The property market may be slowing down across the UK, but it’s a different story here in Greater Manchester as house prices continue to soar in 2023.
There’s no doubt the property market in our region has been booming over the last decade or so, with average house prices seeming to rise year-on-year, and more and more areas becoming sought-after as the places to live.
But when we look at the wider UK housing market, house prices are currently on the decline.
After what had been continuous price hikes as a result of a high demand for properties following the pandemic, recent figures from Nationwide and Halifax have shown a consistent fall in the average house prices over the last five months – which is of course great news for buyers, but not so good for those looking to sell.
ADVERTISEMENT
House prices are rising the most in these Greater Manchester areas / Credit: Geograph
Here in Greater Manchester though, a handful of residential areas have seen house prices continue or start to soar in 2023, and the Manchester Evening News has decided to shine a light on 10 of them in a recent round-up.
The paper used data from HM Land Registry and looked at what the average price of a house was back in October 2022 compared to February 2023 to find out where prices are rising the most.
10 Greater Manchester areas where house prices are rising the most
(Average price as of February 2023 listed)
Bramhall, Stockport – £494,819
Broadheath, Trafford – £349,190
Bowdon, Trafford – £897,758
Heaton Chapel, Stockport – £358,329
Cheadle Hulme, Stockport – £365,327
Heaton Norris, Stockport – £300,921
Whitefield, Bury – £274,705
Radcliffe, Bury – £231,989
Audenshaw, Tameside – £221,088
Ardwick, Manchester – £204,743
The affluent leafy suburb of Bramhall in Stockport took the top spot on the list, with data showing that the average cost of a home in the area is now £494,819 – which has gone up by £48,558 from £446,261 in October 2022.
ADVERTISEMENT
The average cost of a home in Broadheath in Trafford was £303,094 back in October, but this has now jumped up to £349,190 in February, where as in Bowdon – which has always been one of the most expensive places to live in the region – the average price was £855,886 in October, but this has now risen by £41,872 to reach £897,758.
Bramhall, Broadheath, and Bowdon are the places where prices are rising the most / Credit: Alan Cleaver (via Flickr)
Heaton Chapel and Cheadle Hulme in Stockport are both seeing fast price hikes, with the average cost of a home now being £358,329 and £365,327.
Two of the most popular areas in the borough of Bury, Whitefield and Radcliffe, have also seen house prices rise on average, with the Tameside town of Audenshaw also seeing homes get more expensive, and while the Manchester suburb of Ardwick may be sitting in tenth place, prices are still on the rise.
We may only be two months into 2023, but it’s predicted that in these 10 areas of the region, house prices will only continue to rise.
Featured Image – Roger Kidd (via Geograph)
Boroughs
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 2 – 8 June 2025
Emily Sergeant
June is here, and the kids have gone back to school after the final half term of the school year… but that doesn’t mean the fun’s over.
Sure, May has been in full bloom these past couple of weeks, but there’s absolutely no shortage of things for the whole family to be getting up to in Greater Manchester now that June has arrived – we’re talking festivals, themed events, new foodie openings, and loads more on the horizon.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? No worries.
We’ve chosen a few of the highlights for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide, both free things, and those that’ll set you back a few pennies too.
___
Stories – Brought To Life
MediaCityUK
Monday 2 June – onwards
Stories – Brought To Life / Credit: The Manc Group
A major new National Portrait Gallery exhibition has arrived in Salford.
The ground-breaking new experience by FRAMELESS Creative has opened at MediaCity, bringing some of the world’s most famous portraits to life like never before.
Stories – Brought to Life will explore the fascinating lives of these figures, who have shaped the UK’s history and culture all the way since the Tudor period, and will combine the highest quality digital projection, Hollywood-style visual effects, and the latest audio technology, along with specially created musical scores and creative narratives to shine a new light on each individual.
Visitors will be able to step inside iconic portraits including Grayson Perry, Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, Emmeline Pankhurst, Queen Elizabeth I, and William Shakespeare.
Balcony Greening Workshops / Credit: National Trust
Free balcony greening workshops are happening across Greater Manchester this spring to help people create their own ‘mini wildlife havens’.
The National Trust is on a mission to help city dwellers create their own green spaces through its ‘Sky Gardening Challenge’, with the conservation charity encouraging people with balconies to ‘grow and green’ the town or city they live in from skyline spaces in the hopes that it’ll enhance their connection to nature and improve their wellbeing, all while helping wildlife thrive at the same time.
City dwellers can get a free balcony gardening guide, free seeds, and free workshops in collaboration with lots of brilliant community organisations across the region.
