Where are the best places to live in Manchester? Ask the residents! Our reviews come from tenants and owners living in Greater Manchester. They’ve rated their developments on factors like location and facilities to reveal Manchester’s 20 best places to live in 2022. Whether you’re interested in stylish flats in the city centre or luxury apartments in Manchester’s suburbs, this list of the best new developments is essential reading.
The city’s property market has been booming in recent years, prompting billions of pounds to pour into property developments across Manchester. Even so, housebuilders and developers are still struggling to keep up with demand and average prices continue to rise. This brings the average price of a property in Manchester up to £230,715 for the past year, while the average monthly rent for a three-bedroom property in the city stands at £1,572 in June 2022.
Manchester is the UK’s third most-visited city after London and Edinburgh. It also has the busiest airport outside London. It’s celebrated for its architecture, sports clubs and venues, cultural heritage and scientific achievements. As a result, the city is often described as the UK’s second city, despite its status as the fifth largest.
Manchester has even acquired the status of UNESCO City of Literature. This is thanks to its connections with authors such as Elizabeth Gaskell, Friedrich Engels and, more recently, Carol Ann Duffy.
Living in Manchester
The three universities in Manchester attract thousands of students every year. This is a significant source of demand for student flats in Manchester. A large number of new developments offer affordable studio flats to rent and buy, to cater for the constant flow of student tenants.
Manchester nightlife is also a major factor in making it a great place to live for students and long-term residents alike. The city’s ‘Madchester’ clubbing scene spawned a number of influential bands and artists throughout the 1980s. Oasis and BritPop then kept the city in the headlines during the 90s.
Manchester City or United?
Sports fans living in Manchester are genuinely spoilt for choice. Premier League giants and fierce rivals Manchester United and Manchester City both boast world-class players and stadiums. The city’s National Cycling Centre is the home of British Cycling, as well as Team Sky, while Old Trafford Cricket Ground hosted The Ashes back in 2013.
So you’re wondering where to live in Manchester? Then let’s get on and explore the 20 best places to live in Manchester. Remember that these rankings are purely based on what our verified HomeViews reviewers think of the developments they themselves live in.
Is Manchester expensive to live in?
Despite being a major city, Manchester is still a highly affordable place to live. Even though house prices and rental rates saw strong growth in 2021, they remain very competitive compared to the UK national average.
As for regular costs of living, Manchester is blessed with the generally lower costs that the north of England enjoys compared to the south.
Is Manchester cheaper than London?
Happily (if you’re planning to move here) Manchester is a significantly cheaper place to live than London. While some living costs are roughly similar, there are a few categories where the northern city really shines.
For example, buying groceries in Manchester is about 8% lower than London, while eating out is 15% cheaper.
Duet has recently returned to the top spot in our list of Manchester developments. Managed by Allsop Letting & Management, Duet is adjacent to the bustling MediaCityUK on the waterfront in Salford Quays. There’s a great range of local amenities, which include 15 bars/restaurants, four shopping outlets, six leisure facilities, a cinema, a theatre, and a nursery. The development comprises 270 pet-friendly one, two and three-bedroom apartments to rent. In addition, the building also provides a 24-hour concierge service and offers extensive communal spaces, including a fully equipped private gym.
Chapel Wharf, by Dandara Living, is our residents’ second favourite. Located right in the heart of Manchester, this development offers a range of studio to two-bed apartments, while residents benefit from a pet-friendly policy, an onsite gym and car/bike parking. As well as this, the development is just moments away from Manchester’s famous shopping, entertainment and cultural scenes.
Vox is in third place in Manchester, enjoying near perfect ratings from its residents. It sits on Trentham Street, located just off the A56, making Vox well connected as it offers a short bus ride into the city centre. The Vox offers a collection of one, two and three-bed apartments and residents benefit from 50 under-building car parking spaces and storage for over 280 bikes, which are monitored by CCTV and stored behind fob-operated doors. Other facilities include a gym, running track, studio, roof terrace and residents’ lounge.
The Green Rooms is in fourth place, and has plenty of appeal thanks to its proximity to Manchester’s Media City. Comprising a range of one to three-bedroom apartments for rent, the development benefits from being pet friendly, waterside views, a residents’ gym and bike storage. The Green Rooms is also just a few minutes’ walk from a wide variety of transport links and amenities.
In fifth, The Trilogy is located in the heart of Castlefield with access to a variety of transport links. Deansgate is only a three-minute journey on the tram, whilst Cornbrook Metrolink Station is a three-minute walk. In addition, MediaCityUK is just a 12-minute commute. The development comprises 232 pet-friendly one, two and three-bedroom apartments. Residents have access to a wide range of facilities, including a fully equipped gym as well as a landscaped communal garden. Likewise, the building provides a 24-hour on-site concierge service.
Sixth place in Manchester is taken by The Astley, a rental development by Mulbury Homes owned and managed by M&G Real Estate. The development is situated in Manchester’s Northern Quarter in the city centre, an area which used to be the heart of a global textile and cotton industry and then later became home to the city’s artists in the 1990s.
