'Manchester’s got everything except a beach,' declared Ian Brown, the Stone Roses singer at the heart of the 1980s 'Madchester' scene.

The more analytical Economist Intelligence Unit on Tuesday also gave it a vote of confidence, declaring the northern city to be a better place to live than London. Its annual ’liveability’ survey put Manchester at 46, five places ahead of the capital.

Manchester was level with Seattle in the US and ahead of Milan, Rome and Dublin. It scored 90, to London’s 89.2. Higher crime and risk of terrorist attack weighed on the capital’s rating.

The survey assesses a city’s political and physical stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.

Financial Times