Classes are happening across the borough on selected dates up until 7 June, and you can find out more and book here.
___
ADVERTISEMENT
Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 2 June – onwards
Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You / Credit: Science Museum Group
You can plunge headfirst into the incredible world of our senses at a new immersive museum exhibition that’s now arrived at the Science and Industry Museum.
Back by popular demand after a successful run over these past two years, but with a fresh new adventure lined up for 2025, Operation Ouch! is giving you the chance to journey through an ear canal covered in gooey wax, squeeze past sticky snot, and delve deeper into how our brains interpret the world.
Tickets to Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You are now on sale, and visitors are being told to prepare themselves for an “epic exploration of the senses”.
An award-winning play about the England men’s national football team is playing outside of London for the first time ever, and Greater Manchester has been chosen as the lucky location.
ADVERTISEMENT
The National Theatre’s smash-hit production of writer James Graham’s Olivier Award-winning play, Dear England, has started its four-week run at the legendary The Lowry in Salford, and audiences have a chance to catch it up until 29 June.
Directed by the Almeida Theatre’s Artistic Director, Rupert Goold, Dear England tells the story of the England men’s football team under former manager, Gareth Southgate.
NEW OPENING – Circolo Popolare / Credit: The Manc Group
Get ready to say Ciao to Circolo Popolare, Manchester’s newest Italian restaurant opening over in Gary Neville’s fancy St Michael’s development early next month, because we got to have a little look around and can confirm it’s an absolute feast for the senses.
From the jasmine-covered ceiling to the windows full of vintage booze bottles, all the way down to the hand-painted crockery, she’s certainly a looker.
On the menus you’ll find authentic Neapolitan pizzas, huge pasta bowls, authentic plates, and a gigantic wibbly-wobbly tower of a lemon meringue pie – plus cocktails poured from animal-shaped jugs.
It’s officially opening on 6 June and this is one you want to get straight in your calendar.
L.S. Lowry’s iconic masterpiece ‘Going to the Match’ is being brought to life right before your eyes in this brand-new exhibition now open at The Lowry.
Lowry 360 is an immersive experience forming part of the legendary The Lowry theatre’s 25th anniversary programme, and it means that, for the first time ever, you can see one of Manchester’s most famous paintings by, arguably, the city’s most famous artist come to life through sight and sound.
Better yet, after you’ve immersed yourself in this incredible experience, then you can then see the actual painting in the full gallery – Modern Life: The LS Lowry Exhibition.
Kargo on the Docks / Credit: Supplied | Mark Waugh
Kargo on the Docks is back for the summer.
MediaCity’s al fresco dining pop-up has taken over the waterfront and gardens once again with a fresh wave of local food traders and stunning artwork by Salford-based creatives, all as the sun shines down on Salford Quays this summer.
A handful of Greater Manchester’s most popular independents have set themselves up Quayside inside those signature re-imagined shipping containers.
Foodies can expect a menu packed with bold new flavours including Caribbean, Lebanese, Mexican, Ethiopian, and Pan-Asian dishes.
Did you see that Manchester Museum has been named European Museum of the Year for 2025?
Talk about a prestigious title.
Yes that’s right, congratulations are in order, because Manchester Museum – which is part of The University of Manchester (UoM) – has received one of the most prestigious museum awards in the world, the European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA).
Not only that, but it’s made history in doing so too, as it’s the first university museum to ever receive the annual prize.
Manchester Museum has been named the European Museum of the Year for 2025 / Credit: Manchester Museum
It beat out 41 other cultural hubs across the continent to claim the coveted prize.
ADVERTISEMENT
Operated by the European Museum Forum (EMF), EMYA recognises new or redeveloped museums that showcase the best in excellence and innovation in their field.
NEW OPENING – Baby Mayhem / Credit: The Manc Group
This new doughnut hatch in Anocats is already causing mayhem… but the best kind.
ADVERTISEMENT
Baby Mayhem has been open for two weeks and is already taking Manchester by storm, with fresh doughnuts baked daily, filled with mascarpone cream or cheesecake, and topped with a range of fillings like spaghetti ice cream, Dubai pistachio kunafa, raspberry ripple, and loads more.
It may not be for everyone, but we say be sure to try one of their fresh doughnuts dunked in coffee as well, it’s the perfect hangover cure on a Saturday morning.
___
Free Sausage Rolls for ‘Gregs’
Tariff & Dale
Thursday 5 June
Tariff & Dale sausage roll / Credit: Supplied
One of Manchester’s much-loved restaurant bars is doing a free sausage roll giveaway this week… but there’s a catch.
