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Two towns in Greater Manchester named as some of the best places to live in the UK

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 8th April 2022

Two Greater Manchester suburbs have been added to the list of the best places to live in the UK.

The huge guide from The Times and Sunday Times has recognised both Prestwich and Altrincham for a range of factors.

70 locations across the country were chosen by a team of expert judges, who considered the local high street, cultural scene, transport links, broadband speed, schools and green space.

It’s the first time that Prestwich has been included in the Sunday Times Best Places to Live list.

Read more: A Manc’s guide to: Prestwich, the Bury neighbourhood that’s crafting its own cool

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The Times described it as ‘Manchester’s funkiest family suburb’ and praised it for its leafy streets and parks.

The paper spoke to Jane Thomson, the DJ behind the Take Me To Church events, who told them that locals don’t like the town to be compared to Didsbury.

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Of Altrincham, The Times was full of positivity for its ‘magical market’ and ‘enviable green spaces’.

  • Prestwich countryside. Credit: The Manc Group
  • Prestwich countryside. Credit: The Manc Group
Prestwich was praised for its parks.

The Times and Sunday Times Property Editor Helen Davies, 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?

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“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?

Credit: Facebook, Altrincham Market

“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.”

Featured image: The Manc Group

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Manchester has been named one of the most ‘caring’ cities in the UK

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A new study has revealed the cities which are deemed to be the most ‘caring’ in the UK, and Manchester features proudly on the list.

Because of course it does.

In case you missed it, last week, our city was awarded the not-so-coveted title of the UK’s rudest city, which, it’s fair to say, definitely got Mancs talking, and had a lot of people in denial too, as they just couldn’t seem to wrap their heads around the bold claims.

But now, we’ve got a new title that brushes those claims of rudeness right under the carpet… and that’s because Manchester has also been named one of the most ‘caring’ cities in the UK.

Now, that sounds more like the Manchester we know and love, right?

From donating blood, to volunteering for charity and helping out with neighbourhood tasks, there’s so many ways to lend a hand and support your local community – but which UK cities are the best at this? Ultimately, which UK cities are the most caring? Well, in a bid to answer this question, the life insurance team over at Compare the Market has analysed 30 of the country’s most populated cities to determine which of them are the most ‘community-minded’.

Manchester has been named one of the most ‘caring’ cities in the UK / Credit: iStockPhoto

The research study has taken into account a wide range of factors – with everything from recycling habits, the amount of fly-tipping incidents, and crime levels, to the number of charities, blood drives, and community centres in each city considered.

Manchester has found itself firmly within the top five, claiming the third spot on the list, largely thanks to having the highest number of charities per 10,000 people of any location in the whole study (52), which equates to an impressive 2,063 in total – with 31 of these dedicated to animals.

Top 10 most ‘caring’ cities in the UK

  1. Leeds
  2. Bradford
  3. Manchester
  4. Milton Keynes
  5. Wolverhampton
  6. Reading
  7. Bristol
  8. Hull
  9. Cardiff
  10. Coventry

There’s also plenty of opportunities to give blood here in Manchester too, with nine blood donation centres dotted around the city, as well as 51 community centres for anyone looking for a supportive space, or for somewhere that might offer activities or volunteer projects to get involved with.

The North features heavily within the top 10, with the Yorkshire cities Bradford and Hull also finding themselves on the list, and the title of the UK’s most ‘caring’ city also being awarded to the ever-popular Yorkshire city of Leeds.

Read more:

What do we think to this then? Rudest city what? After all, we know us Mancs are a caring bunch… but it’s always nice to have a study prove it.

Keep being ace, Manchester.

Featured Image – Matthew Waring (via Unsplash)

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Eurovision 2024 final to be screened live in cinemas across Greater Manchester

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest is to be screened live in cinemas across Greater Manchester next month.

Following the success of the first-ever live streams of Europe’s biggest party onto the big screen when it was held on British soil in Liverpool last year, cinemas up and down the UK are set to come together once again to celebrate 2024’s edition of the major night in the music calendar by hosting the ultimate viewing events.

The epic Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final on Saturday 11 May will be broadcast live on BBC One, and streamed into more than 100 cinemas nationwide – including several in Greater Manchester.

Hosted by CinemaLive, the live stream events will allow Eurovision fans to gather under one roof and be “united by music” to share in the unbeatable experience of celebrating the brightest and boldest music party of the year on the big screen.

Eurovision 2024 final to be screened live in cinemas across Greater Manchester / Credit: Cinema Live | Krists Luhaers (via Unsplash)

You may remember that Sweden is hosting Eurovision this year, following the Scandinavian country’s well-deserved victory at the 2023 contest with the song ‘Tattoo’ performed by Loreen.

But thanks to these live stream events, you won’t need to make the trip to Malmö to get in on the action, as you’ll just need to nip down to your nearest participating cinema instead.

Not only will the long-awaited final of the show be streamed live onto the big screen in 5.1 surround sound, but fans are invited to bring their Eurovision parties from the front room to the cinema instead, as organisers say fancy dress is “heavily encouraged” as are enthusiastic sing-alongs too.

Speaking ahead of the event next month, John Travers from distributors CinemaLive, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the BBC to bring Eurovision’s grand final live into cinemas across the UK for the second year in a row.

“We want audiences to enjoy themselves, so come along in groups, get your fancy dress on, and join together to enjoy this incredible occasion on the big screen”.

Tickets are now live and available to book at your local cinema here.

Read more:

Some of the participating Greater Manchester cinemas include Vue Manchester Printworks, Everymans in Manchester city centre and Altrincham, The Light in Stockport, and Cineworld in Didsbury, among others.

Featured Image – Nick Robinson (via BBC)

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