Top 10 Manchester apartment blocks according to residents

Manchester is going through the biggest property investment and construction boom the city has ever known. Billions of pounds are being invested in dozens of major property development projects across the Greater Manchester area. With so much choice available on the Greater Manchester apartment market, our reviewers’ ratings highlight the very best blocks on offer.

Repeatedly hitting the top spots in ‘best places to live in the UK’ guides, Greater Manchester is confidently attracting new investment and residents from all over the world. Whether you’re looking to live in the beating heart of the city or in one of its many up-and-coming suburbs, you’ll have plenty of quality options to choose from.     

Below you can find our ranking of the top 10 Manchester apartment developments available to buy and rent, according to the reviews of verified residents. The overall star ratings of each development are drawn from the combined scores given by residents in their verified HomeViews reviews.

With reviews covering location, facilities, management, design and value for money, these 10 developments reflect the best of what Greater Manchester has to offer. The rankings also take into account the number of reviews for each development, as well as their recency. Our top spot developers have managed to get consistently high scores across a greater number of reviews.

If you want to know more about any of our top 10 Manchester apartment blocks, just click on them. This will take you to its dedicated page and allow you to see in detail what residents have to say.

Top of the pile in Manchester’s highest-rated apartment buildings is Vox, a rental-only development close to the city centre. Vox offers a collection of well-designed one, two and three-bed apartments, complete with under-building car parking spaces and bike storage, CCTV security, gym, running track, studio, roof terrace and residents’ lounge. Residents say they love the facilities, access to local amenities and the little touches laid on by the always-helpful staff.

In second place is Chapel Wharf, by Dandara Living in the heart of Manchester. Even so, residents enjoy peace and quiet due to the excellent sound proofing of its apartments, which range in size from studio to 2-bed. Residents benefit from a pet-friendly policy, an onsite gym and car/bike parking. As well as this, the development is just moments away from Manchester’s famous shopping, entertainment and cultural scenes.

Number three in our list is The Green Rooms, near Media City. Residents love being close to this vibrant and exciting part of Manchester, and they appreciate the ever-helpful Green Rooms concierge staff who do everything they can to make things comfortable and convenient.

At fourth place, The Trilogy is a HomeViews award-winning development. Located in the heart of Castlefield in Manchester, it has access to a variety of transport links. Deansgate is a three-minute tram journey whilst Cornbrook Metrolink Station is a three-minute walk away. In addition, MediaCityUK is a 12-minute commute. The development comprises 232 pet-friendly one, two and three-bedroom apartments. Residents have access to a wide range of facilities, including a fully equipped gym as well as a landscaped communal garden. Likewise, the building provides a 24-hour on-property concierge service.

Taking fifth place in our list is a Spinningfields entry. The Slate Yard is a Build to Rent development that’s only a 6-minute walk away from Salford Central. Residents have access to a wide range of facilities, including a 24-hour on-site team, a residents’ gym, housekeeping services and a residents’ lounge. The development is also pet-friendly.

Sixth-placed The Mailbox comprises 117 one and two-bedroom apartments and 12,500 sq ft of commercial office space. Situated in the former Royal Mail sorting office in Stockport, the development features an open atrium, a roof terrace and high-speed broadband.

In seventh is New Maker Yards, featuring 821 homes. These are a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments in the heart of Middlewood Locks. The development is located only 10-minutes away from Salford Central and 14-minutes from Spinningfields and Manchester city centre. In addition, residents have access to a wide range of amenities, including 24 hour security, Seven Bro7hers bar & restaurant, 92 Degrees Coffee and a Co-op store. There is also a residents’ club room for a connected workspace, big screen, and free coffee, and a new amenity space called ‘The Lock’.

Taking eighth place in our top 10 of the best apartment developments in Manchester is West Tower. Situated in Deansgate Square, West Tower is a build-to-rent development featuring a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. Residents have access to a wide range of amenities, including dry cleaning services and access to a residents lounge. With plenty of new facilities continuing to be added, more residents’ comments are being posted about how much they enjoy the swimming pool, sauna, cinema, rooftop garden and bar. The development is only a three-minute walk away from both Castlefield and Deansgate stations.

Ninth in our top 10 apartment buildings in Manchester is Angel Gardens, by Moda Living. The development sits in the heart of Manchester, within the NOMA innovation district. It features a total of 466 interior designed apartments to rent with a mix of sizes, ranging from studios to three beds. In addition, it offers no deposit and is pet-friendly. Likewise, residents benefit from 250MBPS WiFi, Samsung 50″ inch smart TV included in their rent. Plus, onsite amenities such as a rooftop sports pitch, rooftop terrace, residents’ gym, sky lounge, private dining room, media room and atrium. Pay your rent, book community events or chat to your neighbours with the MyModa app. A free health check when you move in, wellbeing workshops and classes with hero, Moda’s health and wellbeing partner.

Taking 10th place and situated in the ‘Corridor Manchester’, Burlington Square is a LOCAL Manchester development benefitting from a central location. Likewise, the development is a two-minute walk away from the University of Manchester. Burlington Square comprises a choice of furnished or unfurnished one and two-bedroom apartments. Furthermore, residents have access to a range of amenities, including on-site parking, secure bike storage and rooftop gardens.

The Greater Manchester apartment market has been particularly strong for the past couple of years. The average property price in Manchester in the 12 months to January 2023 was £247,833, with apartments selling for an average of £173,000.

Despite recent increases in rent across Manchester, there are good options for attractive rental rates across central areas as well as Manchester’s popular suburbs. The average rental price in Manchester currently stands at £1,474 per calendar month. The pipeline of new housing developments means that rising supply will give buyers greater choice. If you want to buy-to-let, in 2020 Manchester was ranked as the UK’s number one landlord investment prospect.

Our Greater Manchester area guide has plenty more information about what it’s like to live in the city. You can also learn more about its thriving suburbs and alternative areas.

HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, landlords and the Government to recognise high performers and help to improve standards in the built environment.