Altrincham is a market town in the borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester. The Altrincham built-up area had 49,661 residents at the 2021 Census,[2] out of 235,052 across Trafford as a whole.[1] Its WA14 and WA15 postcodes spill over into Cheshire East, and WA15 into the City of Manchester near the airport,[9] so a business based in the town often has customers under three different councils. Altrincham Interchange links the town by tram, train and bus, and the town’s own visitor site puts Manchester about 20 minutes away by tram.[6] The National Trust’s Dunham Massey, with its Georgian house and deer park, has an Altrincham address,[7] and Altrincham FC has played at Moss Lane, around ten minutes’ walk from the town centre, since 1910.[8]
Trafford Council says Altrincham was labelled a ghost town in 2010, with a third of its shops empty, and credits the turnaround to the council, local businesses and the Altrincham Business Improvement District, set up in 2016.[3] Altrincham Market was named the country’s Best Local Market at the Observer Food Monthly Awards in 2015, and the council puts visitors to the town at 8.4 million across 2024 and 2025.[3] In 2026 The Sunday Times named Altrincham the best place to live in the North West, describing it as a “top-notch town brimming with independent businesses and big brands”.[4] Across Trafford, 25.7% of jobs are in professional, scientific and technical work, against 9.7% nationally.[5]
Places customers search around
- Altrincham Market
- Market House
- Altrincham Interchange
- Stamford Quarter
- The Foundation (former Rackhams building)
- Altrincham Leisure Centre
- J. Davidson Stadium, Moss Lane
- Dunham Massey
Food, drink and the evening trade
Restaurants, bars, cafés and food producers around the market and Market House, in a town that won a purple flag for its night-time economy in 2023.[4]
Independent shops and makers
Fashion, homeware, vintage, craft and gift businesses, including the independent traders that fill Altrincham Market.[3]
Professional and business services
Accountants, law firms, consultancies and agencies in a borough where professional, scientific and technical work accounts for over a quarter of jobs.[5]
Health, beauty and home services
Clinics, salons, gyms and the trades looking after homes in Hale, Bowdon and Timperley, where customers usually pick from the first few Maps results.