Best Areas And Suburbs For Expat in Manchester (UK) – that will be the topic of today’s article.
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Introduction
As an expat, you should know that the population of Manchester is still relatively young. And for this reason, there is no specific area where new arrivals tend to reside. This means there are plenty of suitable regions within Manchester and in the surrounding suburbs that will meet the requirements of every foreigner.
However, thanks to Manchester’s extensive public transport system, commuting into the city center is possible from the nearest neighborhood. In fact, Manchester is one of the locations with a complete package. It boasts a fascinating history, rich culture, beautiful countryside of the North-West right on your doorstep, lively nightlife, and some fantastically priced housing.
Have you been thinking of living in Manchester as an expat? Well, if your answer sounds like a YES, we’ve got you covered. In recent years, Manchester has emerged as one of the most desirable places for people looking for new job opportunities, an incredible lifestyle, and a look to beautiful outdoor activities.
As of today, there are various desirable locations in and around Manchester that consolidate the notion that this beautiful city can rival any other location in the world. This is because; it’s a great place to live, and with that, there are many things to explore. Who wouldn’t love to visit the designated urban park?
Of course, there is more to see in Manchester city! That’s why we have put together the ultimate moving guide of the best places in Manchester. This will ensure that you’re as informed as you can possibly be. And by providing all the necessary information, you can make a well-informed decision.
10 Interesting Facts about Manchester
Before we dive into the best areas and suburbs for expat in Manchester city, you must understand the exciting facts about the city. Having been one of the most famous cities in the United Kingdom, the city has become a cultural hub for the North of England with a young population. Without further ado, let’s quickly explore the 10 interesting facts about Manchester.
1. Third Most Populated City
There are various ways you can read into the population in the United Kingdom. In general, it is considered to be the third most populated city with about 548,000, while the urban areas have over 2 million metropolitan population. With this fact, Manchester is seen as the 3rd most populated city in the UK behind London and Birmingham.
2. A Place to Watch Football
When it comes to Manchester, the first thing that comes to people’s minds is the football games. And of course, that’s the truth! In fact, Manchester is home to two of the biggest football clubs in the world, which are; Manchester United and Manchester City.
These two teams both plow their trade in the Premier League, the top flight of English football, and they have both won multiple premier league trophies. Besides, the two teams divide the city’s population, with fans of Manchester United being referred to as the Red Devils.
3. Home to World’s Running Soap Opera
It’s no doubt that Manchester is the home to plenty of weird and wonderful things but perhaps one of its best-known contribution to British culture. And the culture, which is Soap Opera Coronation Street, is based around inhabitants of a street in Manchester and the longest-running soap in the world. However, this show is one of the most beloved on British television and every year, thousands of tourists visit there.
4. World’s first industrial City
According to history, Manchester was the world’s first industrial city. This is one of the fascinating facts about Manchester, and thanks to the fast growth of its cotton industry, the city was nicknamed Cottonopolis during the 19th century. As a matter of fact, the city industry grew at a rapid rate which later booms the cotton industry and its excellent transport infrastructure that links to other English cities.
5. World’s First Railway Station
Manchester is one of the cities in the UK known for excellent historical facts. Notwithstanding, it’s home to the world’s first railway station but confusingly named as the Liverpool Road Railway Station. This station was built in 1830 and was used to connect Manchester to its neighboring city, Liverpool. While this station served passengers for a brief period, it was totally put out of use in 1975.
6. Home to the UK’s first Public Library
As aforementioned, Manchester is extensively known for its history. Manchester is home to Chetham’s Library, which is the country’s oldest public library that was opened in 1653. As of today, the library is completely free, while it boasts an impressive collection of over 100,000 volumes of printed books, dating all the way back to the 17th century.
7. Home to First Atom
Another interesting fact about Manchester city is that it’s home to where the first-ever atom was built. According to history, Ernest Rutherford was the man responsible for this in 1917 at Manchester University. While Ernest Rutherford would later win noble prizes, the University of Manchester has since named its physics building after him.
8. Known for Manchester University
Manchester University comes third to only Oxford and Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Aside from this fact, the university can count 21 Nobel Prize winners among its alumni, which also places it as 23rd in the world Nobel Prize winner in recent years.
9. Home to Largest Regional Airport
While the Airport is currently undergoing extensive refurbishment and expansion, we expect this wonderful place to continue to rival Europe’s best as a hub and destination for tourists. In addition to this fact, this wonderful city is the first place where the computer was invented. So, as an expat wanting to relocate to the United Kingdom, Manchester is one of the right places to visit.
10. World’s First Industrial City
As history also revealed, Manchester is among the city with the first industry. They are rich in industrial heritage and had a considerable role in Britain’s industrial revolution in the 19th century. The truth is, Manchester city was referred to as Cottonopolis (as said earlier) because of its role in the cotton industry and was also famous for its textile manufacturing.
