Manchester

Housing

Manchester's housing scene is a very pleasant surprise if you're used to southern house prices and rents – or even UK averages.

Savills tell us that select parts of Manchester have the highest proportion of under-35 households in the highest economic group outside London. These canny buyers and renters are here because even in our primest locations house prices knock spots of southern equivalents – the prime Manchester location average is £235,592 – well under the UK average – but rising!

City centre living is thriving here. From waterside apartments to converted warehouses. From pavement culture to high-brow culture on your doorstep. Metrolink trams get you to classic leafy suburbs in minutes. Even the suburbs have a bohemian bent, if you want it.

In spite of its popularity, Manchester is a cost-effective location. From housing costs to leisure and entertainment - you get much more for your money in Manchester.

Education

Manchester's a great place to future-proof your children's education. 90% of Manchester primary school pupils are at ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ Ofsted-rated schools – higher than the national average. We're determined to get secondary school results beyond the national average in coming years. Manchester University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Salford University and the Royal Northern College of Music create ‘Europe's largest campus’. And student rents are fifty per cent cheaper than London.

Transport

Train, tram and motorway make getting around or doing business a breeze. Road upgrades promise cyclists, bus-users and motorists a smoother ride. Our up-coming high-speed rail link to London is on the way. And Northern Powerhouse Rail will join us east-west to cities from Newcastle to Hull to Liverpool. Our airport has direct flights to everywhere from Abu Dhabi to Zurich.

Sport

The Commonwealth Games left world-class facilities at the Manchester Aquatics Centre and ‘Sportcity’. Venues include the Regional Athletics Arena, National Squash Centre, Manchester Velodrome, the Tennis Centre, and Man City’s 48,000-seat stadium. Sportcity hosts over 400 events a year.

The city hosts lots of active events like the BUPA Manchester Run or family cycling event Skyride. Adventurous sport enthusiasts can take advantage of the adrenalin- pumping jumps at the indoor BMX Centre or climb to dizzy heights in Manchester Climbing Centre. And don’t forget the National Football Museum.

No wonder we were number eight in 2020’s world sport cities index.

Out and about in Manchester

If you fancy some time out from urban life, there’s always somewhere you can escape to. There's nothing like a picnic in the park, and Manchester has some beautiful green places to take your family for a summer's outing. You've got the spectacular Greater Manchester countryside on your doorstep too.

Manchester has a great reputation for food and drink. The increasing number of restaurants, delis and shops are sourcing their produce locally. These family-friendly restaurants deliver the little details that matter to make dining out in Manchester a fun experience. Explore the world of flavours with Manchester's wide range of food shops. Experience the fine wines Manchester has to offer. Or just enjoy a coffee.

Creativity and independence are the lifeblood of Manchester’s shopping scene. With such a wide variety of wares, the locals love to flock to Manchester’s markets and independent speciality shops to indulge in a spot of shopping with a difference. From fancy dress to fountain pens, you’ll find a world of goods on sale. Or, with great choice under one roof, Manchester's shopping centres and department stores are often a destination in themselves.