July 15, 2025
UK Property Market / Manchester
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The northern powerhouse has taken the top spot in numerous rankings recently. Named as the best place to visit, live, work, and invest by Resonance; boasting some of the highest rental increases according to Rightmove; and even securing thousands of government roles in the city.
Back in May, Mindshare asked 10,000 people where they’d choose to – aside from their current city – and Manchester took the top spot once again, beating London by 0.2%.
“Everybody’s moving back to Manchester. The youngsters love it.”
Top 5 Cities Voted As Most Desirable to Live:
- Manchester (11.9%)
- London (11.7%)
- Edinburgh (7.6%)
- York (7.4%)
- Liverpool (5.7%)
At the other end of the scale, Glasgow placed last (2.5%), closely followed by Birmingham (3.6%).
A Future Capital?
When asked about relocating the UK capital, a quarter of people believe it should remain London. But 18% of all respondents, and 35% of under 35s, believe Manchester should take the title. Among Londoners, 19% said they’d choose Manchester as their next city.
What’s Driving the Shift?
For those already living in Manchester, transport links were voted the top benefit (37%). The city has invested heavily in public transport, especially with the launch of the Bee Network in September 2023. And it’s only going to improve – with an £80 billion railway line in the works and £20 million in new funding for walking, cycling, and wheeling routes.
When it comes to job opportunities, residents were 1.8x more likely than the average Brit to say there are good prospects here – second only to London. Over the last two decades, Manchester has welcomed massive businesses like ITV, BBC, Bupa, Co-Op, and many others. Even the government is relocating thousands of jobs from London to Manchester.
“The culture, the sport, the people, the ability to innovate in the face of adversity, to look at what we need to be and find a way to get there, whatever obstacles are in our way, so many great innovations and inventions have come out of Greater Manchester.”
– Sarah Lester – Editor, Manchester Evening New
What Matters Most to Residents?
According to the survey, the most important factor when choosing where to live is a safe neighbourhood (33%). Second was green spaces and parks, with 18% of people agreeing. Manchester is leading the way in this area too, with ongoing regeneration projects delivering new parks and community spaces. The City River Park, part of the Victoria North Masterplan, will become Manchester’s largest ever park, spanning 113 acres.
Local Pride
Those living in cities generally had a more optimistic outlook of their local area, and the UK as a whole. Nearly 60% of city dwellers feel positiveabout their local area, yet only just over 40% of town inhabitants voted the same. This theme lingered for their feelings on the state of the UK, almost 50% of city-livers felt positive, while that figure dropped to just 15-20% among those living in towns, coastal areas, and the countryside.
As for local pride, Northerners showed significantly higher confidence in their home cities. Manchester ranked highest for being the ‘Most Resilient’, ‘Most Thriving’, and ‘Most Ambitious’ city. A massive 61% of residents agreed that their community is resilient and forward-thinking. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, 44% of Mancunians also believe their city is home to the most attractive people in the UK. Not bad, eh?
What Does This Mean for Property Investors and Home Buyers?
Manchester’s continued rise in popularity, strong transport infrastructure, increasing job opportunities, and sense of community pride are making it one of the most desirable places to live and invest in the UK.
For property investors, the city presents a solid long-term opportunity, especially with developments that are centred around on-going regeneration. Rental demand remains strong, fuelled by a growing population, high student retention rates, and the decentralisation of government and business roles from London.
For home buyers, it means securing a property in a city that’s not only booming economically, but also prioritising quality of life – with safe neighbourhoods, green space expansion, and top-tier connectivity.
Whether you’re investing or planting roots, Manchester’s momentum shows no signs of slowing. It’s a city that’s not just talking about the future, it’s building it.
Contact us today to find your property, whether it’s to buy your new home, a strong investment, or to rent in a promising city.
