Nursing in Salford: studying, working, and living guide
Find out about nursing in Salford - where nurses can find jobs, the hospitals they might work in, colleges & universities to study in, plus living information.
Salford is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It is found in a meander on the western bank of the River Irwell, which connects with Manchester and its city centre.
Salford was famed for its cotton, silk spinning and weaving industries in the 18th and 19th centuries. Nowadays it is most famous for Media City UK, which is located in Salford Quays, on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal.
For nurses, Salford could be a delightful place to live, work and study. From cost of living and travel through to culture and nightlife, this guide provides all you’ll need to know as a nurse wanting to study or work in Salford.
Where do nurses work in Salford?
Throughout the city of Salford there are numerous NHS hospitals and GP practices, as well as private clinics, hospices and care homes which support adults, elderly people and children.
Salford Royal - University Teaching Hospital
Oaklands Hospital – Private
Priory Healthcare – Private addiction rehab and mental health hospital
Manchester Private Hospital - Plastic surgery
The NHS facilities of Salford are run by the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, which also oversees hospitals in surrounding areas of Bury, Oldham, and Rochdale.
There are plenty of healthcare establishments looking for Registered Nurses and carers throughout Salford.
Where can aspiring nurses study in Salford?
Anyone wanting to study as a health professional in Salford has the options of the University of Salford Manchester, the University of Manchester, or Manchester Metropolitan University all close by.
University Of Salford Manchester offers numerous nursing courses including accelerated learning courses in adult, children/young people, and mental health nursing with start dates in September. It has three campuses, Peel Park, Frederick Road, and Media City. The Uni also has state of the art mannequins and simulation suites to practise different scenarios, techniques, and skills to prepare students for the real-world of nursing.
The Manchester Metropolitan University also offers nursing courses and has campuses in two areas: Birley and All Saints. Manchester Metropolitan University is ranked 4th in the UK for nursing (The Guardian University Guide 2022), with facilities across Greater Manchester and start dates available in September.
The University of Manchester offers several nursing courses and has campuses on Oxford Road, formerly known as The Victoria University of Manchester campus, and another at The Sackville Street area – formerly the UMIST campus. Start dates available in September.
Plenty of choice for anyone looking to gain a nursing degree at a university in Salford.
Find our nursing university guide here.
The average monthly rental in Salford is around £850 which is very reasonable and cheaper than living in nearby Manchester.
Where do nurses live in Salford?
Finding a community is important for feeling settled in a city, and Salford has plenty of suitable locations for nurses of all levels.
A few of the most popular for students, nurses, and professionals are:
Salford City Centre
Popular with nurses and students due to it being close to all amenities.
The Quays
Home to plenty of large properties with many split into flats, some with gardens, and waterfront views. Ideal location for nurses with families.
Swinton
4 miles north-west of Salford is a popular choice enhanced by ‘Swinton Square’ - a shopping centre with lots of restaurants and shops nearby.
Worsley
6 miles west from Salford is Ideal for nurses who enjoy a quiet residential area to live in with lots of working opportunities in a picturesque part of Manchester.
Salford has areas that cater to every budget and personality, from nursing students to nurses with families.
What are the living costs for nurses in Salford?
Here is a general guide to some of the different costs of living in Salford.
The average price for a home in Salford is currently £256,000 which is slightly lower than the national average of £293,000 – according to Rightmove.
The average rental price for a property in Salford is £850 per month. But if you are looking to rent a room in a shared house, the average cost is just over £450.
Council tax costs vary across the city. But many people reside in a Band B property or similar, which means paying £1967 a year, which works out at around £164 per month.
Other bills like shopping and utilities are priced the same as the rest of the UK.
Eating out and entertainment may be a little more expensive than average but it is dependent on where you visit.
Is travel easy in Salford?
Transport links in Salford provide easy access to cities and towns across the country. By train, Salford has fast and frequent access to London (just over 3 hours) as well as direct trains to Manchester (less than 10 minutes).
