Greater Manchester and the leafy villages of Cheshire are named among the most desirable places to live in the UK

A village in Greater Manchester has been named among the 30 most desirable places to live in the UK. The new list also features a picturesque Cheshire village known for its famous residents.

Property experts from across the country spoke to the Daily Mail about Britain’s most desirable villages – with Haigh in Wigan and Alderley Edge in Cheshire both on the list, the Mirror reports. With village life central to British culture, those in the know have given their verdict on what makes the ‘coastal communities’ and ‘rich areas’ of choice so sought after by Brits.

As well as mentions for Greater Manchester and Cheshire, the list also includes Roundhay in West Yorkshire, famous for its parkland and “prestigious” estates, and Bishopthorpe in North Yorkshire, a historic place known for its tree-lined streets and charming cottages. The Merseyside coastal village of Hightown is highlighted for its shingle beaches and one of the UK’s top 50 pubs.

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Further afield, Chipping Norton, home of former Prime Minister David Cameron, makes the cut as described as “posh as it gets”. Meanwhile, Abersoch, a seaside village on the Llyn peninsula, which is known for attracting tourists and day-trippers from the North West, is also present.

In its writing, and highlighting the small civil parish village of Haigh, the Mail states: “Despite Wigan’s less glamorous reputation, Haigh’s history and scenery provide an elegant setting outside of Manchester. Home to the only remaining windmill in Greater Manchester, the village is the perfect peaceful place for a day trip.”

This isn’t the first time Haigh has caught people’s attention. In 2024, the little corner of Wigan was named one of the most stylish villages in the UK.

The Haigh has made the Daily Telegraph’s list of Britain’s smartest rural locations. Following the 2024 edition of the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live in Britain earlier this year, which saw two towns in Greater Manchester, Haigh was then named one of the 48 ‘most stylish’ villages From Great Britain.

Home to Haigh Woodland Park and Haigh Hall country estate, the average house price in the village is £244,222. Just a few miles from Wigan town centre, it has been described as a ‘hidden gem’ and is known for its independent cafes and shops, historic buildings and stunning wooded parkland, the latter of which has a huge free adventure playground.

Haigh Windmill, the only remaining windmill in Greater Manchester, was built in 1845 and supplied well water to John Sumner & Company’s Haigh Brewery. There are also a number of walking trails around this area that both residents and visitors love.

In Cheshire, Alderley Edge has also attracted expert interest, becoming a well-known spot for its famous residents, particularly Manchester United and Manchester City footballers and their families. It is described in the guide as “one of the most expensive and sought-after places to live in the UK outside of London”.

The picturesque village is in East Cheshire and boasts a range of upscale shops, cafes, restaurants and bars. Also known as the champagne capital of Great Britain, it is located in Cheshire’s ‘Golden Triangle’ – also known as the ‘Footballer’s Belt’ – which also includes Prestbury and Wilmslow.

“Alderley Edge has become a favorite location for footballers and TV stars for its luxury shops and private homes,” commented Liam Gretton in the article. “David and Victoria Beckham were associated with the area before their move to Spain in 2003.”

The most desirable villages in the UK as a whole:

• Roundhay, West Yorkshire
• Dirleton, East Lothian
• Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
• Scarcroft, West Yorkshire
• Newton Linford, Leicestershire
• Alderley Edge, Cheshire
• Haigh, Greater Manchester
• Bishopthorpe, North Yorkshire
• Abersoch, Gwynedd
• Solva, Pembrokeshire
• Shalbourne, Wiltshire
• Beaulieu, Hampshire
• Elie, Fife
• Warkworth, Northumberland
• Brancepeth, County Durham
• Ombersley, Worcestershire
• Virginia Water, Surrey
• Hightown, Merseyside
• Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire
• Sunningdale, Berkshire
• Kingsham, Oxfordshire
• Biddestone, Wiltshire
• Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire
• Beckington, Somerset
• Caldy, Merseyside
• Llandough, Vale of Glamorgan
• West Kilbride, North Ayrshire
• Studland, Dorset
• Barrington, Cambridgeshire
• Barston, West Midlands