Tucked away in the north, lies the undisputed champion of glitzy villages – Alderley Edge. This picturesque village is a treasure trove of opulence, where supercars worth a king’s ransom line the main street, and residents nonchalantly stroll around in their designer gym gear, dripping in high-end accessories.
Even the local charity shops are a treasure trove of designer cast-offs, with DKNY jeans and Jimmy Choo heels aplenty.
Dubbed the “Knightsbridge of the north”, Alderley Edge is the crowning jewel of Cheshire’s “Golden Triangle” of wealth, attracting a who’s who of Premier League footballers, millionaires, and the occasional billionaire. The Beckhams famously called it home during David’s Manchester United days, as did Cristiano Ronaldo, while Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has recently joined the ranks of the village’s elite residents.
Beckham may have moved on, but his affection for Alderley Edge remains strong, with the former England captain regularly returning to his beloved chippy, Fosters. However, living in this exclusive enclave is a privilege reserved for the select few.
With the average house price a staggering three times the national average, at £823,000, and detached homes fetching a cool £1.3 million, it’s little wonder that prices continue to soar, with an 11 per cent increase last year alone. Real estate agents in the village have noted that the hottest demand is currently for houses in the “mid-market” sector, priced between £800,000 and £1 million, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The cachet of an Alderley Edge address is a huge draw for many.
Celebrities living in the village usually enjoy a peaceful life, with locals giving famous residents space as they browse the eclectic independent stores. However, the main London Road of the village often draws paparazzi looking to snap a photo of well-known personalities such as Coleen Rooney shopping at Waitrose, Christine McGuinness heading to yoga, or Kerry Katona visiting Style Lounge hairdressers in her green Lamborghini.
Only this week, Manchester City’s Jack Grealish was caught on camera by photographers as he enjoyed a stroll with his partner and their new baby on their way to Cafe Nero.
But it’s not just celebrities who are attracting attention the real showstoppers are the supercars. On weekends, you can find a throng of youthful supercar spotters, cameras poised for the perfect shot.
They’re part of the fabric of the village, so acclimatised to high-end vehicles that Bentleys, Porsches, and even Rolls Royces don’t even warrant a glance. Alderley Edge is thick with automotive lavishness that fills their Instagram feeds.
Spotting a £1.5million Bugatti Veyron, a £550,000 Lamborghini Aventador or a £1.3m Ferrari Competitizione casually revving past is not an uncommon sight in Alderley Edge, where the locals are quick to capture these rare motors on their phones.
In this affluent village, you’ll find traditional local businesses like butchers and bakers, alongside diamond jewellers, aesthetic clinics and travel agents offering million-pound holidays – a clear indication of the wealth that resides here.
San Carlo, Manchester’s original Italian celebrity hotspot, expanded its presence to the village last year. Its glitzy £3mn restaurant has already played host to football stars such as Wayne Rooney, Jordan Pickford, Erling Haaland, and even royalty like Prince Albert of Monaco.
Aldereley Edge also boasts a Flannels designer shop – the only village in the UK to do so. But it’s not just any Flannels; this one offers personal styling sessions and allows clients to browse the full range online before having their chosen designer clothes delivered for them to try the next day.
Jodie Stringfellow, a stylist at the Flannels store and a well-known face in the village, believes the appeal of Alderley Edge lies in its strong sense of community.
Jodie enthuses: “It’s just a nice community, everyone knows each other, and it’s a great place to bring up a child. People still go out to the little shops, the butchers and the bakers, but it’s a village that can support bigger businesses too.”
Despite the designer labels on display, Jodie reveals: “No one makes a fuss over the footballers in the village. David Beckham was in here just the other week and he always nips to Foster’s chip shop round the corner.”
She laments the nuisance caused by flashy car enthusiasts: “The supercar hunters drive people a bit mad though, it makes these stupid guys rev their engines down the road. Everyone wants it to just stay the nice little village that it is.”
Next door, hairdressers Mark Power and Jen Page are busy styling their loyal clients’ hair. With a chuckle, Mark claims they “only do cool people in here”.
He reflects: “There’s an undercurrent of wonderful people who aren’t rich and famous who I prefer.”
Mark observes: “There’s two sides of the village, the rich side and the normal side. It’s just a normal village with a bit of class about it. Nobody looks twice at the film stars or footballers – even Ewen McGregor was here the other day at a cafe, and you might see Coleen Rooney down Waitrose but no one bothers them at all.”
Hairdresser Jen couldn’t help but gush about the time she spotted football star Erling Haaland in her village, recalling with a giggle: “My sons are massive Man City fans so I had to leg it outside and ask for a photo.”
Meanwhile, local Mark, 55, who’s been an Alderley Edge resident for seven years, expressed his worries about the nightlife scene following the closure of popular spots like Parea and The Botanist. He lamented: “Don’t get me wrong it’s lovely place to be, but it’s on its arse at the moment – it needs more bars and restaurants, we need something more on the nightlife front.”
During a chat with Victoria, a long-standing local who was getting her luscious brunette locks styled by Mark, she shared her take on the village’s social dynamics. She observed: “You can spot a tourist a mile off. There are people who come into the village who are on the lookout for a footballer but you can tell by their body language – and their fake tan and accents give it away.”