There are many motorways which pass close to Salford such as the M62, M6 and M60 (ring road). with London approx. four hours away.
Manchester Metrolink (tram/light railway) has numerous stations in and around Salford with easy links to all parts of Manchester.
The nearest airport is Manchester Airport and has flights all over the UK, as well as to Europe and the US.
What to do in Salford: walks, culture, nightlife and eating out?
The city of Salford has a variety of exciting places to visit and explore on your days off.
Culture and attractions
Salford is a vibrant city filled with fascinating history. An obvious starting point to visit is Salford Quays, a waterfront destination and home to Media City UK, a redevelopment built on the Salford Docks, with buildings occupied by the BBC and ITV Granada.
The Quays is also home to the Lowry Theatre, the Imperial War Museum North, the set of popular TV soap Coronation Street- with tours available- and Salford Museum and Art Gallery.
Ordsall Hall, an Elizabethan manor house, is the oldest building in Salford, dating back over 600 years. There you can relive Tudor life while exploring its gardens, making it a beautiful place for nurses and their families to visit.
Salford has many green spaces that are perfect for walks, including Clifton Country Park, RHS Garden Bridgewater, and Lightoaks Park. Over 60 percent of Salford city is made up of green space providing endless opportunities to explore with friends and family.
There are many music venues in Salford with live music at Eagle Inn and Sounds From The Other City – both ideal places to visit for those with a love of live music.
For sports fans, Salford City football club reside in League Two of the English Football League and play their home games at the Peninsula Stadium, while Salford Red Devils (Rugby League) and Sale Sharks (Rugby Union) are also close by.
Nightlife and eating out
Salford has many great nightlife venues, as well as welcoming restaurants and bars.
Highlights include:
Menagerie Restaurant and Bar: known for its relaxed, sociable atmosphere and different cuisines that cater to all occasions.
The River Restaurant: renowned for its fine dining experience highlighting the best of British produce.
Shahi Masala: popular due to its tasty dishes inspired by the flavours of India, Pakistan and Kashmir.
Seven Bro7hers Beerhouse: offering a laid-back atmosphere, this family-owned establishment serves a wide range of drinks as well as classic and vegan bar foods.
This is just a small preview of the varity that Salford has to offer.
What are the school options in Salford?
No matter where you are living in Salford there are many schools in which you can send your children to.
Salford has 100 Primary schools, 39 Secondary schools and 27 private independent schools.
There are 80 Ofsted rated Outstanding and Good schools across the city of Salford.
The perfect school for your children could be in Salford.
Population and demographics in Salford
Here are some of the stand-out population and demographic facts in Salford.
Salford has a population of 270,000.
Its population density is 2,786 people per square mile.
Salford’s regeneration programme Salford Quays 2030 is expected to double its population in the next ten years.
5.2 % of Salford’s population is unemployed. – higher than the UK Average.
In summary: is Salford a good place to be a nurse?
Salford is much more affordable than nearby Manchester you are looking to relocate. It boasts a variety of healthcare establishments and has brilliant options for nursing students looking to study in the area.
There is an extensive list of things to do and places to visit, no matter if you have family, are a Student Nurse or experienced nursing professional. Travel to, from, and around Salford is easy, and most major cities are close by thanks to its rail connections.
Living costs are lower than the national average and there is lots of work on offer. Registered Nurses earn just over £36,000 per a year in the city. So, your salary as a RN goes much further in Salford.
Here are a couple of examples:
As a Newly Qualified Nurse on an NHS Band 5 salary, if you rented a house, you would still have just over £1250 left in your pocket each month for everything else. Your disposable income in Manchester or the Southeast would barely reach half of this figure, for example.
As a Band 6 Nurse, you would easily be able to borrow enough money to buy a joint mortgage for an average-priced flat in Salford. In fact, in many parts your salary would cover the cost of buying a house.
As a nursing student or nurse in Salford you will have an excellent quality of life with lots of things to do.
