Manchester officially named the second-friendliest city in the UK

Manchester has been ranked among some of the friendliest cities in the UK, as we took joint second with two other fantastic places. 

Unsurprisingly, our city has not failed to flatter visitors with its Northern charm and the warm and sociable people who make it. After all, Mancunians are the ‘salt of the earth’, as it is often said.

Manchester city centre, including its surrounding areas, has been voted as the second friendliest city in the UK in a survey conducted by Condé Nast Traveller’s Readers’ Choice Awards.

We scored an impressive 94.12 when it comes to making people who visit feel welcome in our brilliant city, because it’s not just the place, but the people that make it.

This figure represents the overall average level of satisfaction for visitors who come to Manchester – not bad. 

However, we shared second place with two other UK cities – Liverpool and Belfast – who both scored exactly the same.

Taking the top spot was the capital of Wales, Cardiff – a great place but we still think Manchester is the real number one, if we’re honest.

About our city, Condé Nast Traveller said: “The world’s first industrial city and home to the UK’s first ever working canal, Manchester has come a long way so the 19th century, though it still retains its historical charm and nods to its heritage can be spotted around the city. 

“In and among the modern shopping destinations, an exciting arts and culture scene and a foodie scene that is continually reinventing itself, we defy you to be immune to this Northern city’s charm.”

And it said the best place to stay is Whitworth Locke which ‘has apartments painted in pastels’ you can ‘take over as your own’.

Located in a 19th-century building in Manchester’s Civic Quarter, Whitworth Locke is situated just minutes from the city’s famous Northern Quarter – home to independent shops, bars and restaurants, 200 metres from Canal Street and 300 metres from The Palace Theatre. 

Condé Nast also voted Manchester in among the best cities in the UK – we came in as fourth best after Cardiff, London and Edinburgh, respectively.