Seven locations across the north west have been featured in The Sunday Times' Best Places to Live list - with three in Greater Manchester. The comprehensive guide, now in its 11th year, includes a total of 72 locations across the UK, chosen by The Sunday Times' expert panel.
After visiting each area, judges assess factors from schools to transport, broadband speeds to culture, as well as access to green spaces and the health of the high street. This year's annual list features more new entries than ever before.
In previous years the extensive list has featured regional winners including Levenshulme, Ancoats and Stockport as some of the best places to live in the north west. In 2022, the Sunday Times put Prestwich on the list for the first time and Altrincham was in the running for the second year in a row.
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This year, The Sunday Times has chosen Manchester, Sale and Stockport as its most impressive locations to live across Greater Manchester. Here's what the judges had to say about each area:
Manchester
Manchester has always had lots to offer amongst its range of diverse neighbourhoods. From all of the attractive amenities in the city centre to the more recent regeneration of New Islington and Ancoats, The Sunday Times says things will 'keep moving' across the borough.
"After a couple of years when its street cred was in danger of being washed away by a tide of investment flats, the original northern powerhouse is reasserting its cultural bragging rights," the Times said.
"Much has already been written about Ancoats, but its historic mills, warehouses and new-build blocks set the benchmark for hip urban living.
"There’s talk of at least 1,500 more homes, but in the meantime, a new ‘mobility hub’, with car parking, charging points, car and bike sharing clubs, will keep things moving."
Sale
The Trafford town has become a sought-after area to live in recent years with its variety of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.
House prices are constantly on the rise here and due to high demand, it has become one of the more expensive areas of the region to buy a home.
The Times judges said: "A welcoming and well-connected Greater Manchester location Sale is emerging from the shadow of Altrincham thanks to its excellent reputation for state schools, Metrolink tram connections, and the creation of a new town-centre hub in Stanley Square with cafes, restaurants and independent shops."
Stockport
The reinvented Stockport town has a plethora of attractive amenities and continues to attract a range of househunters.
What was once a bog-standard former mill town has reinvented itself as a funky, family-friendly alternative to Manchester’s Northern Quarter," the Times says.
"As well as brilliant independent shops, cafes and bars, it has good parks, decent schools, fast train links to Manchester and suburbs with a house for every style and budget."
Elsewhere in the north west, the city of Liverpool has been named at the top of the regional list.
The Sunday Times judges praised Liverpool for its booming science and tech scene, new football stadium rising from the docks and the neighbouring Ten Streets area that is emerging as a creative district, as well as its community spirit, water sports, boot camps on the beach, independent shops, and quirky places to eat and drink.
“There are lots of reasons to be optimistic about Liverpool — not just Eurovision, but also the booming reputation for science and tech and grand projects such as the new Everton Stadium and new film studios," the Times said.
"Good-value houses are the big attraction – this is one great city where you can buy a house without breaking the bank – but you also get a lively city centre and beautiful beaches close at hand.
"Our top districts in the city this year are both affordable: Waterloo for seaside, sunsets and independent shops, and Toxteth for its cultural and community vibe.”
Alongside Liverpool, Manchester, Sale and Stockport, three other locations in the north west were selected for the annual guide, listed in no particular order.
The judges favoured Tarporley in Cheshire for its 'excellent schools and glamorous high street', Rawtenstall in Lancashire for its 'buzzing weekend bar scene' and Penrith in Cumbria as a 'go-to location for lovers of the great outdoors'.
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