New Maker Yards features 275 homes with a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments in the heart of Middlewood Locks. The development is located only 10 minutes away from Salford Central and 14 minutes from Spinningfields and Manchester city centre. New Maker Yards was built around three historic canal basins and is bounded by the River Irwell. Residents have access to a wide range of amenities, including 24-hour security, a Seven Bro7hers bar & restaurant and a Co-op store. There is also a residents’ club room for a connected workspace, big screen, and free coffee.
Situated in Deansgate Square, West Tower Residences is a Build to Rent development over two towers (North and West) featuring a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. Residents have access to a wide range of shared amenities, including 20-metre indoor swimming pool, sauna, gym, yoga and dance studio, spinning room and amazing private dining facilities (including hire of a private chef). The development is only a three-minute walk from both Castlefield and Deansgate stations.
Angel Gardens, by Moda Living, sits in the heart of Manchester, within the NOMA innovation district. It features a total of 466 interior designed apartments to rent with a mix of sizes, ranging from studios to three beds. In addition, it offers no deposit and is pet-friendly. Likewise, residents benefit from 250MBPS WiFi, Samsung 50″ inch smart TV included in their rent. Plus, onsite amenities such as: a rooftop sports pitch, rooftop terrace, residents’ gym, sky lounge, private dining room, media room and atrium. Pay your rent, book community events or chat to your neighbours with the MyModa app. A free health check when you move in, wellbeing workshops and classes with hero, Moda’s health and wellbeing partner.
Tenth place in our Manchester rankings it taken by Transmission House, a development by LOCAL in the centre of Manchester, in the creative hub of The Northern Quarter. This development comprises of one and two bedroom apartments. Furthermore, residents can enjoy views from the rooftop garden, concierge service, secure bike storage and a shared courtyard.
At number 11 it’s The Slate Yard, a build-to-rent development that’s located in Spinningfields, Manchester’s city centre and is only a six-minute walk away from Salford Central. Residents have access to a wide range of facilities, including a 24-hour on-site team, a residents’ gym, housekeeping services and a residents’ lounge. The development is also pet friendly.
In 12th place in Mamnchester is Crown Street, which forms part of the new neighbourhood on Great Jackson Street in Manchester. The apartments are contemporary and spacious and residents can enjoy exceptional amenities such as the 20m swimming pool, which is located high above the city on the 44th floor.
Located only a five-minute stroll from the Castlefield district of Manchester City Centre, Wilburn Basin features a variety of apartments across four district blocks. Residents have access to a wide range of facilities and amenities, including a gym, cinema, residents’ lounge and meeting rooms as well as a 24-hour concierge service.
In 14th place, Millfields is a new development of two, three and four-bedroom homes which is ideally situated for local schools, shops and supermarkets. The development is a short commute from Manchester City Centre.
Hacienda is an iconic development situated in the heart of Manchester and also the former home to the world-famous nightclub of the same name. The development offers easy access to all city centre amenities and transport links. Deansgate and Manchester Oxford Road train stations are both only short walks away.
GreenGate is a JLL development where all residents benefit from a 24-hour concierge and a range of other communal facilities, including: an on-site gym, landscaped courtyard, residents’ lounge, flexible parking and a ‘family and friends’ guest suite. The development is situated just a 10-minute walk from local amenities and the key shopping areas of Manchester.
Deansgate Square by Renaker is a residential development in the heart of Manchester city centre designed by SimpsonHaugh & Partners. The development comprises of four sleek glazed towers which reach as high as 64 storeys, providing 1,508 luxury apartments and exclusive penthouses, some featuring private winter gardens. The scheme incorporates high end residents’ facilities including 25m swimming pool, indoor tennis court, 1,900 sq ft gymnasium, Leisure Suite, a dedicated resident’s lounges and relaxation areas. There is also a “Residents Only” rooftop garden with private bar and catering facilities.
One Regent is situated in the historic Castlefield district of Manchester. It comprises of six town houses and 301 apartments rising to 26 storeys. The development is only a short walk away from the City Centre, Deansgate transport hub as well as only a 10-minute walk away from the central business district in Spinningfields. BBC Media City is also only five-minute drive away.
The Skyline 2 is a Build to Rent development that was previously owned and managed by Way of Life before being bought by L1 Capital in 2020. It now features a range of furnished one and two bedroom apartments, as well as an exceptional three-bed duplex. The Skyline 2 also has great views over the city. Furthermore, located on Goulden Street in Manchester, the building is only a 10-minute walk away from Victoria Railway station and only a five-minute walk away from Shudehill Metrolink tram stop and bus station.
Rounding off our top 20 in Mancheser is Irwell Riverside, by Urban Splash, located in Salford, on the banks of the River Irwell. Residents here benefit from great views, resident gardens and parking and from being within walking distance of Manchester city centre. As well as this, the development was designed by shedkm, providing a unique design.
What do you think of our ranking of the best place to live in Manchester? If you’re interested in finding out more about Manchester new builds, and discovering more of what the city has to offer, check out our area guide by clicking the link below.
Manchester is the second largest urban area in England, and is often thought of as the UK’s second city. Located in the north west of England nestled between Liverpool and Leeds, Manchester is also reportedly the UK’s fastest growing city economically. The area’s 2.8 Read more about Manchester
HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to recognise high performers and help improve standards in the built environment.
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