Living in Liverpool vs Manchester: Which would you choose?

[UnderTheFridge]

I’m planning a move in the near future and I’ve been pretty set on a smaller UK city but various things have making me contemplate if I should consider Manchester or Liverpool.

Personally I preferred Liverpool when visiting but I’ve only been to Manchester once and I’m curious to know which people prefer?

I’m not a nightlife person at all and I don’t drink but I do enjoy theatre, museums, a variety of restaurants and a good range of shops. An area that I feel relatively safe in is a must.

Which city would you choose if you had a choice?

TIA

I vote Liverpool too. I work there and really love the city centre. It has a good feeling. Manchester really doesn't have the same positive vibe, IMO.

I lived in both and much preferred Liverpool. I found Manchester to be miserable and soulless.

Lived in both, far, far far preferred Liverpool to Manchester.

Also agree.
I lived on the edge of Waterloo and Saturday mornings would be a brisk walk on the beach.

Liverpool by a country mile

Lived in both. Liverpool as a student and just outside Manchester currently. Manchester is a bit of a dump in parts, some very deprived areas and lots of homeless/begging in the centre around Piccadilly gardens. Metrolink is ok, buses middling but northern rail is a waste of space and it would have been kicked into touch if serving London and South east.
I love Liverpool. So much history, great architecture, some brilliant bars, restaurants etc and lovely period properties. Just feels more like a proper international city than Manchester.
Like Leeds too, preferable to Manchester. Grew up there and although I’ve spent more years in Manchester I’ve never taken to it.

I live in Manchester, and love the suburb I live in, but the city centre is rubbish and Liverpool is much better in that regard.

Chester is lovely! Too small for my tastes, but I thought it had a really nice vibe when I visited.

Bit rude!

Small city I would recommend Leeds too!

Neither, I'd choose York or Edinburgh.

Highly recommend Frodsham - lovely small town vibe, with trains to Liverpool, Manchester and Chester. Very best of luck choosing !

I lived in Liverpool in the 1970s and loved it. Daughter lived there in the 80/90s. neither were in great areas. But we both loved the city. With the amount you can afgird, you can pick one of the more desirable areas.

I've only visited Manchester, but I wasn't keen. Too spread out.

Liverpool because of proximity to the sea. Manchester's a great city but Liverpool is more open and lighter.

I'm biased because my mum is from Liverpool so I'll say Liverpool.

But with that budget you could live in Chester and have great access to both - and to north Wales.

Both really cold. But neither is as cold as Leeds!

I love both though. But given the choice I'd go for Liverpool I think.

I live near Leeds and would agree!

I just want to stick up for Manchester as it is getting a bad rep here, I don't think it is as terrible as people are making it out to be. Yes there are some deprived areas just on the outskirts but with your budget you wouldn't be looking at any of those areas. Didsbury could be a good option for you.

Manchester has what you are looking for , theatres, museums, lots of restaurants. It's well connected transport wise with the trains and trams. It's also close to the countryside , the peak district isn't far. Picadilly gardens is definitely to be avoided as that is rough, but there are some great areas in the city. Northern Quarter is really cool for bars and unique shops, Spinningfields has lots of modern beautiful restaurants.

The problem with Manchester when people go to visit, they end up going to the wrong parts as it is a big city and I can see where some of the "it's a shithole" comments come from. There is a problem with the homeless , but I expect this is the case in all big cities. I'd encourage you to go back for a second look , consider looking at some of the suburbs in South Manchester too , which are desirable areas to live.

Shopping for me tends to be Broughton or Cheshire Oaks - Chester doesn't seem to be a shopping destination!
I've seen some great shows in Chester Storyhouse. The new Picturehouse cinema is lovely too. There are plenty of quirky shops too.

Lots of culture in Liverpool - multiple theatres, museums, art galleries, libraries, music venues, lovely beaches with Crosby including an art installation... always something quirky and different going on too.mi quite like Manchester but Liverpool over Manchester any day.

Are you tied to the north west? If not, look at Newcastle. Beautiful city, lots to do, compact and livable, very friendly. Easy access to fantastic Northumbrian countryside and lovely coastal areas. Direct trains to London, Edinburgh and many other cities. Great for culture.

I lived in Manchester for a year (Salford- media city) I absolutely LOVED it. But if I had have had the option to have chosen Liverpool, I would have chosen that instead. Best of luck

100% Chester, both those cities are a short train ride or drive away.

Liverpool, or if you drive maybe look on the Wirral.

I lived in both for many years and love both.

As a tourist, hands down, Liverpool is the better city. Manchester is not an interesting tourist place in all honesty - Liverpool has better architecture, attractions and is more compact. It's a long-standing joke in Manchester that there's basically nothing for tourists to do in Manchester and you see some very bored looking football fans on match days.

But as a place to live, for me there is nowhere better than south Manchester - I've lived in numerous cities including London and south Manchester is well connected, affluent, friendly, cultured and exciting and it feels as though a massive change is happening in the city right now. There is a brilliant arts, culture, dance and theatre in Manchester. Liverpool does have a good music and alternative scene and people are lovely and friendly but it doesn't have the same cultural connections to the rest of the country in the way Manchester does.

I have lived in both

Manchester really does rain all the time and the wind is super cold. Great music scene and music venues

Liverpool near the water and Wirrals beaches. Great nightlife amd music scene. People super friendly beautiful architecture

For me liverpool is a clear winner