A day in the life of…Manchester
Manchester is a dynamic and lively place with a rich history. Here we give you a breakdown of urban living in one of the most charismatic cities in the UK.
Population: 498,800
Breakdown: More males than females and 34 per cent of people are between the ages of 25 to 44.
Most coveted property locations: Parrs Wood and Stretford fetch the highest property prices.
Average property price: £142,619
Most common type of home: semi-detatched followed by terraced flats.
Celebrity residents: Karl Pilkington, Ian Brown, Michelle Keegan, Gary Barlow and a host of others.
Most popular professions: health, social work, retail and education.
Business district: The city centre where prominent buildings including Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square and the Beetham Tower are located. Many notable companies use Manchester as a base including Cisco, Google, Jacob's Engineering and Nike. At Salford Quays on the banks of Manchester's ship canal lies MediaCityUK recently developed by The Peel Group and is the new home of the BBC.
Green space: Debdale Outdoor Centre is run by the council and does everything from dinghy sailing, windsurfing, canoeing and kayaking to rock climbing, abseiling, hill walking and orienteering.
Four miles north of the city centre is Heaton Park. It is 247 hectares and has plenty of leisure space as well as an animal centre, golf club and regular sporting games.
The arts: Manchester has several theatres and a thriving arts community. Head to the north of Oxford Street to visit The Palace Theatre or Bridgewater Hall. If you continue along towards the river you will find the Opera House. This road also features the Manchester Museum and the University of Manchester.
Nightlife: Ale pubs are popular across Manchester and many will stock local brews. The Hare & Hounds is a Grade-two listed pub found opposite Shudehill bus station and gets a mix of local and business clientele. The Marble Arch is famous for its brews, tiled drinks frieze and sloping mosaic floor.
Those wanting a speakeasy style experience frequent Black Dog Ballroom in the Northern Quarter. While the more eccentric lovers head to Odd, an independent bar that prides itself on providing a stage for up and coming local artists. Top nightclubs include The Attic, Via, Area 51, Sankeys Manchester and The Factory.
Food: A top three of Manchester eats include steak and seafood restaurant Grill on the Alley which has the fresh fish on display and an open kitchen. Sam’s Chop House open since 1872 is a stalwart and serves traditional food. And from the cheaper end of the scale a local favourite is The Soup Kitchen in the Northern Quarter which has a canteen layout and serves six different soups daily as well as other menu options.
Shop: Every Manchester shopper knows about the Vintage Fashion Market held in Piccadilly Gardens on the third Saturday of every month. Everything from 20s glamour to disco diva can be found here and traders take pride in sourcing original pieces.
Luxury stores such as Emporio Armani and Mulberry are found at the new The Avenue at Spinningfields but there is also a retail heart in Exchange Square where you will find Selfridges and The Triangle boutique shopping complex. Or head to the Trafford Centre for a plethora of stores.
If you lived in Manchester your lifestyle would be full of after-work drinks, weekend clubbing and beautiful views of the surrounding cityscape.
