The Greater Manchester village named among UK's most desirable places to live (2024)
A Greater Manchester village has been named among the UK's 30 most desirable places to live in the UK. The new list also features a picturesque Cheshire village known for its celebrity residents.
Property experts from across the country have spoken to the Daily Mail about UK's most desirable villages - with both Haigh in Wigan and Alderley Edge in Cheshire making the list, reports the Mirror. With village life central to British culture, those in the know have provided their verdict on what makes the chosen 'coastal communities' and 'affluent areas' so in-demand with Brits.
As well as mentions for Greater Manchester and Cheshire, the list also features Roundhay in West Yorkshire, famed for its parkland and 'prestigious' properties, and Bishopthorpe in North Yorkshire, a historic spot known for its treelined streets and charming cottages. The costal village of Hightown in Merseyside is highlighted for its shingle beaches and one of the top 50 pubs in the UK.
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Further away, Chipping Norton, the home to former Prime Minister David Cameron makes the cut as is described as "posh as it gets". Meanwhile, Abersoch, a seaside village on the Llyn peninsula, which is known for attracting holidaymakers and day-trippers from across the North West, also features.
In its write-up, and spotlighting the small village civil parish of Haigh, the Mail states: "Despite Wigan's less glamorous reputation, Haigh's history and landscape offer a posh setting outside of city of Manchester. Home to the only remaining windmill in Greater Manchester, the village is the perfect quiet spot for a day trip."
It's not the first time Haigh has caught people's attention though. In 2024, the tiny corner of Wigan was named one of the poshest villages in Britain.
Haigh made it onto the list of the ‘smartest rural locations’ in the UK, published by the Daily Telegraph. Following the 2024’s edition of the annual Sunday Times ranking of the UK’s best places to live earlier this year, which saw two Greater Manchester towns make the cut, Haigh was then named as one of the 48 'poshest' villages in the UK.
Home to Haigh Woodland Park and the country mansion Haigh Hall, the average house price in the village is £244,222. Just a few miles from Wigan town centre, it's been described as a 'hidden gem', and is known for its independent cafes and shops, historic buildings and stunning woodland park, the latter featuring a huge free adventure playground.
Haigh Windmill, the only remaining windmill in Greater Manchester, was built in 1845 and supplied well water to John Sumner & Company's Haigh Brewery. There are also a number of walking trails to enjoy around this area that both residents and visitors love.
Over in Cheshire, Alderley Edge has also piqued the interest of experts, having become a well-known spot for its celebrity residents, notably Manchester United and Manchester City footballers and their families. It's described in the guide as "one of the most expensive and sought-after places to live in the UK outside of London".
The picturesque village sits in the east of Cheshire and boasts a range of upscale shops, cafes, restaurants and bars. Also known as the Champagne capital of Britain, it sits within the Cheshire 'Golden Triangle' - also known as the 'Footballer Belt' - which also encompasses Prestbury and Wilmslow.
"Alderley Edge has become a favourite location to call home by footballers and TV stars for its high-end shops and private homes," commented Liam Gretton in the write-up. "David and Victoria Beckham have been associated with the area before their move to Spain in 2003."
Britain's Most Desirable Villages in full:
Roundhay, West Yorkshire
Dirleton, East Lothian
Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
Scarcroft, West Yorkshire
Newton Linford, Leicestershire
Alderley Edge, Cheshire
Haigh, Greater Manchester
Bishopthorpe, North Yorkshire
Abersoch, Gwynedd
Solva, Pembrokeshire
Shalbourne, Wiltshire
Beaulieu, Hampshire
Elie, Fife
Warkworth, Northumberland
Brancepeth, County Durham
Ombersley, Worcestershire
Virginia Water, Surrey
Hightown, Merseyside
Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire
Sunningdale, Berkshire
Kingham, Oxfordshire
Biddestone, Wiltshire
Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire
Beckington, Somerset
Caldy, Merseyside
Llandough, Vale of Glamorgan
West Kilbride, North Ayrshire
Studland, Dorset
Barrington, Cambridgeshire
Barston, West Midlands
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Where is the richest area in Manchester? With its leafy avenues, gigantic mansions and celebrity residents, Bowdon in Trafford is one of the region's most affluent areas. What is the posh part of Manchester? Didsbury is one of Manchester's most desirable locations.
Amongst the ten Greater Manchester districts, Manchester had the largest number of residents in 2021 (551,943, up by 9.7% compared to 2011), and Wigan the second largest (329,329, up 3.6%). Bury had the smallest population of the ten districts (193,851, up 4.8%).
About Bramhall. Bramall Hall is one of Cheshire's grandest black and white timber-framed buildings. It is a manor house built in the traditional local style. Before the Norman conquest in 1066, Bramall was held as two separate manors, owned by two Saxon freeman – Brun and Hacun.
Manchester is a great place to live because it has a thriving economy, a vibrant cultural scene, and a diverse population. The city is also relatively affordable, making it a great option for young professionals and families.
As well as big clubs like Manchester United and Manchester City, the area is home to major sporting companies such as Adidas and Umbro and national organisations such as British Cycling. There are 1.15 million international visitors to Greater Manchester every year.
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county and combined authority area in North West England, with a population of 2.8 million; comprising ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the cities of Manchester and Salford.
The County of Greater Manchester is made up of 10 Metropolitan Districts and Boroughs namely, Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan and has a combined population of 2.8 Million people.
Ethnicity. The majority of Manchester's residents (313,630) identify with the White ethnic group (57%) followed by the Asian ethnic group (115,113, 21%) and the Black ethnic group (65,891, 12%).
Its largest settlement is the city of Manchester. The county has an area of 493 sq mi (1,277 km2) and is highly urbanised, with a population of 2.8 million.
Bramhall. Bramhall is certainly one of the more expensive areas on the list but these prices come with good reason. The quality of living is certainly very high in Bramhall. There is an abundance of high quality amenities, including trendy bars, restaurants and shops.
As well as the towns of Stockport, Bredbury and Marple, it includes the outlying villages and suburbs of Hazel Grove, Bramhall, Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme, Gatley, Reddish, Woodley and Romiley. In 2022, it had a population of 297,107, making it the fourth-most populous borough of Greater Manchester.
It is one of the UK's most exciting cities, bursting with character at every corner. This vibrant city is what it is today because of its hardworking people and their achievements. The city is famous for many things including, its contributions to music, football, the Industrial Revolution and much more!
As of Spring 2022, Manchester was listed as one of the cheapest cities to live in the UK. But this city is not exempt from the increasing cost of living. A new study shows that people living in Manchester are spending most of their salary on bills more than anything else.
But where has taken the top spot as the best place to live in the North West for 2024, and is therefore one of the best places to live in the whole of the country? Well, that honour has been given to none other than Greater Manchester's very own Stockport.
Manchester is another Northern English city regularly ranked as one of the friendliest, taking joint second prize in 2023's Condé Nast Readers' Choice Awards for the friendliest UK city.
Introduction: My name is The Hon. Margery Christiansen, I am a bright, adorable, precious, inexpensive, gorgeous, comfortable, happy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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