Four Greater Manchester areas have been named among the top 20 happiest places to live in the North West for 2024.
It’s all according to Rightmove’s annual ‘Happy at Home Index’ – which is now in its twelfth year.
In a bid to help property experts understand what really makes the residents of some areas happier than others, every year, leading property platform Rightmove asks people all across the UK to say what makes them happy about where they live and what makes it so special, as well as what things make a place feel like home.
The annual survey asks residents how they feel about their area based on 13 happiness factors – including things like the community spirit of a local area, having green space on the doorstep, or the sense of belonging in a local area.
More than 26,000 people living in towns, cities, and villages across the UK had their say this year, and based on the scores they gave their local areas, Rightmove has ranked the happiest places to live.
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A list of the top 25 areas within each geographical region of the UK have been released by Rightmove this month – with four Greater Manchester areas making the North West’s ranking – as well as list of the top 10 happiest places in the UK all together.
The Trafford town of Altrincham has been named the second happiest place to live in the North West, according to the ranking for 2024, while the towns and cities of Bury, Stockport, Salford, and Manchester all make the top 20 at sixth, ninth, sixteenth, and twentieth place, respectively.
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When looking at the bigger picture, the number one happiest place to live in the UK has been named as the London borough of Richmond upon Thames, with the city of Winchester in Hampshire taking second place, and Monmouth in Wales claiming the third spot.
Top 10 Happiest Places to Live in the UK
Richmond upon Thames
Winchesteter
Monmouth
Wokingham
Cirencester
Skipton
Hemel Hempstead
Kensington and Chelsea
St Ives
Hexham
Rightmove says the results of this year’s study showed that the most important contributors to happiness were feeling a sense of pride, belonging, and community within an area.
Access to green space and nature was also identified as being important to residents, with those living in a rural area near a national park, or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, more likely to feel happy where they live.
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2023 was also the first time Rightmove asked people whether they thought they might be happier if they moved to to somewhere else in the UK, and around one in three (30%) of residents who responded to the survey said they would be happier living in a different area.
And over half of those would consider moving to an entirely different region of the UK.
Featured Image – Super Straho (via Unsplash)
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Tickets officially go on sale for rare 70mm IMAX screenings of Dune: Part Three in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Tickets have now officially gone on sale for rare 70mm IMAX screenings of Dune: Part Three in Manchester.
Arriving on screens from 18 December and gearing up to be one of the most anticipated films of the year, Dune: Part Three – which is the third and final instalment in director Denis Villeneuve’s Dune franchise – will be screening in IMAX 70mm at Vue Manchester Printworks, one of only three venues to show it in this format nationwide.
There are only 40 other venues across the globe showing the film in IMAX 70mm, and Manchester is the only city outside of London to screen the blockbuster this way too.
Based on the novels of Frank Herbert and set nearly two decades after the previous film, Dune: Part Three features an ensemble cast of all-star names led by Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya.
Alongside them will be Jason Momoa, Florence Pugh, Anya Taylor-Joy, Rebecca Ferguson, Robert Pattinson, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem, and Josh Brolin.
After seats for a special early screening of the film in IMAX sold out in less than 30 minutes last month, the IMAX 70mm showings – which officially went live today (20 October) – are expected to be snapped up fast by film fans in Manchester.
“A decade in the making, Denis Villeneuve’s epic Dune trilogy is reaching its dramatic conclusion this December,” explained Dean Cross, who is the Senior Screen Content Manager at Vue.
“As the only venue outside of London to be screening Dune: Part Three in IMAX 70mm, it’s a privilege for us to offer this unique way to experience the film.”
Dune: Part Three is coming to Vue Manchester Printworks on 18 December, and you can book your tickets here.
Featured Image – Warner Bros.
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Free pints and live craft experiences coming to a Manchester pub for one night only
Daisy Jackson
A pop-up pub takeover is opening its doors in Manchester, where you can get your hands on a free pint as well as some amazing craft experiences.
The Uncommon Inn is being operated by premium Italian lager brand Poretti, who want to help us Brits break out of our daily routines.
Matt & Phreds on Tib Street will welcome The Uncommon Inn on Thursday 22 October, from 4pm to 8pm, giving visitors the chance to discover unusual creative skills and watch artisans at work, with a free pint in hand.
It comes after research commissioned by Poretti found that 61% of UK adults feel they are living on autopilot, while a quarter have not tried a new creative pursuit in five years or more.
Free pints and live craft experiences are coming to a Manchester pub for one night only / Credit: Supplied
The study also found that adults have an average of just 90 minutes of genuine personal time each day, with 58% spending that time watching television and 35% scrolling through social media.
Exhaustion and financial constraints came out as the main barriers preventing people from trying new things.
The Uncommon Inn has been designed to offer an alternative, bringing together a collective of specialist makers to showcase their skills in a familiar pub setting.
Visitors to the Manchester event can watch Giulio Miglietta embroidering personalised beer mats, using a vintage Singer sewing machine dating back to the early 1900s, alongside live hand-engraving and bespoke jewellery-style crafting using recycled silver.
The Uncommon Inn is being operated by premium Italian lager brand Poretti / Credit: Supplied
Other demonstrations include 3D body-casting by sculptor Ami of Angelcasts and personalised, hand-engraved glassware from Leigh Calligraphy. Sabira of Sken Studios will also demonstrate how recycled silver can be turned into bespoke bottle openers.
Guests will be able to enjoy complimentary pints of Poretti while watching the makers at work.
Caitlin Maley, Senior Brand Manager at Poretti, said: “Modern life moves at an overwhelming pace, and it’s all too easy to fall into autopilot mode where routine replaces curiosity.
“We believe in celebrating intentional craft, rare skills, and authentic human connection – values that are at the core of our brewing heritage.
“We created The Uncommon Inn to turn an ordinary pub visit into an inspiring journey. By bringing together our Masters of Crafts, from chainstitch embroiderers to live engravers and musicians, we’re inviting pubgoers to slow down, pick up a new skill, and enjoy a pint crafted with genuine passion.”
The Uncommon Inn is at Matt & Phreds in Manchester on Thursday 22 October, from 4pm until 8pm.
Emily Sergeant -
13th December 2023 
