A new study has ranked the city's landscape against some of the world's most famous skylines
What's On Phoebe Jobling Property Writer 09:05, 25 Mar 2025Updated 13:30, 25 Mar 2025
Manchester's stunning skyline has been crowned one of the 'most beautiful' in the world amongst some iconic cities. The view of our northern city is ever-changing with new developments and towering skyscrapers altering the landscape as we know it.
There are some stand-out skylines across the world that are instantly recognisable and are amongst the first that come to mind when you think of a city. And according to a new study, Manchester is up there as one of them.
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Slingo has taken a look at which cities have the most iconic skylines based on social media posts, the number of skyscrapers, and how closely they match the ‘golden ratio’.
This ratio, approximately 1.618, is said to be 'the secret to aesthetic harmony' - found in art, design and even nature. Cities with skylines closer to this number are deemed the most 'scientifically beautiful'.
It is no surprise that taking the top spot is New York City, which has been ranked as the most beautiful skyline in the world.
Landmarks like the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center dominate the cityscape, which is framed by the East and Hudson rivers on either side.
The New York skyline has become so famous that it has also inspired countless films and songs over the years.
In second place is Dubai, defined by its iconic skyscrapers like the Burj Khalifa - the world's tallest building - alongside other striking structures from the Burj Al Arab and Atlantis the Royal to Dubai Marina.
Following in third place is Chicago, renowned for its iconic skyscrapers including the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) and the John Hancock Center, whilst Mumbai, Hong Kong, and Melbourne also make up the top 10.
Although our city probably wouldn’t be the first to spring you would compare to these world-famous cities, its growth and evolution means it has been ranked as the 46th most beautiful skyline in the world.
Manchester's skyline is formed by a blend of historical buildings and new modern skyscrapers that have been built over the last decade, with notable landmarks like Beetham Tower and Deansgate Square amongst the tallest buildings.
Whilst Manchester's cityscape is already notable scenic, it is set to continue to evolve with several new developments in the mix. Some notable projects include Trinity Islands, a proposed residential development comprising five towers with the tallest planned at 213 metres, potentially surpassing Deansgate Square's South Tower as Manchester's tallest building.
Slingo says: "Manchester's economy is projected to grow at an annual average rate of 2.2 percent between 2024 and 2027, outpacing the UK's national growth rate of 1.9%.
"This economic expansion has increased demand for both residential and commercial spaces - with a notable ‘skyscraper boom’ well under way."
How Manchester ranks amongst the world’s most picturesque skylines:
Rank
City
Country
Instagram posts
150m+ buildings
200m+ buildings
300m+ buildings
Deviation from the golden ratio
Overall score /10
1
New York City
United States
661,000
318
98
17
0.07
9.68
2
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
246,000
263
127
31
0.07
9.59
3
Chicago
United States
375,000
138
38
7
0.07
9.10
4
Mumbai
India
32,800
102
42
1
0.07
7.84
5
Shanghai
China
26,500
194
69
7
0.27
7.67
6
Houston
United States
44,400
41
16
2
0.07
7.59
7
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
43,600
558
97
6
1.36
7.27
8
Bangkok
Thailand
21,900
115
24
3
0.10
7.18
9
Singapore
Singapore
67,300
98
34
0.07
6.86
10
Melbourne
Australia
41,400
77
29
1
0.15
6.82
46
Manchester
United Kingdom
14,300
5
1
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0.98
1.75
