Nearly 1,450 cities, towns and villages have been ranked in Garrington Property Finders’ new list of the Best Places to Live in 2026.
The charming town of Marple, near Stockport, in Greater Manchester, came out top of the pile, with three other places in the North West making the top 10.
With its pretty canal towpath walks, lush wooded valleys and rich array of independent shops, cafes and restaurants, Marple has been dubbed the ‘jewel of the Cheshire Alps'.
Garrington described Marple as a ‘picture-postcard’ town, with an ‘understated charm and calm’, despite lying just nine miles and around 25 minutes from the buzz of Manchester city centre.
Marple rose three places to top this year’s list of the best places to live, having been ranked fourth in 2025.
Garrington said its strong community spirit, two brass brands, a neighbourhood cinema and its location at the foot of the Peak District all contributed to Marple’s appeal.
Unsurprisingly, houses do not come cheap there, with a typical family home costing £517,119, having risen by 7.6% in the last year.
But Garrington said house prices in Marple remain ‘competitive’ for a ‘prime’ area of Greater Manchester, with Marple ranked 27th for ‘value for money’.
Below are the 13 best places to live in the North West in 2026, according to Garrington Property Finders, listed in reverse order.
They include a delightful village in the ‘Golden Triangle’ between Manchester and Liverpool, which is popular with Premier League footballers and celebrities, and a charming market town in Lancashire’s picturesque Ribble Valley.
If you’re looking for more North West property news, you might be interested in this list of the places within the region where houses are selling fastest.
9. Reddish - 5th
Reddish, near Stockport, is the 5th best place to live in the North West, and the 11th best in all of England and Wales, according to Garrington Property Finders. It was ranked 33rd for natural environment, 1191st for wellbeing, 163rd for heritage and culture, 118th for schools, employment and connectivity, and 63rd for house price, quality and value. The average family home there costs £411,526, with prices having risen by 8.09% in the last year. | Google Photo: Google
10. Poynton - 4th
Poynton, near Stockport, is the 4th best place to live in the North West, and the 10th best in all of England and Wales, according to Garrington Property Finders. It was ranked 470th for natural environment, 305th for wellbeing, 587th for heritage and culture, 172nd for schools, employment and connectivity, and 24th for house price, quality and value. The average family home there costs £626,381, with prices having risen by 8.66% in the last year. | Google Photo: Google
11. Bowdon - 3rd
Bowdon, Altrincham, is the 3rd best place to live in the North West, and the 6th best in all of England and Wales, according to Garrington Property Finders. It was ranked 775th for natural environment, 177th for wellbeing, 56th for heritage and culture, 37th for schools, employment and connectivity, and 363rd for house price quality and value. The average family home there costs £639,321, with prices having risen by 1.30% in the last year. | Google Photo: Google
12. Bramhall - 2nd
Bramhall, near Stockport, is the 2nd best place to live in the North West, and the 4th best in all of England and Wales, according to Garrington Property Finders. It was ranked 115th for natural environment, 508th for wellbeing, 564th for heritage and culture, 21st for schools, employment and connectivity, and 40th for house price, quality and value. The average family home there costs £567,177, with prices having risen by 10.77% in the last year. | Google Photo: Google