Moving house (for most people) is often an unpleasant experience with a rewarding end goal, especially if you’re moving to Manchester. Narrow streets, limited access, and restricted parking can make the process of moving really undesirable.
However, the urban beauty of the city center and leafy, quiet suburban neighborhoods can make Manchester a very picturesque place to live. So we guess the toils of moving are worth it after all!
That’s why we wrote this blog. To help you (if you’re moving to Manchester, that is) settle in with ease.
Why Are People Moving to Manchester in the First Place?
Manchester is quickly growing to be one of the most popular places to live in the United Kingdom – or even according to Manchester Evening News, one of the ‘coolest.’
However, many people are biting the bullet and making the move to Manchester, and for a number of reasons.
- The job markets in tech, media & finance are strengthening, with the Prestbury Advisory coining it as the leading UK tech destination. This attracts more and more innovators and professionals to Manchester and only serves to strengthen local economies.
- Excellent transport links across the North & beyond.
- The culture. Manchester has an undisputed reputation for manufacturing music and football legends, and there’s plenty of history to explore.
- It’s blend of city living spaces and quieter suburbs. You can very quickly find yourself amongst the business of Media City & the Northern Quarter. If you seek quieter, greener pastures, you might want to consider a move to Didsbury, Timperley or Wilmslow.
Choosing the Right Area
Manchester is massive. And we mean massive. There’s so many places you could choose to move to in Greater Manchester, all with their own unique characteristics. Here’s a few we think you might like…
Making the Move to Stockport
Stocky P. Ask ten Mancunians what they think about Stockport, and you’ll get a couple of guaranteed scoffs and probably a couple of cocked brows, but Stockport is nothing to turn your nose up at.
Stockport has always been an area with predominantly working-class roots thanks to the cotton and its allied industries; however, over the past decade, it’s gone through a real urban resurgence, making it one of the most desirable places to live in Manchester. If you’re planning to move to Stockport, we’ve written a moving guide to help you get settled in – as well as where we think are the best places to move to within Stockport.
Timperley & Altrincham
Two equally fantastic places, and for good reason. Altrincham and Timperley both have their respective charms, with Altrincham being slightly more costly, but that doesn’t stop these two fantastic towns from getting their kudos.
Altrincham boasts a strong nightlife as well as plenty of excellent venues to dine and shop, however, it doesn’t fall short on its green spaces, with it being a short drive to Denzel Gardens (Bowdon) and Dunham Massey.
Timperley is a lot quieter, which makes it more attractive to families with younger children and young professionals alike who don’t want busy, city-going lifestyles. Its green spaces make it a very desirable place to hang your hat, with both Timperley and Altrincham offering fantastic transport links to Manchester City Center and Manchester Airport.
We even covered a blog on why so many people are making the move to Timperley.
The Northern quarter
Mainly attractive to younger professionals and creatives alike, however, the Northern Quarter is still a very strong contender. With all the local bars, business spaces, eateries, music venues, and clubs, the Northern Quarter is one of the places to be if you’re particularly fond of industrially influenced urban areas.
Living here can be pretty costly, and many young professionals tend to rent or purchase apartment spaces for the convenience of local transport links, offices, Manchester Arndale, Stevenson Square or Afflecks Palace, which are all equally within walking distance.
Sale & Sale Moor
Sale has always been a fantastic place to live, and again, over the last decade, Sale has had some serious development to be what it is today. A quick walk around Sale will have you falling in love with the artisanal stores. And if you haven’t been to the Maker’s Market? You’re definitely missing out…
The Bridgewater canal runs straight through Sale, and some of the local history enshrouding buildings like Sale Town Hall make it a really beautiful, serene place to live.
Sale Moor is also on the up, and has been for a while. Local parks like Worthington Park or Moor Nook make it a really sought after place to be, as well as all the surrounding shops & cafes.
Gatley
An ever-growing, attractive suburb of Stockport. Gatley is a great place to live in Manchester, known for its strong community feel, independent shops, and transport links via Gatley train station. Gatley has strong historical ties and is home to the original Tatton cinema, St. James church, and Gatley Hill House (built in 1780!)
