Greater Manchester village named among poshest places to live in UK, with £250,000 average house price

A village in Greater Manchester has been named among the poshest villages to live in the UK, according to a list released by The Telegraph. Haigh, which sits in a tiny corner of Wigan, has “posh appeal” with an average house price of £257,000.

According to recent research by property agent Savills, the exhaustive list includes 54 villages from up and down the country that were deemed “most desirable” in terms of costs and the lifestyle they offer. The only location in Greater Manchester to have made the round-up, Haigh can be found just a few miles out of Wigan town centre.

The report said Haigh, which has a population of little over 1,000 as of the 2021 Census, was chosen for its historic buildings and stunning woodland park, as well as its iconic country mansion, Haigh Hall. It also has one of the cheapest average house prices on the list, coming in third behind Dinnington in Tyne & Wear and Newgale and Roch in Pembrokeshire.

The newspaper reports: “Shrouded by trees, Haigh is a hidden gem just a few miles from the busy Wigan town centre. There’s an imposing country mansion, Haigh Hall, built between 1829 and 1840 and the restored Haigh Windmill, originally used to pump water to Haigh Brewery. It is also home to Haigh Woodland Park, with miles of winding trails through woodland and manicured gardens.”

The Telegraph said more people are moving to the countryside due to greater flexibility about where to live through working from home, which resulted in the demand for rental homes in the countryside rising since the pandemic.

A rise in demand for countryside properties 

More than half of estate agents working for Savills across the country reported a rise in demand in the most desirable countryside locations, with 57% saying they were unable to buy where they wanted.

Frances Clacy, analyst at Savills, told The Telegraph: “People want villages that have a bit of everything, from schools to stunning countryside, with accessibility to cities and transport infrastructure. Less well-trumpeted factors count too, such as the main road through the village should only lead to other villages.”

The Telegraph’s top 54 "most desired" villages were chosen based on a combination of highest housing values, best lifestyle facilities, connectivity, and chocolate-box appeal along with trendy amenities like yoga studios, cycling shops and running clubs.

Along with general stores that offer zero-waste refill stations for domestic supplies and homemade ready meals and vegetable boxes, there is also the juxtaposition of an authentic architectural aesthetic (the older the better) around a green. History, a strong sense of self, and a sense of community are also important.