Altrincham in Trafford, Greater Manchester has been named The Sunday Times' Best Place to Live in the UK 2020, with first-class food and drink, a great community, a thriving outdoor market and two of the best schools in the northwest.

Source: House Beautiful, By Olivia Heath, 23 Mar 2020

Described as 'the ultimate turnaround town', Altrincham was universally acknowledged as having the worst high street in Britain, The Sunday Times explains.

Now however, it boasts a revitalised centre with first-class food and drink, a great, friendly community with an 'unspoken camaraderie', a thriving outdoor market and two of the best schools in the northwest, according to The Sunday Times Parent Power guide.

The Orange Tree & Market Tavern pubs in Altrincham

Altrincham Grammar School for Boys

The average house price in Altrincham is £325,000 or £895 pcm if renting. Although heading down south to Bowdon, Hale or Hale Barns is where you'll find the footballer-friendly detached houses costing anything up to £4 million.

Transport links in Altrincham are good, with motorways, trains and planes all on the doorstep, while golf courses, an ice rink and a soon-to-be upgraded leisure centre offer plenty of activities, and the National Trust’s lovely Dunham Massey adds a taste of the country.

'The nice thing is that you can get to Manchester in half an hour, but you’re out in what feels like real countryside in half an hour, too,' says Altrincham resident Claire MacAulay, who moved from London 12 years ago with her accountant husband Alec.

Another big win for Altrincham is superfast broadband coverage slightly above average at 96.8 per cent. And while there are 'some issues along the A56,' the air quality is 'otherwise not too bad', reports The Sunday Times.