Life on Manchester's most 'Instagrammable' estate which attracts 'annoying' selfie-hunters

Ancoats is filling up with high rises, new apartment blocks and trendy bars, but tucked away behind Blossom Street and Oldham Road is an exciting part of Manchester’s history. The first council housing built with indoor plumbing sits unassumingly in the area and now a viral sensation on Instagram.

Anita Street and George Leigh Street host rows of terrace housing, something unusual in a city of flats. The houses and tenements are still in their original condition and create an oasis of nostalgia for anyone passing through.

On George Leigh Street, 10 of the 18 homes are still council owned, while half of the 36 properties in Anita Street are run by the local authority.

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Both streets have played a part in history, being some of the first council owned housing in Manchester to have indoor plumbing and are now used as filming sets, including a Seabrook crisps advert.

However, for those living here, the constant influx of selfie-hunters, walking tours and film crews can take a bit of getting used to.

Teacher Sam Bishop, of George Leigh Street, said: “It’s kind of strange, especially when you’re just watching TV.

“We’ve been here for two years and there are walking tours that go up and down this road which is really surreal.

“It’s a beautiful place to live. We’ve loved living here for two years.

"We were lucky to find this, it was on the market for two days and someone took it. The new people move in next month, it’s very hard to find this house. We actually upped our offer when we applied originally just to get it.

“It’s very special and unique. A lot of people posing for Instagram photos at either end of the street, especially when the