Removals to Greater Manchester

As the UK's second largest built-up area, Greater Manchester is the economic powerhouse of northern England. Its population is growing, with many people from elsewhere undertaking removals to Greater Manchester. If you are planning a move to the city from any part of the UK or abroad and need to compare removal costs, Hamiltons can give you a free quote. We frequently organise moves to Bolton, Sale, Bury, Altrincham, Rochdale, Oldham, Wigan, Stockport, Salford, Ashton-under-Lyne and all other areas of the metropolitan county.

Moving to Greater Manchester
Located in North West England, Greater Manchester has a population of more than 2.7 million people. Many people relocate here for reasons of employment. The transport network is also an important factor, with the area boasting one of Britain's biggest airports. Another major attraction for people moving to Greater Manchester is education.

Career Opportunities: In the past, Greater Manchester's wealth was built on textile manufacture. Today, although manufacturing and industry are still important, the economy has diversified, with finance and service industries employing many thousands of people. Other key sectors include digital technology, health and logistics.

Transport Infrastructure: The region's excellent transport links are an attraction for many business owners relocating here. Manchester Airport is one of the UK's busiest airports, with flights to more than 200 destinations, and is also within an Enterprise Zone. The county is at the hub of both motorway and rail systems, as well as having its own light rail network.

Education: More than 100,000 students are enrolled at the four main universities in the area, including the Russell Group University of Manchester as well as Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Bolton and the University of Salford. Many people also move to the area to attend other institutions.

Focus on Greater Manchester's Districts

City of Manchester and Trafford
Known as England's second city, Manchester has around half a million residents, with many more commuting in from a wide surrounding area. The city is also visited by high numbers of tourists every year, drawn by its heritage and cultural mix as well as its two famous football clubs, Manchester United and Manchester City.

Manchester has a large financial sector, with scores of banks being based in the city alongside many insurance companies. The Royal Bank of Scotland alone employs thousands of people. A wide range of companies have their HQs or major bases in Manchester, while the transport infrastructure, including Manchester Airport, road and rail, have made the city a top choice for freight and logistics firms. There is a large cluster of scientific and research companies centred around the University of Manchester.

As a major city, Manchester has varied shopping areas, nightspots and restaurants, with its famous “Curry Mile” in Rusholme offering a huge choice of Asian cuisine. Its cultural attractions, ranging from theatres to galleries and museums, help it to score highly in surveys for cities offering the best quality of life. Didsbury is one of the most in-demand residential areas.

Around 200,000 people live in the Trafford district, just to the south-west of the city proper. This area includes the massive Trafford Centre in Dumplington, one of the largest shopping centres in the country, and Trafford Park, one of Europe's largest business parks. Manchester United's famous Old Trafford ground is a major landmark in the area, located in the town of Stretford. Altrincham and Sale are both affluent areas popular with commuters, as are the nearby villages of Hale, Hale Barns and Bowdon, known for their exclusive residential property. Urmston and Partington are other towns in the area.

Salford
The city of Salford lies to the west of Manchester, and has more than 200,000 residents. Its waterfront area, Salford Quays, beside the Manchester Ship Canal, is a major focus of employment. It includes a range of shops and cultural attractions, such as the Lowry theatre and gallery complex, and both the BBC and ITV have studios based here.

As well as Salford itself, there are several smaller settlements within the district, including the suburban towns of Swinton, Pendlebury, Walkden, Irlam and Clifton. Also in the area is the town of Eccles, famed for the cakes which bear its name.

Wigan and Bolton
To the west of Salford, around 100,000 people live in Wigan, with many more in the surrounding urban area. The town has many historic buildings and landmarks, including the medieval stone Mab's Cross. It is known for its sports teams, including Wigan Athletic FC and Wigan Warriors rugby league team. The area has also built a reputation as a shopping destination. Nearby towns and residential areas include Leigh, Tyldesley, Golborne, Atherton, Ashton -in-Makerfield, Hindley and Astley.

To the north-east of Wigan is another large town, Bolton, with around 140,000 residents. Bolton has hundreds of listed buildings, including its Victorian market hall, and there is a town centre walking trail taking in many landmarks from its industrial past. Warburtons bakery and the kitchen appliances firm AO.com are major employers. Small towns within the borough of Bolton include Farnworth, Westhoughton and Horwich, where Bolton Wanderers FC has its stadium.

Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, Tameside and Stockport
North of Manchester, near the border with Lancashire, the town of Bury is known for its traditional market, which has been voted the best in Britain. Many Manchester commuters live here, and it's possible to travel into the city via the Metrolink light rail system. Prestwich is an affluent nearby area, known for its upmarket shops, where residential property is in demand. Other nearby towns include Radcliffe and neighbouring Whitefield, Ramsbottom and Tottington.

In the north-east of the county, Rochdale has more than 95,000 residents. Traditionally, its economy has been based around manufacturing, but it is now looking to diversify and grow other types of business. Nearby smaller towns include Middleton, Heywood and Milnrow, close to Kingsway Business Park, off the M62, which is a major focus of local employment.

To the east of Manchester, Oldham is another of the area's larger towns. A major local employer is Park Cake Bakeries, which supplies stores such as Marks & Spencer. Close to the countryside of the Pennines and the Peak District, the town is known for its shops and markets, plus cultural attractions such as Gallery Oldham. The smaller nearby town of Chadderton is a popular residential area for Manchester commuters. Other nearby towns include Royton, Shaw and Crompton and Failsworth.

South-east of the city, Stockport has more than 135,000 residents. Its most upmarket suburbs include Woodford, Hazel Grove and Bramhall, all in demand from people moving to Greater Manchester. Other towns in the borough include affluent Cheadle Hulme, Marple, and Reddish. Also in the east of the county, with around 45,000 residents, Ashton-under-Lyne has one of the UK's biggest outdoor markets. Smaller nearby towns include Denton, Droylsden, Hyde and Stalybridge.

Are you preparing for removals to Greater Manchester and looking for professional movers to organise your relocation? Contact Hamiltons for a quote and to learn more about our range of services.