Manchester is well known for its huge student population and for that reason it has so much to offer students but also means there’s tough competition when it comes to finding somewhere to live.
A lot of students tend to stay in Fallowfield or Oxford Road, but there’s lots of other options of areas to look into that you might not even know about. To help you get to know the different areas, we’ve got together a neighbourhood guide with 7 of our top neighbourhoods to help broaden your house search and get to know some other areas in the city.
Didsbury
Average rent price: £112 per person per week
Surrounded by beautiful green parks, vibrant nightlife and independent restaurants, it’s no surprise this is one of Manchester’s most popular places to live.
Didsbury is split into three areas: East Didsbury, West Didsbury and Didsbury Village. From an eclectic mix of restaurants along Burton Road in the West and the community feeling in the village, Didsbury offers something for everyone. There are also number of green spaces in Didsbury with the popular Didsbury Park, Fletcher Moss and Marie Louise Gardens.
Getting to campus: There’s a number of buses that regularly go from between Didsbury and campus, including the 42, 43 and 142. It’s about a 20/30 minute journey. There’s also a tram stop if you’re heading into town!
Hulme
Average rent price: £282 per person per week
Following a huge investment in the area, Hulme is home to many students, young professionals and families. With a definite sense of community, the area is on average a bit pricier than and offers a variety of places to eat, drink and socialise.
With a growing arts scene, Hulme is a place for creatives of all ages. Recently, the Hulme Playhouse Theatre has reopened as community theatre co-operative NIAMOS. Hulme Park is a grassy haven if you’re after some green space, with a BMX and skate park and a brilliant year-round calendar of events. Additionally, the much-loved Hulme Community Garden Centre can be found here too.
Getting to campus: Another close one, it’s a short 10 minute walk away or you can get the 85 or 86 bus to campus and back.
Levenshulme
Average rent price: £99 per person per week
Another up-and-coming neighbourhood, Levenshulme is frequently heralded as the “new Chorlton” and is one of the cheapest options for rental properties on this list.
Cheaper housing prices have seen the start of a mass migration of Manchester’s hipsters, which in turn has promoted the opening of a variety of independent eateries such as popular café and bakery, Trove. Every Saturday morning, the area comes to life with flocks of people out in force for market day – expect second-hand records, plants and Club-Mate rather than old tat.
Getting to campus: You can get on the 197 for a 15/20 mins bus journey to campus.
Longsight
Average rent price: £88 per person per week
Longsight is around three miles south of Manchester city centre, bounded by Ardwick and Gorton to the north and Levenshulme to the south, and offers the cheapest average rent prices on our list.
The neighbourhood boasts several mosques, plus one of the city’s busiest markets – which comes alive with the Muslim festival of Chaand Raat every autumn. There’s also plenty of food options,and you’ll find that Longsight has almost as many Indian and Pakistani restaurants as the nearby Curry Mile in Rusholme.
Getting to campus: Longsight is about a 15 minute bus ride away, and you can get on the 53 and 197 to get to and from campus.
Rusholme
Average rent price: £130 per person per week
Just a short distance from campus, Rusholme is a great option when looking for somewhere to rent, and borders the neighbourhoods of Chorlton-on-Medlock, Longsight, Fallowfield and Moss Side.
It goes without saying that the main drawing point to Rusholme is its food – There are over 70 Indian and Bangladeshi restaurants, Asian takeaways, shisha cafes, sweet houses and tearooms crammed into the one mile stretch between Oxford Road and Fallowfield.
Getting to campus: It’s just down the road, so you can take a 10 minute walk or jump on the 142 bus to get to campus.
Whalley Range
Average rent price: £118 per person per week
Whalley Range, just down the road from Chorlton, is becoming more and more popular with young people looking to rent due to the lower prices.
But don’t assume this is purely a residential neighbourhood: Upper Chorlton Road boasts a scattering of laid-back bars, such as the Hilary Step and Jam Street Café, and popular take-aways like Tibetan Kitchen. Venture deeper into the labyrinth of tree-lined streets, and you’ll stumble across the Carlton Club, a non-religious, non-political social club that’s the local favourite haunt for cheap drinks and a game of pool.
Getting to campus: Jump on the 85 bus for a quick 15 minute journey to and from campus.
Withington
Average rent price: £192 per person per week
Hugely popular with students and young professionals, Withington has long been known as one of Manchester’s most creative and vibrant neighbourhoods.
From community projects that have turned blank walls into artwork and empty fields into giant veg patches, to hip new bars and underground nightclubs, there’s loads going on. There’s some great pubs, café culture and plenty of veggie options, including the ever-popular café-bar fusion Fuel, Southside Tequila Joint and Orion to name a few.
Getting to campus: The 111, 42 and 43 bus all go from Withington to campus, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes.