Living in Manchester, UK

What is it like to live in Manchester?

In this interview, Maddalena, who calls Manchester home now, shares her story, practical tips and the pros and cons of living in Manchester.

This interview is part of the Ask an Expat series. In this series, I interview people living all over the world but outside of their home country. I try to help paint an honest picture of the ups and downs of life abroad, share tips about moving to the place the expat now calls home, and information about what to see and do here.

Name: Maddalena
Age: 29
Hometown: Castelfranco Veneto, Italy

Her Story:

”I’ve lived in Italy my whole life before moving to the UK in 2017. I attended high school in my hometown and university in Padua and then Venice.

After 5 years, I got a Master’s Degree in Tourism studies. I’ve always loved studying languages and learning about other cultures.

My passion for traveling began with my first trip to Egypt with my grandparents. From that moment I knew the world was too big to stay in one place forever.

My family was really into road trips when I was a child, and aside from regularly visiting Venice, we used to go camping in Croatia or rent a house on the beach in Calabria, Puglia, and Sicily for a couple of weeks, every August.

After a few more trips around Europe with friends, I started feeling the urgency to learn what else there could be out there for my travel-hungry spirit.

I wasn’t particularly attracted by the job offer and working conditions in Italy at that time, and thought I didn’t have anything to lose by experiencing life abroad (at least for some time).

Also Read: Why Moving Abroad is Such a Valuable Experience

Two months after finishing university I got on a flight to Manchester and that’s where my life as an expat started.”

Why Did You Move to Manchester?

”There were different countries I was interested in moving to.

First on the list was Spain, mainly for its cultural similarities with Italy and because I really enjoyed living in Barcelona for three months back in 2016.

But after realizing that there aren’t many job opportunities in Spain, I decided to move to England.

Many people were moving to London, but I wasn’t particularly keen on that city as the cost of living was (and still is) very high.

That’s why I ended up choosing to move to Manchester, which looked like a better alternative. A big city, good job opportunities, and a lower cost of living were exactly what I needed at that time.”

What Do You Like About Living in Manchester?

”Manchester was the first city that welcomed me to England. It’s where I met my first friends and where I got my first full-time job and improved my English. Because of that, Manchester has a special place in my heart.

About living in Manchester, I like the great selection of ethnic restaurants, the street art, and the coffee shops.

I like sampling dishes from different cuisines and that was difficult to do when I was in Italy, where there’s not much choice. In Manchester, you can find tons of good Thai, Indian, Ethiopian, Japanese, and Chinese restaurants!

Street art gives a lot of color to gray and rainy Manchester and that’s why I love it so much. You can find it all around the city center and you can often spot new artists at work expressing their genius on some buildings’ walls.

For an Italian girl like me, having a coffee is a huge part of my daily routine. During my time in Italy, I was mainly drinking Lavazza and Illy coffee. But in Manchester I found out about coffees coming from different parts of the world! That’s how I started expanding my coffee knowledge a bit further.

Also, many coffee shops serve delicious breakfast and brunch.”

What Do You Dislike About Living in Manchester?

”What I don’t like about living in Manchester is the weather.

It’s gray and rainy most of the time and even more than in other cities around the UK.

It’s definitely one of the biggest disadvantages of living in Manchester.

When I first moved here it was a struggle to get used to the weather. It was really affecting my mood at times. But after spending time getting to know the city and its people, it became slightly less important compared to all the rest that Manchester has to offer.”

Is Manchester Safe as a Place to Live?

An overview of Manchester — Photo by Will McCue

”Manchester is a safe place to live.

There are many expat communities here and some useful Facebook groups where you can ask for advice from other expats already living in Manchester. They can tell you which are the safest places to live and the ones to avoid in the city and surrounding areas.

I’d say that the city center, the university area, and Salford M3 are the best places to live in Manchester but here the cost of rent tends to be higher than in Manchester’s outskirts.

Overall, the city is safe and only a few neighborhoods outside the city center are considered dangerous.”

What Is Your Favorite Thing to Do in Manchester?

”There are many things I like to do in Manchester but I’d say walking around its streets and observing everyday life is one of my favorites.

