It’s completely understandable that you’re interested in living in one of the UK’s greatest cities. The place is bursting with culture, flashy, high-rise apartments, delicious food and the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. Not to mention the city’s booming economy, roaring nightlife scene and eco-friendly spaces.
Moving to any new place is bound to be a tricky decision, no matter what. That’s why I wanted to write an article that can give you the lowdown on what it’s really like living in Manchester – specifically the city centre. So if you’re wondering what kind of rental prices you can expect, if you’re anxious about the city’s job market, and you’re curious about what you can do to fill your weekends, then this is the article for you. So, without any further ado, let’s jump in.
Getting a Flat
Manchester’s city centre has a fiercely competitive rental market. Getting a flat here can be hard, but your mileage may vary. I secured my own flat in the Northern Quarter without too much fuss about four years ago, but I also know plenty of people who’ve been one of ten (at least) applying for the same flat. Some application processes have full-on interview processes, and many are rife with underhanded tactics, like buying gifts for the landlord (bribes) and taking out eye-watering loans to pay for 6 months’ worth of rent upfront.
If this is your first time living in Manchester, and you want to live somewhere affordable that’s walkable to town, then I’d recommend looking at the Green Quarter – just northwest of the Northern Quarter. It’s a nice enough area that’s a 5-10 minute walk from Exchange Square, where a one or two-bedded apartment won’t completely wipe the floor with your bank account.
It would also be remiss of me not to mention Salford City, which is essentially part of the city centre itself. Flats located just off Chapel Street and around Blackfriars are some of the most affordable in the city and are arguably even closer to most areas in the city centre than Green Quarter.
Getting a Job
Manchester is home to one of the UK’s largest and fastest-growing regional economies, driven heavily by its finance, tech, and services sectors. So if you’re looking for a job here, we tend to have more of those here than other places do. Whether you’re a practicing Lawyer, the manager of a supermarket, or looking to work in plant hire, there are plenty of jobs on offer in Manchester’s city centre.
The only volatile part of Manchester’s economy in recent times has been the hospitality industry, which has been marred by uncertainty up and down the UK. Having said that, Manchester certainly has one of the best hospitality sectors in the country.
What Can You Do in Manchester?
So, you’ve got a flat and a job both sorted. Now, it’s just a matter of finding things to do. So buckle up, here are just a few things you can get up to in Manchester at the weekend.
Watch a Football Game
If you’ve been living under a rock, you might not be aware that Manchester is home to two of the biggest, most successful clubs in world football. Yes, every year, millions of football pilgrims flock to Manchester to watch their beloved Manchester United or Manchester City win at home. Both clubs play at their home grounds, Old Trafford and The Etihad Stadium, every 2 weeks in the Premier League, while also competing in midweek bouts in the Champions League, as well as other domestic tournaments.
Go Shopping
The Trafford Centre often finds its way to the top of many bucket lists for those who come and visit, but if you’re living in the city, you’ll find it accessible by a 20-minute tram. Larger than most small towns, the Trafford Centre is one of the biggest shopping centres in the UK, with over 280 stores, a food court, a bowling alley, and a cinema.
If you want to stay in the city centre, then it doesn’t get better than the Arndale Centre, which has 210 stores of its own. It’s packed with high street favourites and independent stores, and also has its own entertainment facilities, like The Cube Live Experience and Roxy’s Ballroom.
Go to a Gig
Manchester is famous for its music scene with it creating bands like Oasis, The Stone Roses, the Smiths, Joy Division, The 1975 and The Blossoms. The city has a musical heritage like no other, so it shouldn’t surprise you to hear that there is no shortage of music venues to check out your favourite artists in person. Large global acts tend to stick to the COOP Live, AO Arena, The Etihad Stadium, and Old Trafford. Smaller acts, on the other hand, can be found on every other street, with established venues like Manchester Academy, Gorilla, The O2 Apollo, and now New Century Hall regularly hosting cult artists week in and week out.
Closing Thoughts
Manchester is a truly great city to live in. We’ve got places to live, enough jobs to go around, a couple of football teams, a few shops and some great venues to see your favourite artists in person.
Priya Ravinder
Shraddha Singh
Soumya Bollapragada