Pros and Cons of Living in Manchester
The pros and cons are crucial before you know the best areas and suburbs to visit. Another fact is that there are both pros and cons to moving or living in Manchester city. As an expat traveling to this place for the first time, you should weigh your options before traveling.
Not to worry, we’ve highlighted below some of the main advantages and disadvantages worth bearing in mind before deciding to relocate to the United Kingdom or the areas in Manchester.
Job opportunities for Expat
In Manchester city, expat would likely enjoy a wide range of industries such as finance, law, biotechnology, and digital media. This is because; the job market in Manchester is slightly less competitive than that in London. This way, it’s the right place for foreigners starting in the city.
Excellent Transportation Network
Compared to other major cities in the UK, Manchester is home to a bus route thought to be the busiest in all of Europe. However, new arrivals in the country will find getting around the city easy because of the excellent bus and tram network. Moreover, the bus fares have remained competitive owing to the fact that there are a number of different service providers operating on similar routes in Manchester.
Home to World-Class Universities
One of the biggest pros of studying in Manchester is that it’s a booming student city. Not only that, but it also attracts thousands of students every year with the world-class university. Some of these universities include; Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Manchester, and many others, to mention a few. Besides, you can also consider other universities like Manchester Computing Center, Manchester business School, and more.
Reasonable Cost of Living
It goes without saying that live up north is far easier on the wallet than it is down south. In addition, Numbeo made it known that the average rent on central city property in Manchester is an astonishing 53.49 percent cheaper than the property in central London. While the daily commute is also cheaper, you’ll definitely enjoy living in this city as a foreigner.
Thriving Art and Culture
Comedy, theatre, cinema, live music, and dance are all flourishing in Manchester. Also, the city is an international go-to destination for art lovers, with the impressive multi-purpose venues and the Lowry both rivaling London’s Southbank Centre with the quality of their diverse annual theatre programs.
With that being said, the city is also home to an electric range of award-winning museums and art galleries, including the Imperial War Museum North, People’s History Museum, Manchester Art gallery, and many others.
Cons
High Crime Rates in Manchester
Manchester’s crime rate is quite on the rise, and it’s even above the national average in both violent and property crimes. Typically, the US average for violent crimes is 22.7 percent, but Manchester is rated 34.8. this means property crimes are even higher at 47.3 versus the National Average of 35.4 percent. On the flip side, violent crimes have been declining steadily, but it’s better to be aware of this problem before traveling.
Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Manchester
While Manchester is known as the commercial and cultural capital of Lancashire, it is a celebrated center for media, arts, and higher education in today’s digital age. Together with Salford and eight other municipalities, it forms the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester that millions of people now live.
On top of this fact, Manchester has become a favorite for shoppers with an enormous range of retail opportunities, including the elegant shops of St. Anne’s Square, Royal Exchange, King Street, and others. To learn more about the top-rated attractions and more, read through our list of attractions below.
Science and Industry Museum
The science and industry museum in Manchester is on the site of the world’s oldest railroad station. Also, its 12 galleries include the power hall, with water and steam-driven machines from the golden age of the textile industry. Moreover, the history of Manchester City from Roman times through the industrial revolution to the present day is documented in the station building.
Manchester Cathedral
Perched on the banks of the River Irwell is the Manchester Cathedral. It was built between 1486 and 1508, with further additions and alterations in almost every subsequent century. This cathedral, since its inception, has become one of the top-rated attractions for foreigners moving to the UK for the first time.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church
Another religious site worth visiting in Manchester is the St. Mary Catholic Church. This tourist attraction was built in 1794, and it’s located next to the historic market hall. While visiting this place as an expat, don’t let the structure’s rather plain exterior stop you from popping in for a look inside. More so, you’ll find numerous delicate Victorian carvings and a unique expressionist-style Stations of the Cross here.
National Football Museums
Manchester is incredibly great for having the two of Europe’s top football teams. If you’re visiting this wonderful city for the first time, you can stop at the National Football Museum as it features fascinating, memorable history related to sports, including such gems as the very first rulebook, as well as historical clothing and trophies.
Manchester Art Galleries
The Manchester Art Gallery possesses one of the largest art collections in Britain. It includes works by the Pre-Raphaelites, Flemish masters of the 17th century, and Monet. For more art and cultural history about Manchester, you can visit this place. Again, the venue is noted for its regular performances of everything related to cultures and traditions, including musical performances and comedies.
Best Areas and Suburbs for Expat
With Manchester being regularly voted as one of the most recognized cities in the UK, it has also attracted many visitors. So, if you’re considering moving to or within Manchester, then it’s crucial to figure out the best places to live for your personal needs and comfort. So, we have done some detailed analysis by compiling the best areas of greater Manchester to help you find where to live. Check it out below.
