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 feel happy when I visit Liverpool too. I love coming out of Lime Street station and seeing George's Hall and the city before you.

Liverpool. I have actively considered it, but it would be a huge move.

Manchester, OTOH. Well you couldn't pay me any amount to live there.

Ha! To all those saying choose somewhere in Cheshire - it is culturally dead; hugely over-populated Premier League villages absolutely crammed with Range Rovers, contrasted with dull not-even-suburbs abutting unbelievably drab town centres that have seen no investment in thirty years (I'm guessing you'd reside in one of the former places though, @UnderTheFridge?)

Friends of mine mine live in a not terribly glamorous part of Liverpool, but walk their dogs on Crosby Beach every day. Cultural life thrives, though it's not really on the Opera North circuit ... The newish Tung Auditorium is a splendid venue for new music. You sort of feel everybody might go to the Everyman to see a play - and you can't help but feel uplifted in a street with two cathedrals.

Whereas in Manchester there's slightly more stratification - though most people might find themselves at the Lowry at one timer another. Manchester has the gloriously cosy Whitworth Gallery, and the grander Manchester Art Gallery - Liverpool has the world class Walker Art Gallery, and the Tate.

Both have magnificent museums and proper central libraries - depends which appeal to you more.

I love Liverpool and feel it's still expanding in potential; I like Manchester, but despite unceasing building work it's well past the peak it reached about twenty years ago - looking horribly shabby in places and the council must spend about £3.99 per annum on cleaning the city centre now, whereas you could eat your dinner off the street in the early noughties.

You really would need to spend some concentrated time in each and see where you feel most at home.

Thanks all.

It’s difficult because there are so many pros for both but I’ll definitely visit both extensively before deciding.

Luckily they’re very near so you can visit the other easily if you live in one. I’d check out the houses and areas you actually want to live in, you’ve got a great budget so shouldn’t have to make too many compromises.

Yes I’ll definitely check out specific areas. I appreciate all of the suggestions of which areas to focus on.

I live Brighton Le Sands and the houses up the road in Blundellsands are amazing with sea views and views over a private park. You'd get a huge house with your budget. A lot of footballers live in Blundellsands, i think.

Chester is a very small town (yes, I know, technically a city) so if you want the advantages of city life I would avoid it.

Very pretty, not very diverse, crowded with tourists in the summer, nice river.

Liverpool would be my choice, especially with dogs. A lovely run on the beach, easy access to a fairly diverse and very friendly city, loads of culture and no time at all to additional attractions of Manchester. The city centre is more compact and doable than Manchester.

Manchester is great for a day (or night) out, but would never be my choice to live.

Throwing in a curve ball, personally I prefer Nottingham. Smaller, plenty to do with theatres, arena for concerts etc, close to countryside for dogs, many things like museums, art centres, castle, stately homes nearby, sports such as football, rugby, national water sports centre, ice skating arena, velodrome close by, country parks, great shopping, restaurants including Michelin star restaurants. Really close to the peaks, other cities like Leicester, Derby, York, Sheffield.
&700k in the nicest part of Nottingham west bridgford, would buy you a good sized home with garden and the high street there has enough restaurants, cafes etc to ensure you don't need to venture into the city if you don't want to.

It's true there's no difficulty enjoying the attractions of one city whilst living in the other. A few years ago for a while, living in one I attended evening classes once a week in the other place - and regularly saw beautifully uniformed little-ish boys commuting from school. (I can't recall in which direction - Manchester Grammar or Blue Coat?)

You could get a lovely house in south Manchester for that money, M21, M20 near to the Mersey with lots of woodland, river walks from your doorstep and Liverpool about an hour away.

Liverpool.
Cheaper, friendlier, less rain.

Have a look at Woolton or Calderstones too.
Get a lovely house for that budget.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/140625761

Consider The Wirral best of several worlds good access to Liverpool and a short drive to the countryside - gorgeous houses in several parts

Liverpool. Woolton village, aigburth or Sefton Park areas (all south Liverpool) are beautiful as is north Liverpool - Crosby and blundellsands

Weather wise Liverpool is a lot drier, generally, but windier.

The nightlife in both is great.

Manchester has better transport links and a stronger job market.

Liverpool is better for coastline etc and you get more for your money with housing. Somewhere like Crosby is ideal.

£650k in Blundellsands, right by the beach.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/145103999#/?channel=RES_BUY

£595k, closer to Crosby Village
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/141514562#/?channel=RES_BUY

Nearly half your budget at £375k in Waterloo (walkable to Crosby / Blundellsands)
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/145872818#/?channel=RES_BUY

OMG those 3 houses up for sale ! Stunning !!!!! The last one is my fave I think

Liverpool

Liverpool has tonnes of history and culture and has a beach too. Very easy to nip into north wales and manchester.
Safer and friendlier than Manchester. (I like Manchester but having been there for years im speaking from experience)
Manchester is becoming a bit more 'London' in recent years too as people are buying houses up here from the south. Losing its identity a bit in certain places. And prices for property and eating out etc is increasing with this situation.
Both have excellent travel links.
Liverpool has 3 universities so if you dont like students don't go there.
Liverpool is much prettier however both cities have a lot of green space.
Manchester more expensive to buy in comparable areas.

I have men many gorgeous men from Liverpool so Id chose based on that and the accent 😂

Actually, the water has a warming effect in the winter so Liverpools winters are much milder than inland. It rains less too.

Like anywhere, it depends where you end up living. Both cities have nice areas and awful ones.

In terms of city centre, despite living outside of Manchester, I'do choose Liverpool. It has a nicer feel to it.

Liverpool is much prettier however both cities have a lot of green space.

Not in the centre they don’t. Neither city is good for green spaces, though it’s less noticeable in Liverpool I think because it’s coastal so it feels more open.