The 'exciting' Greater Manchester town named as best place to live in the North West by The Sunday Times

A Greater Manchester town on the up has received more positive news today. This comes as The Sunday Times has announced it as the best place to live in North West.

Stockport is subject to significant change so far in 2024, with the opening of the new transport interchange coming up this weekend and a host of restaurants and bars gaining recognition. Stockport County’s recent announcement of plans to upgrade their Edgeley Park ground and hopes for the Metrolink to be extended to the town have also added to this. 

Expert judges at The Sunday Times visited all of the locations on the list. Their ruling was made by assessing factors from schools to transport, broadband speeds to culture, as well as access to green spaces and the health of the high street.  

The Sunday Times judges said: “The town in Greater Manchester is in the throes of a mighty metamorphosis that’s turning it into one of the most exciting towns around. The conversion of the vast Weir Mill into a new neighbourhood is well underway.

"The new Interchange project will link buses and trains around a new park while the historic streets around the Market Hall and the Underbanks are filling up with a joyous collection of funky independent businesses. It’s functional and family-friendly, too, with unbeatable rail connections, parks, sports clubs and good-value houses up and down the property ladder.” 

Stockport wasn’t the only Greater Manchester town to feature in the North West section. Prestwich was also recognised, and it too got a positive response from the judges. 

They said: “Prestwich is where you come if you want to enjoy Manchester’s buzz and have an affordable redbrick house with a garden. There’s a lively restaurant scene, a choice of parks and plenty going on, and the tram makes getting to the city centre a doddle.”

Altrincham was named the Best Place to Live in Britain by The Sunday Times back in 2020.

The Sunday Times Best Places to Live in the North West 2024

• Winner: Stockport, Greater Manchester 
• Christleton, Cheshire  
• Kendal, Cumbria  
• Knutsford, Cheshire 
• Prestwich, Greater Manchester 
• Ribble Valley, Lancashire 
• Sefton Park, Liverpool