The catch being you have to have a certain name in particular.
In case you didn’t know, this Thursday (5 June) is the day dedicated to all things sausage roll, so what better way to mark the occasion than with free portions of Tariff & Dale’s legendary 15-inch honey glazed meaty treat? Only the thing is, you can only get a freebie if your name happens to Greg.
Okay, that’s a slight lie, you can also tuck into the pork pastry goodness if your surname is Gregory or Gregson, or something similar.
Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet will be celebrating its 30th anniversary with a huge free concert that’ll hark back to the 2000s.
The hugely-popular shopping destination will be inviting customers to a totally free summer gig on a stage built on site as part of the wider 30th anniversary celebrations – which will include a headline performance from a top-secret 2000s music act.
All they’ve revealed about the headliner so far is that they have a catalogue of number one singles and beloved hits.
Taking place in the evening of Friday 6 June, the Cheshire Oaks 30th anniversary party will be free to shoppers and visitors, and a select group of VIPs from the local community will have the opportunity to meet the mystery headliner in person.
Read everything you need to know about the event here.
___
Stock Party 2025
Stockport
Saturday 7 June
Stock Party 2025 / Credit: Supplied
Stockport’s big summer block party returns this Saturday for its second edition.
Building on that already-winning formula from last year, Stock Party 2025 is set to make its sophomore outing the biggest yet, bringing together local food and drink vendors, independent traders, entertainment and lots more.
Set up in collaboration with Stockport’s Business Improvement District (BID), Totally Stockport and Stockport Council, the iconic Underbank district will be filled with tables and chairs enabling festival-goers to welcome summer in true Stockport style.
IRONMAN 70.3 / Credit: IRONMAN England (via Facebook)
IRONMAN 70.3 returns to Bolton once again this weekend.
With Bolton – and more recently, also Wigan – having been the UK-based home to the world-renowned triathlon event for the past several years now, IRONMAN UK has become known for its iconic spectator support, incredible bike course scenery, and impressive finish line that’s in the heart of the town centre
The Greater Manchester public is always encouraged to line the streets to cheer the athletes on.
A number of temporary road closures will be in place across Bolton on race day to ensure the safety of athletes and the public.
Featured Image – IRONMAN | The Manc Group | The Lowry
Boroughs
Environment Agency officially declares a drought in north west England
Emily Sergeant
The Environment Agency has officially declared a drought in the north west of England following the driest start to spring in 69 years.
It comes after river flows and groundwater levels have been declining due to the dry March, April, and start of May, and now reservoir storage levels in the region are also receding too, meaning at this moment in time, they’re currently lower than they were during the famous drought years of 1984, 1995, and 2022.
According to the Environment Agency (EA), a decision to declare drought is taken based on reservoir levels, river flows, and moisture in the soil, along with taking into consideration weather forecasts on a long-term basis.
Declaring drought status enables the EA to ‘plan, deliver, and manage’ actions in drought plans.
The Environment Agency has officially declared a drought in north west England / Credit: Pxhere
However, there is no single definition for drought, the EA admits, so while it’s a given that it’s caused by a period of low rainfall, the nature, timing, and impacts on people, the environment, agriculture, or business will vary.
Some droughts are short and intense, while others are long and take time to develop over multiple seasons.
Although there has been some welcome rain across the North West in recent days, the EA says this is ‘not enough to reverse the dry start to the year’ and is definitely not enough to cover the expected hotter weather in the coming weeks, which it believes is only set to ‘exacerbate’ the situation.
The decision by the EA to move the region into drought status means the regulator will increase its operational response throughout the summer.
It follows what has been the driest start to spring for the region in 69 years / Credit: David Dixon (via Geograph)
This will be all while ensuring that water company United Utilities steps up the actions agreed in its drought plans – including fixing leaks, communicating with customers and supporting them to reduce demand, and submitting drought permits to take more water, as and where needed.
According to the EA, if these actions are taken in a ‘timely manner’ will help preserve supplies for people and the environment.
“Drought is a naturally occurring phenomenon,” explained Andy Brown, who is the Water Regulation Manager at the Environment Agency. “As we see more impacts from climate change, heavier rainfall and drier summers will become more frequent and this poses an enormous challenge over the next few decades.
“Despite the rain over the weekend levels remain low and we are encouraging people to be aware of the impacts of drought as we enter the summer period.
“With further unsettled periods and rainfall over the coming weeks we will continue to closely monitor the situation and implement our Drought Plan.”
Emily Sergeant -
9th February 2023 
