Is this Manchester’s most desirable neighbourhood?

Due to its location in the city centre, and neighbouring Ancoats with its array of amenities and open space / beauty spots, New Islington is fast becoming one of the hottest places to live in Manchester.

Recently named in the UK’s ‘Best Places to Live’ by The Sunday Times (2019), this centrally located neighbourhood is like a bustling village within the city.

With a mixture of townhouses, family homes and apartments, property developers Urban Splash have helped create a community feel in New Islington, centred around local businesses and neighbourhood amenities such as a medical centre, primary school and tonnes of outdoor space.

Plus they allow pets and offer parking – two rarities in city living! 

Walking around New Islington, it’s easy to feel like you’re already part of that community. 

Despite its newness, Ancoats and New Islington is fit to burst with local eateries and coffee shops, and the number of walkers (and their dogs), cyclists, runners and families about the area really do add to the community feel.

Cotton Field Park is central to this community. With its bench-lined boardwalk, it sits on the picturesque New Islington marina and is the perfect place to relax or take a leisurely stroll. 

Pop into Pollen Bakery for a coffee and some of its legendary sourdough bread, or head next door to Cask for a huge selection of  craft beer and ales.

Urban Splash’s Piercy Street development is a five minute walk away from the marina, and offers beautiful three-storey townhouses with open plan living and parking. That’s right, a house – not apartment – in central town!  

The big windows and high ceilings make these houses feel spacious and light, and the outdoor terrace and communal gardens expand the space even further.

Just up the road from Piercy Street is the Manchester-famous Tony’s Chippy. Run by the same family for nearly 30 years, it’s an institution in its own right. 

Behind the chippy is Hope Mill Theatre. If you’re looking for evening entertainment just a stone’s throw away from home, then this is it. 

A small performance venue featuring musicals, plays, and concerts, Hope Mill Theatre also has a bar and restaurant if you fancy some pre-theatre scran.

And one of the major draws of New Islington is its array of local amenities. 

Next to New Islington Marina, New Islington Free School is a mixed gender primary school funded directly by the Department for Education and has been rated as outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection. 

Sitting on Old Mill Street is New Islington Medical Practice, while the Post Office and Co-operative supermarket are all within walking distance of the marina.

If you’re looking for apartments however, House by Urban Splash’s spacious ‘Mansion House’ apartments in New Islington marina offer one or two bedrooms and a range of bathroom and kitchen options, so you can configure your apartment to suit your way of life. 

But these aren’t your average city centre apartments. With only 10 apartments per building and just five floors high, it’s a new concept for apartments that will allow you to get to know your neighbours – not to mention the unique radiata pine wall finish and huge balconies. Oh, and did we mention pets are allowed too? 

Outside of the marina and main New Islington area, it’s only a few minutes walk before you reach Ancoats.

With its tree-lined square and countless number of bars and restaurants – including Mana, Manchester’s first Michelin star in over thirty years – it’s definitely a neighbourhood you’ll want to spend some time in. 

Rudy’s are famous for their delicious pizza, while local brewery Seven Bro7hers is located just over the square with their lively beerhouse. Just a short hop away are street food favourites the Hip Hop Chip Shop, and the award-winning Italian restaurant, Sugo. 

There’s also Canto, a modern Portuguese restaurant from the people behind El Gato Negro, and the new Edinburgh Castle pub serving Manchester Union lager and a superb food menu. 

The Jane Eyre bar is perfect for coffee or cocktails, depending on the time of day, while the convivial Blossom Street Social delivers some knockout wines from the Hanging Ditch team.

New Islington is well-connected when it comes to public transport, too. It has its own tram stop in Metrolink Zone 1 – just one stop from Manchester Piccadilly Station. And all the usual bus routes in, out and around the city network. 

House by Urban Splash have three and four bedroom homes overlooking the canal, and unique apartments in ‘Mansion House’ – available to buy now. But when they’re gone, they’re really gone – will these be the last ever houses available to buy in the city? 

So, have we sold Manchester’s most desirable neighbourhood to you yet?