Blogs > Life in the UK
A snapshot into... Manchester
- May 11, 2022
Manchester is known as ‘the powerhouse of the North of England’. It has a population of 530, 300 and Greater Manchester has a population of 2.68 million, making it the second largest city in the UK. It is a hotbed of the industry with one of the highest growth rates of any cities in the UK.
It has the third largest economic centre in the UK and the city is a sprawling metropolis with a rich history of architecture, a popular art scene and a cultural legacy encompassing famous artists, musicians, authors.
Manchester is one of the country’s most diverse cities, where 37% of schoolchildren speak another language in addition to English. It is estimated that more than half of the city’s adult population is multilingual, with 17% declaring in a recent Government Consensus that their ‘main’ language’ was something other than English. In Manchester, there are over 200 languages spoken in the city, including Punjabi, Gujarati, Arabic, Polish, Urdu and Mandarin.
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Where should I live in Manchester?
Didsbury
Didsbury is one of Greater Manchester’s most sought-after areas for property. It is cheaper to rent in this trendy suburb than the city centre. Didsbury, while at the higher end of the average renter’s budget does offer great value for money. On average, a one bedroom apartment will cost £700 and two will cost £900.
The main road in West Didsbury is Burton Road, which has a long strip of busy bars and restaurants. Commuting into the city centre from Didsbury is easy, the metropolitan link goes directly to Wilmslow and Manchester Airport.
Manchester City Centre
Renting a one-bedroom flat in Potato Wharf, Castlefield, for example, will cost around £850 on average. For a two-bedroom apartment, you can expect to pay around £1000 per month and for a three bedroom flat its around £1,200.
Places on the outskirts of the city centre, such as New Islington and Ancoats are also bursting with potential.
Salford Quays
Salford Quays is now one of the most sought-after areas of Greater Manchester to live in, with so much to offer, the area delivers fantastic lifestyle opportunities for young professionals and families.
Salford Quays, including Media City UK, continues to grow and flourish as an area to reside. The area offers quality luxury apartment living without the price tag you will find in Central Manchester. A one-two bedroom flat in Salford Quays could cost £700-1000.
Furthermore, it is an easy commute to Manchester City Centre taking less than 30 minutes on public transport and 20 minutes in a car. Last, Salford Quays is at the heart of all things media with the BBC and ITV studios located in Media City and the area offers beautiful waterside views from many apartments in the area.
Fallowfield
Fallowfield is a suburb of Manchester with a population of over 15,000. It lies roughly 3 miles south of Manchester City Centre. There are plenty of busy restaurants, shops, and cafes. Fallowfield is a cheaper area to live in Greater Manchester, with a two bedroom flat costing you £400 to £700.
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Average Living Expenses
Housing prices in Manchester are 33% cheaper than London but are often higher than other cities in the UK. The price will vary depending on the area but the figures below will provide you with a rough estimation of what to expect.
Housing
|
Housing |
Cost |
|
Monthly rent for furnished 900Sqft accommodation in an expensive area |
£1,341 |
|
Monthly rent for furnished 900Sqft accommodation in a normal area |
£750 |
|
Monthly utility bills (including gas, electricity etc) for two people |
£170 |
|
Monthly Internet 8Mbps |
£20 |
Entertainment
|
Entertainment |
Cost |
|
Dinner for two at a pub |
£25 |
|
2 cinema tickets |
£20 |
|
Dinner for two at an Italian restaurant, including starters, mains and desserts |
£56 |
|
Coffee |
£3.28 |
|
Pint of Beer |
£3.97 |
|
Gym membership |
£34 |
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Transport in Manchester
Getting around Manchester and its surrounding areas is easy thanks to the fleet of buses, trams and trains available. The compact nature of the city also makes walking a popular choice.
Within the city centre, Metroshuttle provides a free ‘hop on hop off’ service linking all of the main rail stations, shopping districts and business areas. There are three services which operate on circular routes.
Commercial bus services run right across Greater Manchester and the rail network connects you to neighbouring towns.
The Metrolink network is one of the most successful light railway systems in the UK. The Metrolink can transport you to popular venues and attractions across the region.