Sale in Manchester
Sale is not just a popular place in Manchester, but it’s considered one of the top 5 best places to live in England. This place is just three stops from the city center on the Metrolink. Foreigners can get into the main business activity within 20 minutes. On the other hand, property prices are higher than average, with £320,000 for a semi-detached house, so keeping this in mind as an expat is beneficial.
Altrincham
Altrincham was once little more than a failing and empty high street in recent years. But it has completely turned around and is now one of the more upmarket areas to live in the city. As of today, you would need a sizeable budget to buy a detached Edwardian house at over £750,000, but this wonderful area has a lot to offer.
Rusholme
This is one of the more popular places to live in Manchester for students as well as young professionals wanting to relocate to England. As property prices are relatively low, expats can enjoy a lower rental rate in these suburbs. So, if you’re a low-budget person, but still want a lot of the conveniences, this could be the right place.
Spinningfields
As one of the leading commercial areas in the city center, spinningfields are very popular with professionals who want to be within distance of some of the biggest companies in England. It’s packed full of bars and restaurants, and the transport links will take you right into the heart of Manchester in a couple of minutes.
Prestwich
For expat looking to live in Manchester but don’t need daily and fast access to the inner city, Prestwich could be the right place to live. It’s located in the northern parts of Manchester, and it will take you about 40 minutes to get to the city. Also, this city is most popular with young families. And this is due to a large selection of primary and secondary schools. Meanwhile, property buying and rental in this area are in a reasonable range.
Didsbury
Since its inception, Didsbury has become one of the most desired places to live in Manchester. With many celebrities and football stars making this suburb their home, the benefits of choosing this area in Manchester cannot be overemphasized. Meanwhile, it does mean that buying and rental prices for homes are significantly higher than average.
Castlefield
There’s probably no other area in Manchester that is as close to the inner city of Manchester as Castlefield. This area has a unique combination of old and new, with Roman-era forts, cobbled streets, and modern living spaces. Not only that but Castlefield is also classified as Urban Heritage Park. Due to this fact, traffic is very limited, making it one of the best areas to get around on foot or by bike.
Ancoats
Ancoats is another suburb located just beyond the Northern Quarter to the east of the inner city. With that being said, it makes the area a very commutable distance to the business areas within 15 minutes. Aside from this, it’s very popular with younger people with plenty of trendy bars, nightlife, and loads of daytime activity around restaurants and cafes, which are available at a reasonable price.
Chorlton
Chorlton is considered a quiet place, and it’s possibly one of the best areas in Manchester for families. And, of course, it’s a good 35 minutes by train into the main city, but you could get a lot more green space around you. Additionally, buying and rental prices are still very reasonable, and it has a lot of things to offer everyone from young to old. Also, there’s no shortage of schools in this area.
Salford
With many families living in Salford due to its Metrolink access, it’s among the best place to visit. Also, you can get into the city within 15 to 20 minutes, and considering the houses and rental prices, that’s quite attractive. Again, there’s also much attraction of many large and high-tech companies being based here, which is why it could be one of the best places to live if you work in one of the tech companies.
Frequently Asked Questions about Manchester
Why should I move to Manchester?
As mentioned earlier, there are many reasons to relocate to Manchester. If you read through this article, you’ll definitely understand the reasoning behind it. However, it’s the UK’s most livable city, a city with something for everyone, and there are many world-ranked universities in Manchester.
Is Manchester safe for an expat?
Manchester is a major city in the UK and therefore has the same problems any other city does. More so, plenty of safety officers is getting around, so it’s considered a safe place for students, families, and foreigners moving to the city for the first time.
Is Manchester an expensive city?
Well, if you’re preparing to live in Manchester as a foreigner, it would be better to be financially buoyant before you travel. A single person, on average, will need about £626.57 to cover the living cost, and it’s about the same cost of living as Birmingham. So, you can expect to pay huge cost while living in Manchester.
Is there employment in Manchester?
Undoubtedly, Manchester offers some great employment opportunities for expat, considering that it’s the second-largest economy in the United Kingdom. Some of the biggest employment sectors in Manchester include; finance, manufacturing, life science, creative, and digital technology.
How can I get around in Manchester?
Well, there are many convenient ways to get around Manchester. Some of them include; bus, bike, tram, rail, car, and many others, to mention a few. For those who don’t own a car but want to explore the beauty of Manchester, you can rent a car at an affordable price.
Conclusion
Manchester has it all; culture, history, variety of nightlife and some excellent housing facilities. While living in this city, it’s essential that you know the neighboring areas and suburbs suitable for expat. Nonetheless, many accolades have reinforced the belief that Manchester can rival any city. So, choose from the ones we’ve listed above and enjoy your relocation!
