most notable influencers of this are Oasis, The Stone Roses, The Smiths, The 1975 and many more. As a result of the city’s glowing musical history, it has resulted in a large amount of independent record shops, live music events and new bands being present throughout.

The city is known for being a leader in trends and style. A big factor in this, is the quantity of independent local stores. These can be small coffee shops, record stores, clothing outlets and eateries. My favourite store is the Norah Store in Ancoats, which sources bespoke and individual clothing from all over the globe, using sustainable materials and high-quality fabrics to create premium clothing.

Manchester has an abundance of vintage, second-hand and independent stores such as the renowned Afflecks in the Northern Quarter, with many varied designs of clothing and accessories. Here people are willing to express their identity through fashion; this creates a welcoming sense of community and togetherness, pinpointing Manchester as a hub for the progressive attitude of ‘everybody is welcome’. Manchester hosts one of the best Pride events in the UK with an amazing gay village.

The nightlife in Manchester is fun and exciting: there’s an exhilarating feeling that every night you can be somewhere different, seeing someone new and experiencing unforgettable memories. Nightlife includes a vast number of bars and niche brewhouses, premium restaurants, quaint food vendors, or larger food halls offering a list of different foods and cuisines.

There are constant events being held at the large music venues across Manchester with artists touring from all over the world, from larger stadiums and arenas or at the smaller pubs, bars and venues which are renowned for aiding the development of lesser-known and upcoming artists. Night and Day Café in the Northern Quarter is an example of a spot which hosts local and international bands and is extremely well thought of in the area.

Football is a huge part of the local foundation in Manchester. Two of the largest football clubs in the world are based here: Manchester City and Manchester United are pillars of the community and have a lasting impact on most people within the area. I have been attending football games with my dad since I was a young girl. With our own routines and traditions, they have created memories I will never forget, even attending games at Main Road (Manchester City’s previous home ground). They have allowed me to experience the true sense of culture, passion and togetherness in ways only football with your family can.