Manchester has become one of the UK’s most attractive cities for young professionals. The city offers endless opportunities (as does London), except that the cost of living is significantly more affordable. But as with anywhere you go, as a young professional that wants to make Manchester their home, you need to find a place to live.
And to help you find just the right location that you can call home, in this article, we’ll go over the best areas to live in Manchester for young professionals. We took into consideration a number of factors, including:
- Location
- Cost of renting
- Transport links
- Things to do
Northern Quarter
Situated in the heart of the Manchester city centre, the Northern Quarter is the perfect area for any young professional looking for a vibrant and trendy area to call home. The Northern Quarter is most well known for its variety of independent bars, restaurants, shops, and street art. In other words, if you want to be right in the heart of the action, this area is for you.
As far as renting is concerned, it is predominantly filled with flats, meaning renting is relatively affordable, especially if you are moving in with friends. There are also excellent transport links, with several bus and tram stops nearby linking you to all parts of Manchester. These include the main bus stations, train stations, and even the Manchester airport (though you will likely need to make some changes).
Ancoats
Also known as the former industrial area of Manchester, over the years, Ancoats has been completely transformed and has become one of the city’s most exciting locations. As a result, the area now has a fair mix of new and old architecture, giving it a unique vibe you can’t experience anywhere else in the city.
Thanks to the massive changes the area has gone through, it has attracted many new people. As a result, you’ll find many independent bars, cafes, and restaurants scattered all over.
Ancoats is located just above New Islington, to the east side of the Manchester city centre. And although it isn’t in a central location like the Northern Quarter, it is close enough to offer you the perfect balance between city life and a neighbourhood with a strong sense of community.
Castlefield
Castlefield is one of Manchester’s most historic neighbourhoods located just outside of the city centre. It is best known for its museums, Roman ruins, and picturesque canals. But if you’re not so much into history, don’t let that put you off from the area as a whole.
Castlefield is still very modern and has plenty of transport links to all major areas of Manchester (including the city centre and Manchester Airport). Not only that, but it also provides just the right balance for those young professionals who want to live in peace and quiet without being too far from the city centre.
That said, the cost of living in Castlefield is slightly higher than the average. The average two-bedroom apartment for rent will set you back between £1,000 and £1,300 per month.
Deansgate
If you’re looking to live right in the hustle and bustle of Manchester, it doesn’t get any better than Deansgate. The entire area of Deansgate is filled with high-end stores, bars, restaurants, and cultural attractions in the likes of the “John Rylands Library” and the “Manchester Art Gallery.”
What we like about Deansgate is that you have quite literally everything nearby. Not to mention that getting out of the city is as easy as ever (and you don’t even need a car). You will find transport links all over Deansgate, so no matter where you are heading, you can easily get from A to B (even if that’s anywhere else in the UK).
As far as rent prices are concerned, Deansgate is a pretty expensive area to live in. It’s home to the four Deansgate towers, which you can’t miss. Living in one of those will set you back at least £2,000 per month. With that said, there are plenty of other buildings where you can rent an apartment for far less, so don’t let the price put you off.
Chorlton-On-Medlock
Located south of the Manchester city centre, Chorlton is another fantastic place to live as a young professional if you want a fine balance between city life and the peace and quiet of a rural area. Renting a property in the area is relatively affordable. With that said, there is plenty of choice too. You can spend £500 per month on a studio or splash £2,000 on the house with a garden.
With all that in mind, despite being outside of the city centre, Chorlton-On-Medlock is home to excellent transport links, many grocery stores, restaurants, bars, and cafes. As a result, you will hardly have the need to get into the city anyway.
Didsbury
If you have a family and want to live in a quieter area with plenty of parks around, Didsbury is an excellent choice. Didsbury is located just south of the Manchester city centre, making it a convenient location for getting into the city if you work in Manchester.
It’s home to many popular restaurants, bars, cafes, and grocery stores, as well as transport links that can take you to the city centre, Manchester Airport, and other major locations all over the city. Renting prices in the area vary a lot. You can get a studio for £500 or a four-bedroom house for £2,500 per month. It all really depends on your needs.
Spinningfields
Spinningfields is Manchester’s most popular business district. It is also located right in the heart of Manchester, making it a very convenient location for every young professional. As it’s in the city centre, there’s no secret that you will find many high-end bars, restaurants, and cafes.
The cost of living in Spinningfields is relatively high, but the area has excellent transport links to all parts of Manchester, including Manchester Airport. Renting a one-bedroom apartment in the area can set you back around £850 – £1,100 per month. If you decide to buy, it would be a great investment, as when you decide to move on, you can sell your flat fast due to how hot the market in the area is.
Salford Quays
If you like being by the water, Salford Quays is the perfect area for you to live in Manchester. The neighbourhood is located just outside the city centre, in close proximity to Media City (where ITV Studios, BBC, and other major media companies are situated).
Thanks to everything going on in the area, there are plenty of bars and restaurants for you to enjoy. And although we don’t recommend walking into the Manchester city centre, jumping on one of the tram links nearby can get you right into the heart of the city in 10 to 15 minutes.
When it comes to renting, you will mostly find that the area is filled with apartment buildings. The prices are relatively affordable, depending on what you’re looking for. Some studios start from £600 per month, while two-bedroom apartments in higher-end buildings can start at around £1,200 per month.
Young Professional Outlooks in Manchester
As the second fastest-growing city in the UK, Manchester has become the top destination for many young professionals not only from the area but from all over the country. Thanks to its rapid expansion over the last decade, young professionals looking to move to Manchester now have plenty of areas to pick from that they can start calling home.
Above, we explored the areas we believe provide the biggest balance between having a great time, getting to work easily, and being able to access practically everything you may need within minutes. If you’re ready to sell your flat fast in Manchester, We Buy Any Home can help.
