England has no shortage of pretty market towns, but there’s one that’s constantly named better than the rest.
Twice named Best Place to live in the North West by the Sunday Times, Altrincham has gone from being described as a “ghost town” to a cultural haven for visitors and locals alike.
This picturesque market town has benefitted significantly from a £6 million pound regeneration project initiated in 2015 by Trafford Council.
This ambitious project included work on a number of exciting new developments, including a multi-million refurbishment of Altrincham Leisure Centre, the revitalisation of the Stamford Quarter, and ongoing improvements to the public realm.
The aim of this project, according to Trafford Council, was to ensure Altrincham continues to be a “first class destination for people to live, shop, and do business”.
Once labelled as a “ghost town”, Altrincham’s transformation has been remarkable, turning it from a place with one of the worst high streets in the UK to being one of the best places to live in the country.
Altrincham has also become a blueprint for the modern market town, showcasing independent businesses alongside traditional market stalls at Market House.
Since 1290, the market has been at the heart of the community, operating every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Here you’ll find the fiercely independent and multi-award-winning stalls specialising in contemporary crafts, regional foods, vintage gems, and home & garden goods.
It has also become a highly-sought gastronomic destination for foodies. Home to award-winning independent food operators, Honest Crust offers “the country’s best” wood-fired sourdough pizzas while Jack in the Box serves the finest craft beers. And if you love pies, well, you will need to take a visit to The Great North Pie Company, England’s top pie producer, who have amassed several awards and nominations in recent years.
Surrounded by green open spaces and breathtaking countryside, such as Stamford Park and Dunham Massey, Altrincham offers scenic walks through open grassland and ancient trees as well as sightings of roaming deers in some of its medieval parks.
In addition, its convenient location, just 8 miles from Manchester, also makes commuting much easier for those working in the city.
This standout destination is ideal for cultural and food enthusiasts, and for this reason, it remains a property hotspot. Commanding a high price premium to live in the area, the average property price for a detached house in Altrincham currently lists at £1,050,000.
The town is known for its stunning parks and close-knit community, but also for providing exceptional education. The high demand, particularly for homes near top-rated schools, has resulted in property prices being driven up even higher.
Schools such as Altrincham Grammar School for Boys and Girls and Loreto Catholic Grammar School, have been deemed as two of the best schools in the northwest, both receiving an outstanding Ofsted rating in 2022.
Altrincham Grammar School for Boys was the top secondary school for academic performance while Altrincham Girls received the award of the best secondary school of the year in the northwest.
So if you are seeking to relocate and desire a bustling urban haven which offers excellent transport links, a vibrant social scene, exceptional education, and a safe investment opportunity, then you should definitely consider this pretty UK Market town.