Stockport has been named the ‘best place to live in the North West’ in The Sunday Times’ annual Best Places To Live guide.
Six other places feature in the North West section of the guide this year too; Christleton in Cheshire, Kendal in Cumbria, Knutsford in Cheshire, Prestwich, the Ribble Valley and Sefton Park in Liverpool.
Judges for the guide visited each location and assessed them on factors including schools, transport links, broadband speeds, culture, green spaces and the health of the high street.
“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,” judges said of Stockport.
“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.”
Previously, the likes of Sale, Ancoats and Altrincham have featured on the annual list.
“This guide is a celebration of towns, cities and villages that are each a fantastic place to live in 2024, from Dunkeld to Knutsford, Falmouth to Leeds,” said Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places To Live editor.
“Wherever you are on the property ladder, there will be somewhere to suit you. These are all places where you can feel grounded as well as upwardly mobile: they have a mature sense of community, lively, supportive high streets and an eye to the future, whether that is eco-friendly measures, transport and regeneration, or imaginative inclusion of new housing.
“What makes our guide unique is that we actually visit all the places we choose and talk to locals to find out what life is really like there.
“That means we can see what people really love about the places they live. That might be fast commutes and high-achieving schools but also clean water to swim in, lively town centres with useful shops, the possibility of earning a living and being part of a friendly community.
“We do consider affordability, though high house prices are no barrier to inclusion – as long as they provide value for money. Different people may be looking for different things, but what all our best places have in common is that people love living in them and are proud to call them home.”
Read more:
New opening: The Lamb of Tartary sprouts up in the old Cottonopolis site
The new restaurants and bars opening in Manchester in March 2024
All-day dining spot Caravan is coming to Manchester
