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Fourwalls Focus: Manchester

A northern powerhouse, Manchester has quietly and efficiently asserted itself as one of the top places to live in the UK over the last 15 years. There are many nuanced reasons for this, though exciting career opportunities, a vibrant cultural scene and lower cost of living compared to the south are the main reasons why Manchester is one of the UK’s most popular places to live. As a company with national reach, we’re always keen to understand what makes different parts of the country popular: our photographers cover the whole of England, so we get to see a lot of the country – urban, rural and everything in between. We have a unique position in that we can see trends forming – pockets of exciting growth, developments being built or gentrified – and we are on the ground as it happens. In the first of a new blog series on our favourite places to live in England, we head to Manchester with our resident North West expert, Anna, who hails from the city.

Why Manchester?

Trawl Reddit threads and newspaper ‘best places to live in 2025’ comments sections (where the real answers are!) and you’ll get a good picture for why Manchester is so popular. Many residents cite the lower cost of living as a key factor, and it’s true: according to Numbeo, Manchester is on average around 19.4% cheaper than London (without rent, as of July 2025). The second-largest city in the UK offers cosmopolitan bars, restaurants, galleries and museums, though prices are more appealing than the nation’s capital: consider a £5.50 pint of beer or a £30 per month gym membership compared to London prices. House prices are considerably lower too – £4,241.98 per square metre for a city centre apartment, versus £15,171.87 for the same in London.

Transport links are also excellent: Manchester is home to the world’s first inner city passenger railway station (Liverpool Road, now home to the Science and Industry Museum) and has trams, buses and trains, many of which offer services around the clock. The Bee Network is hugely popular, combining integrated transport with cycling and walking routes to support joined-up travel, with commuter rail services expected to join the network in 2028. Manchester Piccadilly has services to London Euston in under two hours. For international travel, Manchester International Airport serves as the gateway to the north of England and is a mere nine miles outside of the city. The large, three-terminal airport has its own station benefitting from National Rail connections and offers an extensive variety of flights to mainland Europe and around the world. Plus, the ongoing investment in transport infrastructure is continually extending out of the city centre and into the suburbs, allowing more areas to thrive.

These factors make Manchester an attractive destination for large companies, with several important businesses having their headquarters sited in the city. Most notable is the Co-operative Group (including banking, financial services and insurance), TalkTalk, Autotrader and Britannia Hotels. All of the ‘big four’ accounting firms (KPMG, Deloitte, PwC and Ernst & Young) have a presence in the city. The creative industry also has a firm footing here too: MediaCity in Salford Quays houses some of the country’s biggest broadcasters, as well as tech start-ups, production companies and creators.

Best places to live in Manchester

Ancoats

A leading example of urban transformation and regeneration, Ancoats was once the heart of industrialised Manchester. For over 200 years it was home to a great number of mills, workshops and warehouses; now, many of these buildings have been converted into luxury apartments and venues for arts and music. It’s popular with young professionals, being just a 10-minute walk from Piccadilly Station and the city centre.

Didsbury

Originally a suburb to the south of Manchester, Didsbury was once home to the families of wealthy merchants and industrialists who were responsible for turning the city into an economic power. The grand Victorian and Edwardian houses in which they once resided have been beautifully preserved and are now accompanied by public parks, botanical gardens and trendy nightlife spots along Burton Road.

Northern Quater

The Northern Quarter became popular for residential living in the 1980s and 1990s, when artists, musicians, bohemians and creative minds flocked to the abandoned buildings around the edge of the city centre. The creative community remains in addition to many of the city’s best bars, markets, vintage stores and loft-style apartments – some of the most impressive real estate in the city.

Chorlton

The village-like suburb of Chorlton is hugely popular with families for its great schools, vibrant nightlife and access to open green spaces. Most appealing is the 20^th-century Chorltonville estate, where attractive Arts and Crafts houses are walkable to an expansive village green, Chorlton Meadows and the river Mersey.

Altrincham

The vibrant market town of Altrincham has a diverse and sought-after landscape of housing options, from smart apartments to stunning Victorian homes and modern newer developments. The town has its own selection of shops, schools, restaurants and cafes offering extensive suburban comforts, with the vibrant city centre a mere 30-minute drive. It’s also conveniently located for Manchester International Airport.

Castlefield

Historic Castlefield’s roots date back even further than the city’s industrial era: the inner-city conservation area has a fort that was once home to Roman troops over 2,000 years ago. The area is an oasis of green, with a large park hosting open-air music and comedy events, a network of canals and impressive historic architecture such as converted warehouses and cotton mills.

Deansgate

A major thoroughfare bisecting the city centre, Deansgate is at the buzzing, bustling heart of Manchester. There are many fantastic examples of city centre regeneration in the area, such as the famous Victorian train station cinema conversion, excellent transport infrastructure and a number of glittering high-rise apartment buildings. There are tram stations at either end of Deansgate, while bars, restaurants, libraries and museums make up the middle.

Exciting new developments in Manchester

With Manchester’s industrial heritage being prevalent in the buildings throughout the city, there are many fantastic options when it comes to apartments and city centre accommodation. You’ll find everything from high-rises which dominate the ever-growing city skyline, to interesting conversion apartments which are developments of old mills, printing works and factories, with their exposed beams and industrial elements offering an alternative style of living in the city.

Perhaps one of the most exciting developments in recent years is Oxygen Manchester, a 32-storey neighbourhood in popular New Islington, moments from Piccadilly Station, Ancoats and the Northern Quarter. The soaring tower is home to 12 stunning townhouses at ground level and 361 apartments, including a number of penthouses. Residents’ facilities include a state-of-the-art gym and spinning studio, a cinema room and a luxury pool and spa.

Also reaching lofty heights is The Blade, a 51-storey residential tower which forms part of the exciting New Jackson skyscraper district, at the southern end of Deansgate. Residents of The Blade can experience the pinnacle of luxury apartment living, with enviably spacious duplex penthouses and amenities such as private dining suites, working spaces, gym, spinning and yoga studios and a rooftop terrace, lounge and bar.

The Deansgate Towers also offer an elevated living experience: West Tower and North Tower offer a fabulous city centre location on Deansgate Square, where communal spaces are included within the rent. There’s a huge sports hall, tennis court, full-length swimming pool, sauna, fitness studios for yoga and spinning, a rooftop garden and more – surely some of the best residents’ amenities on offer in the city.

Next to Victoria Station, the New Vic development is a little bit different – though offering unparalleled luxury, the building is wonderfully characterful, using upcycled furniture in the communal spaces, innovative waste management methods and diverse residents’ areas verdant with greenery. Residents can enjoy a cinema, games room, collaborative working and social spaces and a gym, while residing in light-filled modern apartments.

Situated in Greengate, Colliers Yard is a brand-new urban neighbourhood in an area with a lengthy industrial history. Bankside and Cortland are two of three completed towers, standing at 43 and 50 storeys tall respectively, sitting alongside listed heritage buildings (restored to create community spaces), and a beautiful public inner city park of over half an acre.

The former Brownsfield Mill in the Northern Quarter – one of Manchester’s last untouched Victorian mills – has been transformed into Avro, offering 31 canal-side apartments, some of the largest in the city. The development by Urban Splash (now fully sold) incorporates period features such as exposed brickwork and cast iron columns, though it’s thoroughly modern inside and out.