The Clooper Guide To Manchester
Looking to venture up North? Why not start strong with Manchester?
Manchester is one of the most eco-friendly cities in the UK. Not only this, the highlights are multitudinous, with this city being rich with tradition, culture, nightlife and much more.
PROPERTIES AND PRICES
TO BUY: Manchester is large, encompassing a wide array of neighbourhoods. Prices are surely bound to reflect this diversity. However, we’ve done some snooping and generally, you can get a studio apartment ( or small one-bedroom apartment ) for £10,000 – £20,000. Not bad for a city in such high demand! Premium flats with more bedrooms & closer amenities start to come in at around the £50,000 mark. Finally, for a cool two million, you can net yourself a triplex apartment.
TO RENT: Renting in Manchester is popular, especially seeing as there are many students who reside there. As such, it’s common to find single rooms being rented in shared accommodation. These usually begin at £180 – £200pcm. You can find yourself a single-bedroom apartment or studio flat for a little above this, at £300pcm. On the other hand, you can net a luxury penthouse for around £15,000 per month.
TO STAY: Typically, luxury serviced apartments in Manchester and the surrounding area start at around £75 per night. You can browse through some of our available properties here.
GREEN SPACES
Heaton Park comes in as a strong contender for one of the best parks in Manchester. It’s got an impressive amount of activities available, as well as being a generally beautiful place to relax. Heaton Park is also beloved for its occasional funfairs. Additionally, its fantastic views. You’ll be able to see the Mancunian towers and distant buildings from amongst the hilltops, and you won’t have to struggle to reach the park, either! It’s only a short drive from the centre, and there’s a tram line nearby to boot. Heaton Park boasts a farm, a playground, and even a little cafe. It’s no wonder it’s such a local favourite.
Debdale Park has even more in store, especially for young ones. Here, you can find a children’s play area, skate park, free tennis courts, a bowling green, a community centre and a fenced multi-use games area! There is even a wholesome community orchard, as well as two large reservoirs where you can fish, and an outdoor activity centre where you can sail dinghies, kayak, canoe and much more. You don’t necessarily have to be a thrill-seeker to enjoy your stay here, though. You can take the dog here for a walk, go for a wander yourself, or simply sit and chill on the well-maintained greens.
Fletcher Moss Park is a little more gardens than a park. Botanical gardens to be exact, complete with a cosy cafe, as so many Manchester parks are. You can find yourself some tennis courts and sports activities, or you can stroll around and take in the rich tapestry of flora and fauna decorating this locale. There are also various structures, statues, and even decorative benches shaped like animals! You’ll find rivers and ponds galore. Fletcher Moss Park is truly a haven for those of us who love to spend time in nature.
THINGS TO DO
With somewhere like Manchester, a hub of exciting activity, it can be hard to figure out where to start. Are you a history buff? A tour lover? A partygoer? If you’re all three, you’re certainly in luck, as you’re bound to find something that’s to your liking. Here are a few of our recommendations.
- The John Rylands Library is one of Manchester’s best known historical locations. This is the primary library system and information service of the University of Manchester. Much of Manchester’s industrial history is kept here. Additionally, the aesthetics of this building are beautiful and gothic, as it was built around 1900!
- The Science & Industry Museum gives itself away with its title. It was also built on the site of the world’s first railway station!
- Manchester Cathedral is a well-known attraction. It’s the seat of the Bishop of Manchester and is relatively small inside, but gorgeous to behold. Its architecture is apparently extraordinarily interesting.
- Parthian Climbing is a sizeable climbing wall, which is all the rage lately! This climbing facility is staffed by friendly, knowledgeable individuals, and its walls are available for all ages.
- With Pride Month coming up, we’ve got to include Gay Village! This is a neighbourhood full to the brim of clubs, restaurants, bars, pubs, and much more. You can experience it via a walking tour or a night out with your mates, however you please, and you can find yourself a nice sit-down cafe if dancing all night isn’t for you.
AMENITIES
Manchester, as you may have guessed, is pretty well connected. In terms of travel and amenities, both. First off there’s Manchester Arndale, which is a shopping centre that was constructed way back in 1970, having since been redeveloped several times.
People often call the Arndale the centre of the city. They boast that you can ‘browse for hours, catch up with friends, spend time with family and make lasting memories,’ which sounds like a blast to us. You’ll find a great number of stores here and restaurants, so it truly will make for a great day out in itself. Some stores you can expect to find in the Arndale alone are Allsaints, CEX, Foot Locker, H & M, Menkind, and many more. There are a whopping two hundred shops estimated inside Manchester Arndale alone!
There are additionally several other shopping centres available. However, even along the smaller streets of Manchester, you can find various off licences, Tesco expresses and the like. Manchester is also known for having a brilliant variety of vegan restaurants and even grocery shops. There are markets available, too, such as the Arndale Market, and gyms and yoga studios pop up pretty much every corner you turn.
In terms of travel, Manchester to London is only a four-hour drive. On the other hand, if you prefer trains, simply hop on a train from Manchester Piccadilly and you could be at London Euston in around two and a half hours.
EDUCATION
You may already know Manchester University, being the largest single-site university in the UK. This isn’t the only exemplary education opportunity around, though! There are a wide variety of single-gender, mixed-gender, comprehensive and private schools available.
Some of the best recommendations are as follows:
- Withering Girls’ School
- King David School, Manchester
- Abbey College Manchester
- St Peter’s High School
- Stretford Grammar School
If you’re looking to live in an area closer to London, see our Hoxton area guide here.
