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.
13. Marple - 1st
The charming town of Marple, near Stockport, is the best place to live in the North West, and the best in all of England and Wales, according to Garrington Property Finders. It was ranked 18th for natural environment, 741st for wellbeing, 112th for heritage and culture, 127th for schools, employment and connectivity, and 27th for house price, quality and value. The average family home there costs £517,119, with prices having risen by 7.60% in the last year. | Google Photo: Google