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

Don't agree about green spaces.
Liverpool has many parks such as Sefton, caldderstones, greenbank etc.

Sefton Park is Grade 1 listed in the register of historic parks and across the Mersey, Birkenhead Park inspired the design of Central Park in New York.

Might not help the OP, might come in handy for a pub quiz 😁

Both cities are in the top ten cities with green spaces in the uk. There are loads in Liverpool as well as the beach and shoreline.
Both have loads of parks absolutely tonnes..

I live in Manchester (south Manchester one of the suburbs recommended) and love it. I like Liverpool to visit but Manchester is a brilliant place to live. Can get out to the lakes/peaks/north wales really easily, great theatres, fab shopping, cool bars and always new things popping up.
As others have said don’t walk out of picadilly station to picadilly gardens and write the whole of Manchester off as ‘grim’ and ‘dirty’. They are the worst bits of Manchester! Find a local to take you round properly- it’s lovely.

Lovely parks, but they’re not in the city centre.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/131185172?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Facing a park and 5 min drive to river.

You do have the whole waterfront for walks though.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86652630?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

In the city centre (georgian quarter) next to cathedral and st james Gardens. Princes park and sefton park 10 mins drive away. River 20 min walk.

Liverpool without a doubt

Gorgeous, I love the houses round there.

Falkner street nearby contains the house from the first series of House Through Time (by David Olusoga)

Liverpool - for your budget somewhere like Crosby would be great

I’ve only been to the city centre in Liverpool (many times) and the mumsnetty Aigburth. Like a pp, I find it a bit insular. Almost provincial compared to Manchester, where I live. Manchester feels more dynamic, the travel connections are better, and there’s just much more going on.

Major city centres aren't likely to have parks though, as they're not that big. Manchester has good green spaces in the centre but then Piccadilly Gardens get a bad rep. Liverpool has Chavasse Park and St John's Gardens within the centre with others in the pipeline. Manchester also looking at more.

Liverpool has quite a plethora of parks within just a few miles of the city centre.

It depends what you're looking for in a city as well. Manchester has certainly had a lot more investment and a better job market (throwing in Salford Quays as well) so tends to be a better bet for young urban professionals.

Oh wasnt that a brilliant series. I really enjoyed it.
Yes all round that area is so lovely. Faulkner sq gardens, st james gardens. Loads of lovely bars and restaurants too.

I had a 1 month job in Manchester and was really disappointed. It just felt depressing and crowded. I did a few day trips to Liverpool and absolutely loved it - I was blown away with some of the architecture.

So based on this, I'd pick Liverpool. However I'm not a fan of the accent, so this would annoy me! (no offence meant, I have a terrible accent..)

My daughter lived in Falkner Street as a student. Fab area.
John Lennon lived there when he was an art student too.

Which version of the accent? It varies wildly in sound, depending on who you're speaking to. I think it's a friendly-sounding accent in the main.

I guess it's personal taste but I don't like Manchester at all- for me for such a big city it feels really claustrophobic in the central bits - I also don't like many of the areas to live , unless a fair way out towards altrincham and Cheshire or Saddleworth the other way. I like Liverpool a lot - much more space I feel- and I think nicer shopping - I love the street with all the restaurants in the centre- there is no denying though Manchester is better connected if you need to be going elsewhere a lot of the time- so your lifestyle matters.

I think ChatGPT entered the conversation! (Not you, @Crikeyalmighty!)

Spot the bot!

I’d live on the Wirral, lovely beaches, access to Liverpool and north Wales

@NoWordForFluffy ha, ha- that would be @chevycole1 - yep, does sound odd

Reading this again (probably revivified by spam) - while I stand by what I said - I don’t think I’d want to spend £700k in either place.

I would buy in Oxford (because there’s a quite incredible amount of green space spread around the city) or Bath (because it’s staggeringly beautiful and fun) or Edinburgh (because everything - capital city, coast, beauty, volcano …)

I wonder if you’ve chosen anywhere yet?