Gatley attracts families of all shapes and sizes. From single, working professionals who need the transport links to commute to and from work and those who are looking for a little more space than what living in the city center or Media City would offer.
Media City
The epicenter of media production in Manchester. This waterside community is home to the BBC, ITV, Kellogg’s, the Hut Group and is widely populated by young working professionals.
Situated on the banks of the Manchester ship canal, Media City is representative of a large scale regeneration of the Manchester Docks and is quickly becoming one of the most attractive places to live in Manchester.
A £1 billion investment plan is set out to double the size of Media City’s existing footprint by 2030. This will see new residential, office and retail spaces added to the already bustling landscape that is Salford’s Media City.
What to Expect When Moving to Manchester
Manchester is a busy city, so making sure you’ve got your timing right will really matter. Try to avoid peak hours where possible, especially if you live close to the city centre. Manchester’s daytime traffic can often be pretty unforgiving, especially for a fleet of removals vehicles. Of course, we’ll always tackle the challenge with no problems, but for your sake… Try not to pick peak hours!
Access can often be a big concern, especially for Manchester apartment moves. If you’re moving to a high-rise apartment in the middle of Deansgate, you’ll want to make sure the vans on the day can park somewhere close enough to gain access. Leave navigating the tight, winding streets to the professionals. We know what we’re doing!
On moving day, you’ll want to make sure you’re ready for your removals team to arrive so you can give them immediate access. We (Soldiers On The Move) don’t typically charge for key waits, as these are usually in the hands of solicitors until the final minute. Keep important documents with you, and do one final pass through of your property to make sure nothing’s left behind that you’ll miss.
Planning Your Move
Before the big day rolls around, you should make sure you’re prepared adequately. There’s a lot that goes into planning a move, and this is a topic we’ve covered several times over.
If you’re looking for moving advice, make sure you check out our 11 tips on a stress-free house move. Otherwise, making sure you’ve got everything you might need (keys, documents, medication, or anything of importance) set to one side will do you the world of good, as well as making sure everything’s packed properly and carefully for your upcoming move to Manchester.
How Much Does it Cost to Move to Manchester?
A tough question, and not one that deserves a basic answer.
House moves aren’t usually given a blanket price, and for many reasons. A two bedroom house packed to the rafters with furniture will inevitably cost more than a four bedroom, minimalist home with barely anything. There are many factors that go into pricing a home move. The main one, of course, being volume.
Most removal companies price a move based on how many vehicles are going to be required on the day of the move, as they’ll need to ensure they’re covering their costs. This is why most removal companies recommend that you do a big clear out before you actually move. Because the less you have to move, the less you’ll pay.
Many other factors will obviously be taken into account too. Such as the distance of your move as the removal company will need to also factor in fuel costs, as well as labour. The list goes on.
Get in touch with us today if you’re looking for a quote. We’ll send someone out to survey the property to weigh up what actually needs moving, and in turn, we’ll give you a fair estimate so you know exactly what you’re paying for and why. Click here to get your free quote.
Conclusion
By now, you hopefully should have some idea of what to expect when making your move to Manchester. You’ll also get an idea of why people are so attracted to living in Manchester, and why more and more people are making the move to our beloved city.
From football history to the budding musical culture, or even for the nightlife. Manchester offers a lot to young professionals and growing families alike.
Every part of Manchester has its own unique charm, and there’s plenty more places we haven’t included that are desirable places to live.
Making the Move to Manchester?
You don’t have to go it alone. Our Manchester Removals team help plenty of customers relocate safely from A to B year on year. We know how to navigate the tight streets that the city centre has to offer, or even the best transport routes to make sure your goods arrive safely and punctually at your new address.
We’re Soldiers On The Move. We’re a military-founded & operated removals firm nestled tightly between Wythenshawe and Manchester Airport.
With the majority of our team being ex-veterans, they know how to treat your possessions with respect and care. If you’re thinking of moving to Gatley, Media City, Altrincham, Sale, or anywhere in the North West for that matter…