The places where I prefer to walk around are Castlefield and the Northern Quarter.”

What Is Your Favorite Place to Hang Out in Manchester?

”There’s more than one place I like to hang out. I’ll mention some depending on the time of day.

In the morning I like having a coffee and breakfast at Ezra & Gil, my favorite coffee shop in town.

For lunch on the weekend, I’d go to Noi Quattro, the best pizza place in Manchester.

For dinner I love Habesha, a lovely Ethiopian restaurant with fabulous food in the middle of the vibrant and colorful Gay Village.”

What Is the Expat / International Community Like in Manchester?

”The expat community in Manchester is quite big.

You’ll never feel alone and I actually have many Italian friends here, as well as friends from other European countries who have moved to Manchester.

If you have questions about bureaucracy matters or even just about the city, you can always refer to the Facebook group ‘Italiani a Manchester’ or other international expat groups for Manchester or the UK in general. The Italian one is quite active and there’s always someone happy to answer your questions or concerns.”

Any Tips for Moving To / Living in Manchester?

”When I moved to the UK nobody was talking about Brexit yet.

It was pretty straightforward and easy to move to Manchester as someone from the EU, with almost nothing if not zero immigration steps to go through.

As a result of Brexit there’s now a points-based immigration system in place quite similar to the Australian one.

This means that if you’re coming to the UK for work you must meet a specific set of requirements for which you are given points. Visas are then awarded to those who get enough points.

This has made moving to Manchester, and the UK in general, more complicated and definitely a more bureaucratic process.

Before moving to Manchester, I suggest joining Facebook groups for expats where people share insightful information about their experiences, rooms or houses to rent, employment, and much more.

Those groups are also a great place to ask questions about anything related to moving to and living in Manchester.”

Also Read: What You Should Consider Before Moving to Another Country

Any Resources You Found Useful During the Process of Moving to and Building a New Life in Manchester?

”There are different websites you can refer to when moving to Manchester. These are the most important ones:

UK visas and immigration to learn everything you need to know about getting a visa. Or Spouse Visa UK, if a partner visa is an option for you.
Zoopla, Rightmove, and Spareroom to look for a room or flat to rent.
LinkedIn and Indeed to look for jobs in Manchester.
The Trainline to look for trains and buy train tickets online.
The NHS website to find the nearest GP.

Is There Something You Just Have to See or Do When You Are in Manchester?

Street art in the Northern Quarter — The Northern Quarter – known for its street art, bohemian bars, and lively music venues

”If you’re in Manchester you should walk around the streets of the Northern Quarter and stop for a drink at Cane and Grain.

I also recommend visiting the Manchester Art Gallery, the Science and Industry Museum to learn more about the industrial past of the city, and the John Rylands Library, which has one of the world’s finest collections of rare books and manuscripts.”

About Maddelena – Expat in Manchester

Maddalena was born and raised in Castelfranco Veneto, a town not far from Venice in northern Italy.

She’s been living in the UK for more than 7 years now and has traveled to 23 countries and counting!

She goes back to her hometown regularly to see family and friends and especially to visit Venice, a place she feels strongly connected to.

She loves to share travel tips about Venice and Veneto, the region where she comes from on her blog called Venice Travel Tips.

About Manchester, UK

Manchester is a major city in the northwest of England with a rich industrial heritage.

The city has a population of just over half a million, but the larger conurbation referred to as Greater Manchester or Manchester City Region, has over 2.8 million inhabitants.

Manchester has developed dramatically in the last two decades. The city has an energetic, cosmopolitan, and youthful vibe.

The population of the city and surrounding region is increasing as people are choosing to move to Manchester. Some come from abroad, others move from London in search of a more affordable city to live in.

The city offers a mix of modern culture, good food, and a world-famous music scene set against the backdrop of a rich industrial heritage.

It’s the second most visited city in England by international visitors, after London.

Manchester is well positioned to be used as a base to explore northern England and North Wales, with good air, rail, tram, and road connections.

Although Manchester is often seen as being a very rainy city, the amount of rainfall and the number of rainy days in Manchester are actually lower than the UK average.

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Living in Manchester, UK – Interview With an Expat