In the first of our Manchester series of Agreed Hotspots, we’re taking a look at Manchester's very own creative capital, the Northern Quarter. If you love a hipster vibe, the colourful graffiti street art in this area could well be the aesthetic you’re looking for.

The best part of the Northern Quarter is its individuality. Free time can be spent happily scouring independent record shops for your next vinyl, or discussing art, music and theatre with the many creative types who live around here. The famous Affleck’s Palace is housed here, a mecca for shoppers searching for the perfect vintage find.

Young professionals love the Northern Quarter. Not only does it have great transport links (it’s right in the middle of Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria stations), making it a mere ten minutes into the very centre of Manchester, but it’s also a tantalising base to come back to after a hard day at the office. There are vibrant restaurants and as the night wears on, bars and venues fill with life, as music is at the heart of this indie neighbourhood.

There is so much to do in the little Northern Quarter streets, and if art and culture are your thing then you really couldn’t ask for a better location. Check out the artists’ studios at the Manchester Craft and Design Centre or head to the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Arts, which is housed in a Grade II listed Victorian market building.

Renting is common in the Northern Quarter due to its relatively young crowd, but if you wanted to buy, average house prices are around the £210k mark.

Back in the raver days of Manchester, the Northern Quarter had a bit of a shady vibe, but that’s long gone and the ‘NQ’ is now best known for its fun-loving inhabitants and a trendy crowd coming morning or night. So if you love a craft ale, a hipster beard, an artisanal coffee, or you just want to live somewhere that has a free-spirit, then we think the Northern Quarter might be right up your alley.

Photo credit: www.creativetourist.com