The two Greater Manchester areas named in Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2022 list

Altrincham market hall was hailed by Sunday Times judges Credit: Marketing Manchester

Prestwich and Altrincham have been named two of the best places to live in the renown Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2022.

The locations were ranked highly in the North West category, alongside Christleton in Cheshire, Kirby Lonsdale in Cumbria and West Kirby in Merseyside - while the village of Trawden in Lancashire was crowned the overall regional winner.

Prestwich makes it debut on the prestigious annual list. It hailed by judges for its cultural offerings and its ‘fast-improving roster of bars and restaurants – Osma, Keg, Cask and Bottle and many more – that now rivals more traditional hotspots such as Chorlton or Didsbury.’

They also commented on its ‘thriving culture and community’ and rated Heaton Park as the best in Manchester.

Longfield Centre area in Prestwich Credit: LDRS

Altrincham, which has featured in the Sunday Times list before, attracted praise from judges for its ‘magical’ food hall and market, excellent schools, and easy transport links into Manchester and high quality green spaces.

Average house prices, according to Halifax, are £531,000 in Altrincham and £246,000 in Prestwich.

Ilkley in West Yorkshire was named as the best overall place to live in the UK.

How are the Best Places to Live judged?

Helen Davies, The Times and Sunday Times Property Editor, said: “The Sunday Times Best Places to Live list is necessarily subjective. Leave it just to statistics and you will never capture the spirit of a place. For that, you need to visit to take into account that ‘you have to be here’ feeling. Is the pub dog-friendly, for example? Can you live car-free? What are the schools and houses like? Is it multicultural and multigenerational, and can it offer a good way of life to lots of different sorts of people?

“Ten years ago, when we launched the inaugural list, London’s gravitational pull was strong, the WFH revolution had not yet reached our doorstep and high streets were stacked with chains. How times have changed — and how welcome that change is.

“This year we have discovered new best places to live from resurgent city centres in the North, rejuvenated suburbs across the country, hidden villages in the Southwest, and a commutable Scottish island.

“We hope there is something to suit everyone.”

The full list can be viewed online here and in the Sunday Times newspaper this weekend.