Victoria also commented on the changing trends regarding flashy car accessories, noting: “They always used to say that Alderley Edge had the highest number of personalised number plates than anywhere else in the UK. But I think that’s on the wane now as a personalised plate makes you a target. I’ve had to take mine off, but that’s the compromise you make for personal security.”
Alderley Edge has long been whispered to claim the crown for the most champagne guzzled per person in Britain, and though it’s a stat that might be tricky to pin down to solid fact, local bar owner Nigel Ramsay is inclined to agree.
He oversees Bar Ten on London Road, where the Laurent Perrier rose is never far from popping. There’s no shortage of bubbly flowing here, with even the priciest bottles some ringing up at £3k getting regularly knocked back by the area’s affluent clientele.
Originally hailing from Manchester, Nigel is now wholeheartedly woven into the fabric of Alderley Edge life and delights in its unique charm. He told us: “The whole place is very, very quirky. You’ve got a bakery that doesn’t sell any bread, just fancy cakes, you’ve got a travel agent where you can book a million-pound holiday.”
But there’s more than quirkiness here there’s camaraderie. “But all the businesses look out for each other too. A lot of the celebrities who come in here have become friends.”
Ramsay also recalled an encounter with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo: “The only time I was ever asked to sign an NDA was when Ronaldo came in – but I said I don’t NDA for anyone. He doesn’t drink but came in to buy a gift.”
And it seems the footballing world feels at home in his establishment. “We ended up having a kickabout with a roll of tinfoil. Every footballer is really nice I’ve met, they just want to be accepted in here.”
Meanwhile, Foster’s Fish and Chip shop stands unphased as the village’s local footballing legends frequently drop by to indulge in a classic chippy tea.
Fran Cresswell is delightfully serving customers and can’t help but beam when chatting about David Beckham’s visits to the shop. She reveals: “If he’s in the area he’ll always come in, he was here just the other week. When they lived here he would come and sit in with his kids, he loves it.”
“We get quite a few of the footballers come in. It’s a shame Kyle Walker has now left because he always used to be in, and I’m a Man City fan! “.
Just across from Fran’s store is The Style Lounge, a hair salon that’s no stranger to celebrity; Kerry Katona is one of their regulars alongside her pal Katie Price who also recently popped by for a trim. Carla Fishwick, a hair stylist at the salon, enthuses: “It’s just a great community feel in the village.”
It’s not just Alderley Edge itself that’s oozing charm, but adjacent hamlets such as Nether Alderley and Over Alderley as well, where winding rural lanes are lined with grandiose estates belonging to the extremely affluent. These areas collectively, known as “The Alderleys”, often feature on lists detailing the UK’s best places to live, including the Telegraph’s annual roundup of ‘poshest villages’.
Those curious about the local real estate can gaze through the windows of village estate agents to see some impressive listings, including a jaw-dropping £15million mansion situated on Macclesfield Road a coveted location within the village.
Richard Leece, an estate agent with Gascoigne Halman based in Alderley Edge, has noticed an uptick in interest for properties in the area.
Reflecting on the village’s clientele, Richard notes: “People think we’re flooded with footballers, but it retains the feeling of a nice community in the village.”
The property scene in Alderley Edge is heating up, with the biggest jump seen in more affordable homes priced under a million, signalling high demand due to the area’s esteemed reputation. Boasting stellar amenities like Waitrose, quaint coffee shops, and well-regarded schools, as well as excellent connectivity via the A34, Manchester Airport, and local train services, Alderley Edge is viewed as a top-notch location for property seekers.
Yet, this surge in house prices has its downsides, pricing out locals who grew up there. Steph Ledigo, an event organiser famed for catering to celebrities, contrasts her school days in Alderley Edge to its current state, noting it’s become prohibitively exclusive without “massive wealth.”
Her words resonate with those feeling the sting of exclusion: “When I was at school here there was varying levels of wealth but now it feels like Alderley is very much for the super wealthy. It’s almost impossible for anyone without massive wealth to live here now and so it feels more exclusive than ever before.”
Highlighting the desirability of the locale, she adds, “People want to live here. Even just the name – if you say the name Alderley Edge it says you’re doing well for yourself.”
Residents also enjoy privacy, an abundance of boutique stores, and a community that’s unfazed by the sight of footballers, reinforcing the area’s high-profile allure.
“The most significant growth is the more affordable properties, below the million mark. The demand is there because Alderley Edge is see as the pinnacle of the property market.”
“It offers everything, great amenities with a Waitrose, nice coffee shops and good state and independent schools and then the connectivity with the A34, Manchester Airport nearby and a train station.”
“When I was at school here there was varying levels of wealth but now it feels like Alderley is very much for the super wealthy. It’s almost impossible for anyone without massive wealth to live here now and so it feels more exclusive than ever before.”
“People want to live here. Even just the name – if you say the name Alderley edge it says you’re doing well for yourself.”
“You get the privacy, as well as loads of little shops, and people aren’t as fazed about seeing footballers.”