Transport to and from Manchester
Manchester Airport – Manchester Airport is an international airport in Ringway, Manchester, just 7.5 miles south-west of Manchester city centre. It is the UK’s third busiest airport in terms of passenger numbers and airports outside of London. The airport has three terminals and flies to over 200 destinations.
Manchester Piccadilly Train Station – Taking the train from Manchester to London or vice versa is very easy. The train takes 2 hours 5 minutes for a 203-mile journey. Fast trains are operated by Virgin Trains. You can also access Liverpool, Leeds, and Sheffield by train in under an hour and York in an hour and twenty minutes.
Fun fact – you can also take a canal cruise from Manchester to Liverpool and Seacombe.
The boat travels across 36 miles and usually lasts between 5-6 hours and a return coach transfer is included with all tickets. The tickets cost £42 per person.
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Schools and Education
Manchester has a range of schools varying in quality which is judged by an independent body known as Ofsted. The majority of schools in the city are state-run, however, there are a number of private or independent schooling options within the suburbs. In the city centre, there is only one primary school - the secondary schools are all based in the suburbs. When applying to state schools many of those rated good or outstanding can be oversubscribed so ensure you do your research when applying for your child to attend school in Manchester. Please note that there are a number of religious schools available in the area.
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Things to do in Manchester
Old Trafford Old Trafford is a football stadium home to Manchester United, located in Greater Manchester. With a capacity of 74,994, it is the largest club football stadium (and second largest overall after Wembley Stadium) in the UK and the eleventh-largest in Europe.
Old Trafford has hosted FA Cup semi-finals, England fixtures, matches at the 1966 World Cup and Euro 96 and the 2003 Champions League Final. It also hosted football matches at the 2012 Summer Olympics, including women’s international football for the first time in its history.
You can have a tour of the stadium which lasts approximately 70 minutes, and it costs £18 for an adult and £12 for a child. The museum is open 9:30 am to 5 pm Monday to Saturday and 9:30 am to 4 pm on Sunday’s.
Shopping
- Manchester Arndale
Manchester Arndale offers a wide selection of exciting shops from high street names such as Topshop to smaller stylish independent boutiques – all under one roof.
The shopping centre is located right in the centre and it is located close to buses, trams and train networks – so it is easy to get to.
- Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet
Cheshire Oaks was the first and remains the UK’s largest Designer Outlet.
It comprises of more than 145 boutiques, restaurants, and . The Outlet has a wide range of brands including Nike, to high-street favourites like M&S and Next, to iconic fashion brands such as Burberry, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors and Hugo Boss.
- Trafford Centre
The Trafford Centre (also known as Trafford Centre) is a large indoor shopping centre and leisure complex in Greater Manchester, in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, approximately five miles west of Manchester City Centre.
The Centre opened in 1998 and it is the second largest shopping centre in the UK by retail size.
Arts, Culture and Music
Manchester is famous for its arts and culture scene, the city has a number of well-known and unique attractions, libraries and museums.
The Manchester Museum offers free entry every day and you will have access to four floors displays and exhibitions in 15 galleries which feature collections from all over the world.
For lovers of literature, Manchester has an array of libraries, including the architectural masterpiece from the Gothic era – John Rylands Library. In addition, after extensive refurbishment, the Manchester Central Library has recently re-opened which combines historic features with a cutting-edge design.
Furthermore, Manchester is well-known for its musical heritage, having birthed the likes of Oasis, Stone Roses, Take That and The Courteeners. Manchester’s music scene thrives, not just for its acclaimed and emerging artists but for its diverse range of music venues. The most popular venue is The Manchester Arena, immediately north of the city centre. The arena has a seating capacity of 21,000 and is one of the world’s busiest indoor , hosting music and sporting events such as boxing and swimming.
Tatton Park – Tatton Park is a historic estate in Cheshire, located just 40 minutes outside Manchester City Centre. The park has a mansion, Tatton Hall, a manor house which dates back from medieval times, gardens, a farm and a deer park all across 2,000 acres. The estate is owned by the National Trust and hosts over 100 events annually.
