Manchester postcodes run from M1 to M90, but they’re not in any logical geographical order. M1 is the city centre, M14 is Rusholme and Fallowfield, M60 is a PO Box code, and M90 is the airport. If you’re moving to Manchester, house-hunting, or just trying to work out where a restaurant actually is, this guide breaks it all down.
City Centre Postcodes
M1 — The city centre core. Piccadilly, the Northern Quarter, Chinatown, Gay Village, Piccadilly Gardens. This is the beating heart of Manchester. Flats here are expensive and parking is a nightmare, but you’re walking distance from everything.
M2 — Deansgate, Spinningfields, St Peter’s Square, King Street. The business and financial district. High-end restaurants, offices, the Town Hall. Expensive to live in. Very quiet on weekends compared to M1.
M3 — Salford side of the river, but feels like Manchester. Includes the Salford part of Deansgate, Trinity Way, Greengate, and parts of Chapel Street. Lots of new-build apartments. Technically Salford, which means different council tax rates.
M4 — Ancoats, New Islington, Miles Platting. Ancoats is one of the trendiest areas in the city right now — great restaurants, coffee shops, converted mills. Miles Platting further north is a different story, still quite rough in parts. Big contrast within one postcode.
M15 — Hulme, parts of Castlefield, the university corridor along Oxford Road. Student-heavy. Manchester Metropolitan University and University of Manchester campuses are here. Cheap rent, busy during term time, dead in summer.
South Manchester
M14 — Fallowfield, Rusholme, Moss Side (parts). Fallowfield is the student heartland — cheap houses, loud parties, takeaways everywhere. Rusholme has the Curry Mile. Moss Side has a bad reputation that’s largely outdated but persists.
M16 — Old Trafford, Whalley Range. Old Trafford is home to Manchester United‘s ground and the cricket ground. Whalley Range is residential, quiet, diverse, and more affordable than the postcodes south of it.
M19 — Levenshulme, Burnage. Levenshulme (“Levy”) has had a genuine transformation in recent years — the food market, independent shops, and affordable Victorian terraces have made it popular with young professionals. Still affordable compared to Chorlton and Didsbury. Burnage is residential and quiet.
M20 — Didsbury (West and East). This is where Manchester’s middle class lives. Good schools, nice restaurants, leafy streets, the Didsbury pub scene. Houses are expensive. East Didsbury has a Metrolink stop. If someone says they live in Didsbury, they want you to know about it.
M21 — Chorlton. The other south Manchester favourite. Independent shops, bars, cafes, a strong community feel. Slightly more bohemian than Didsbury, slightly cheaper. Beech Road is the main strip. Popular with young families and people who shop at farmers’ markets.
M22 — Wythenshawe, Northenden. Wythenshawe is one of the largest council estates in Europe. It has its challenges but also strong community spirit, good transport links (tram to the airport and city centre), and very affordable housing. Northenden is a separate village feel with some nice pubs along the Mersey.
M23 — Baguley, Benchill, Wythenshawe Hospital. Near the airport. Residential, affordable, good tram links.
North Manchester
M8 — Crumpsall, Cheetham Hill. Crumpsall has North Manchester General Hospital and is residential. Cheetham Hill is known for its wholesale shops and fabric stores. Diverse, affordable, well-connected by bus.
M9 — Blackley, Harpurhey. Working-class north Manchester. Affordable housing, decent parks (Boggart Hole Clough is genuinely great), but fewer amenities than south Manchester. Improving slowly.
M10 — Not currently in use as a standard postcode area.
M40 — Moston, New Moston, Collyhurst, Newton Heath. Mixed area. Newton Heath and Collyhurst are among the most deprived parts of the city. New Moston is more suburban and settled. Significant regeneration planned for Collyhurst.
East Manchester
M11 — Beswick, Clayton, Openshaw. The Etihad Stadium is here. Massive regeneration over the past 20 years thanks to the Commonwealth Games legacy. Still feels a bit sparse in places but improving. The Velodrome and sports facilities are .
M12 — Ardwick, Longsight (parts). Close to the city centre but feels separate. Longsight has a strong South Asian community, good food shops, and affordable housing. Ardwick is being slowly absorbed into the expanding city centre.
M13 — Longsight, the university area. Manchester Royal Infirmary and the universities’ main campuses are on the M13/M15 border. Student accommodation dominates.
M18 — Gorton, Abbey Hey. Working-class, affordable, residential. Gorton Monastery is a Victorian building that’s been restored as an events venue. Otherwise quiet and residential with decent bus links.
West and Salford
M5 — Salford (parts), Ordsall. Salford Quays and MediaCityUK are nearby. Ordsall has been heavily regenerated with new-build flats. Easy walk into the city centre. Technically Salford.
M6 — Salford (Pendleton, Irlams o’ th’ Height). Salford Royal Hospital is here. Mixed — some parts regenerated, some less so. The University of Salford campus is in M5/M6.
M7 — Higher Broughton, Salford. Includes the area around Bury New Road. Strong Jewish community in parts. Affordable, close to town.
Outer Postcodes
M17 — Trafford Park. This is almost entirely industrial — the Trafford Park trading estate, plus the Trafford Centre (technically M17). Not really residential.
M25 — Prestwich. Technically Bury, but feels like north Manchester’s answer to Didsbury. Good high street, nice parks (Heaton Park is on the border), strong community. Popular with families. Metrolink connection on the Bury line.
M27 — Swinton, Pendlebury. Salford borough. Residential and suburban. Affordable, decent transport links, not much nightlife.
M30 — Eccles, Monton. Monton has become a proper foodie destination with good restaurants along Monton Road. Eccles is working-class, historic (Eccles cakes originated here), and has a Metrolink stop.
M32 — Stretford, Old Trafford (parts). Near the football ground and cricket ground. Stretford is affordable and has good tram links. The Stretford food hall scene has improved massively.
M33 — Sale. Respectable suburban Trafford. Good schools, decent high street, Metrolink to the city centre in 20 minutes. Popular with families who want space without losing easy access to Manchester.
M41 — Urmston, Flixton, Davyhulme. Suburban Trafford. Urmston has a good town centre with independent shops and a proper market. Family-friendly, affordable relative to south Manchester proper.
Special Postcodes
M50 — Salford Quays, MediaCityUK. BBC, ITV, and various media companies. Lots of modern apartments. The Lowry theatre and Imperial War Museum North are here.
M60 — PO Box and business mail only. You won’t live here.
M90 — Manchester Airport. The airport has its own postcode. You’ll only use this if you’re sending something to the airport or getting a taxi there.
House-Hunting Quick Guide
Want trendy and central? M4 (Ancoats), M1 (Northern Quarter)
Want leafy and suburban? M20 (Didsbury), M21 (Chorlton), M25 (Prestwich)
Want affordable? M19 (Levenshulme), M9 (Blackley), M18 (Gorton), M40 (New Moston)
Want good schools? M33 (Sale), M20 (Didsbury), M41 (Urmston)
Want nightlife on the doorstep? M1 (city centre), M4 (Ancoats/NQ border)
Remember: Manchester postcodes don’t follow a neat pattern. Check the actual location on a map before committing to anything based on postcode alone.