Curry Mile
The Curry Mile is a nickname for the part of Wilmslow Road which runs through the centre of Rusholme in South Manchester. The name is earned from a large number of restaurants, takeaways and kebab houses which specialise in the cuisines of South Asia and the Middle East, which is thought to be the largest concentration of South Asian restaurants outside of the Indian subcontinent. Within the length of half a mile, there are at least seventy establishments of this kind and the Curry Mile is known for its streets being busy into the early hours of the morning.
GMC Building
The GMC building in Manchester is based at 3 Hardman Street, Manchester, M3 3AW. The building is open from 8:30am-5pm, Monday to Friday. Their office is based in a large, glass-fronted building in the Spinningfields area of Manchester, just off Deansgate.
The building is one mile from Piccadilly station and just over half a mile away from Victoria mainline train stations. Local trains also stop at Deansgate and Salford Central train stations, which are both a ten-minute walk away.
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Things to know about Manchester
Rain – It rains for 53% of the year
Happiest Populace – People who reside in Manchester are the happiest in the UK, followed by Leeds.
Religion and places to worship:
Shree Swaminarayan Temple
- 161 Deane Road, Bolton BL3 5AH England
Greater Manchester’s new Hindu temple was built after years of hard work by volunteers. The stunning BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir stands proud in Ashton with features crafted thousands of miles away in India.
Manchester Buddhist Centre
- 16-20 Turner Street Northern Quarter, Manchester M4 1DZ England
Friendship is central to their practice, the facility is available to everyone, whether you see yourself as a Buddhist or are just interested in what Buddhism and what meditation can offer.
Khizra Masjid Mosque
- 425 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester M8 0PF England
A large Mosque complex with 2 prayer chambers, an Islamic library and catering kitchen for functions.
Didsbury Mosque
- 271 Burton Road West Didsbury, Manchester M20 2WA England
Didsbury Mosque (Manchester Islamic Centre) has been around since the 1960's and is inclusive to all worshippers and neighbours. The centre runs activities for most age groups, with Mum & Toddler sessions to fitness classes and sports activities too.
The Sikh Temple
- 61 Upper Chorlton Road Whalley Range, Manchester M16 7RQ England
Known as Sri Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara Educational & Cultural Centre, this is one of the busiest Temples in the region.
United Synagogue
- Meade Hill Road Crumpsall Green, Manchester M8 4LP England
Local Orthodox Shul; Established in 1904 this is an orthodox Synagogue located in Prestwich, Manchester.
St. Mary's Church
- 17 Mulberry Street, Manchester M2 6LN England
Located near Albert Square and Town Hall; St Mary’s Church is easy to find and provides a place for quiet contemplation and meditation for all.
All things food!
Manchester has a broad and diverse range of locations to eat out in the city, here are some of our favourite places to eat that serve brilliant halal food:
MyLahore Manchester
- 14-18 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M14 5TQ England
At MyLahore you’ll enjoy traditional tastes with a modern twist (and a personal touch). Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Halal and Gluten Free Options.
Walnut Persian Restaurant
·237 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M14 5LW England
A family run Persian restaurant that has been trading in Manchester for over 15 years.
Etci Mehmet Steakhouse
- 8 Chester Street Unit 4,The Quadrangle, Manchester M1 5QS England
Turkish steakhouse offering select halal meats & drinks in a modern-rustic environment.
Hala Supermarkets:
Noor Supermarket Halal
- 956 Stockport Rd, Manchester M19 3NN
Midway Halal Food Store Ltd
- 4A Walmer St E, Rusholme, Manchester M14 5SS
Gulzar's Halal Family Butchers
- 72 Mauldeth Rd W, Withington, Manchester M20 3FQ
Hospitals near Manchester
Please note that there are not many hospitals situated in Central Manchester, and so if you are considering relocating to this city please be aware that it is likely you will have to travel out to Greater Manchester and surrounding cities. These cities include Liverpool, Blackburn, Burnley, Huddersfield, Bolton, Tameside, and Southport. So, when interviewing for NHS jobs in surrounding areas – remember you can always reside in Manchester and then commute into the hospital.
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If you are an IMG who is interested in relocating to the UK and working for the NHS then send your CV to [email protected] – and one of our Specialist Advisers will be happy to aid you through the process.
